Cleveland State University received updates on a new budget model, technology initiatives and upcoming state requirements during the March 18 Faculty Senate meeting. 

The meeting focused heavily on long-term financial planning and a university-wide technology transformation, both aimed at improving efficiency and sustainability of campus operations. 

Senate President Carol Olszewski, Ph.D, opened the meeting and led discussion before introducing reports from university leadership and faculty committees. 

President Laura Bloomberg, Ph.D, shared updates from senior leadership, including the appointments of Dr. Andrew Crawford as vice president of Enrollment Management and Dr. Chad Warren as vice president of advancement and executive director of the CSU Foundation. 

Bloomberg also highlighted several campus initiatives and events, including student support services like the Lift Up Vikes! Resource Center and Food Pantry, the Student-Athlete Advisory Council and the Center for Refugee and Immigrant Success. She encouraged faculty to attend upcoming events such as the Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival, faculty excellence celebrations and an April AI symposium at the Wolstein Center. 

Budget and financial planning 

Members of the Senate Budget Committee and Planning and Financial Advisory Committee presented a restructured financial model designed to support CSU’s long-term mission.

The plan includes developing a sustainable, multiyear financial strategy, investing in a digital transformation and promoting a campus-wide culture of continuous improvement. 

The FY2027 budget process is already underway as departments began submitting budgets in March, with reviews scheduled through April and May. Final approval is expected from the board of trustees in June. 

Faculty also learned that new enrollment strategies are being developed, including potential expansion of international student recruitment under Crawford’s leadership. 

Technology transformation and Workday 

A major portion of the meeting centered on CSU's transition to Workday through its “Compass” initiative, a multiphase technology overhaul. 

The project includes an 18-month implementation timeline beginning in 2026, with planning currently underway and system configuration set to begin in April. 

University leaders emphasized that the transition is intended to modernize operations, reduce risk and improve decision making. They also stressed the importance of clear communication during the process. 

“Change succeeds when leaders speak before uncertainty does,” one presenter noted. 

The CSU Compass kickoff event is scheduled for April 21-22, marking the next phase of the university’s technology rollout. 

The board of trustees has already authorized $6 million in funding for the initiative in fiscal year 2026, with additional investments expected. 

IT and security updates 

Officials reported significant progress in campus technology upgrades, including replacing more than 60% of requested computer systems. 

The university is also nearing completion of its transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11, with 80% of devices already updated. 

Additional cybersecurity efforts include full disk encryption, enhanced security benchmarks and testing of new AI-driven security tools. 

Phishing awareness campaigns are also expanding to include faculty, staff and students following initial testing. 

Syllabus transparency law 

Faculty were briefed on new requirements under Ohio Senate Bill 1, which will take effect in fall 2026. 

The law requires all undergraduate course syllabi to be publicly accessible online by the first day of each semester. 

Syllabi must include course schedules, reading lists, instructor qualifications and accommodation policies, and must remain available for at least two years. 

To support compliance, CSU will implement a “Simple Syllabus” system that allows faculty to input required information into standardized modules. 

Training sessions will begin mid-April and continue through the summer. 

The next Faculty Senate meeting will be at 3 p.m. May 6 on the fourth floor of the Wolstein Center.