Cleveland State University
University Marketing
2121 Euclid Avenue
MM 304
Cleveland, OH 44115-2214
Campus Location
Mather Mansion, Rm. 304
2605 Euclid Avenue
Phone: 216.687.2290
pr@csuohio.edu
News Release #14451
March 21, 2008
Contact: Brian Johnston
216.687.2290 | pr@csuohio.edu
CSU Students to Share in $22.7 Million in First Round of Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program Funds
As part of the Ohio Innovation Partnership, scholarships are designed to significantly
strengthen Ohio’s competitiveness in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEM) and STEM education.
Ohio Governor Ted Strickland has announced the State of Ohio’s first collaborations to receive funding under the state’s Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program, a $50 million program designed to help make Ohio a global leader in the new economy. More than $22.7 million for student scholarships in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, medical fields (STEM), and STEM education will be directed to 21 Ohio public and private colleges and universities across the state to be used specifically to attract, retain, and graduate more than 2,000 new STEM students over the next five years.
Cleveland State University and its partners have been awarded funding totaling more than $5 million in two categories: Student Success in Mathematics and Building the Nursing Workforce in Northeastern Ohio.
“In order for Ohio to be globally competitive for the jobs of the 21st century, we must increase the number of Ohioans with college degrees in critical areas of math, science, engineering, and technology. Choose Ohio First helps us do just that,” said Governor Strickland.
“The Choose Ohio First awards for student scholarships are very special to us as they validate the hard work put in by our faculty and students, and the collaborations we share with peer institutions, high schools, and our partners in health care. They further recognize the great strides we, as a university, have taken to position ourselves among the best institutions anywhere in these critically-important disciplines of STEM education," said Dr. Mary Jane Saunders, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Cleveland State University. "It is rewarding to have our work recognized in a manner that will have short-term benefit to our students and longer-term benefits to the economy of the region and the State. Our focus is always on the success of our students, and it is gratifying to know we are playing a leadership role in making them better equipped to help themselves while helping make Ohio a global leader in the new economy.”
Choose Ohio First is intended to be Ohio’s premier model for recruiting and retaining more Ohio residents as students in STEM and STEM education fields. Universities and their collaborating partners will also contribute almost $38 million in cash and services to support the implementation and continuation of their programs. A second round competition to award the remaining $27.3 million available under Choose Ohio First is now underway.
There were 28 proposals submitted for Choose Ohio First funding consideration, which were subsequently reviewed by a 7-member panel of nationally visible STEM educational experts appointed by Board of Regents Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut.
“Round one award recipients submitted proposals that were all creative in establishing forward-looking educational initiatives that will advance STEM education in Ohio, and some may well serve as national models,” said Fingerhut. “The leadership of Governor Strickland and the General Assembly has created a tremendous opportunity for Ohio students, our colleges, universities, and their partners, as well as the overall Ohio economy. We’re looking forward to round two.”
CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY
Choose Ohio First Scholarship Awards
Student Success in Mathematics
Cleveland State University (lead institution) will partner with Case Western Reserve University, Kent State University, University of Akron, Youngstown State University, Cuyahoga Community College and a number of high schools and school districts* to attract and graduate more than 1,000 new STEM students over a 4-year period. The proposal, “Student Success in Mathematics,” will improve the coordination between colleges and universities to generate a more mathematically interested and prepared group of prospective college students. The program will strengthen the mathematics preparation of entering college students, which is essential to success in STEM courses of study. This strong focus on mathematics preparedness will translate to a higher recruitment and retention in STEM fields of study. The collaboration will share $4.5 million in Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program funds awarded by the state.
* The high schools and public school districts participating in this program include: Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Aurora City Schools, Hudson City Schools, Crestwood Local Schools, New Philadelphia Schools, Waterloo Local Schools, Akron Public Schools, Summit County Educational Service Center, Chaney High School in Youngstown, East High School in Youngstown, Girard High School, Warren G. Harding High School in Warren, and Youngstown Early College.
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Building the Nursing Workforce in Northeastern Ohio
Case Western Reserve University (lead institution) will partner with Cleveland State University, The Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals Case Medical Center, to attract and graduate 56 new students in the area of professional nursing over a 5-year period. The program, “Building the Nursing Workforce in Northeastern Ohio,” addresses a clearly identified need for both nurses and nursing faculty in the Northeastern region of Ohio and the country in general. The program identifies qualified nursing students (“Ohio First Nursing Fellows”) who will complete the necessary advanced doctoral degrees that are required for faculty nursing positions. The collaboration shares $676,800 in Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program funds awarded by the state.
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