Eligibility and Application

Cleveland metropolitan area minority high school seniors and current CSU students interested in pursuing bachelor's degrees in Business, Engineering, or the Arts and Sciences, who are available for enrollment at CSU in the Fall Semester, and demonstrate the ability to perform college level course work are encouraged to apply. Selection of program participants is based on high school performance, college entrance examination scores (ACT/SAT), counselor/teacher recommendations, and evaluation of the LINK application. Applications are available at school LINK presentations, from high school counselors, community organizations, CSU's Career Services Center.

To download LINK application in Microsoft Word format, click here.
You may also email your request for an application to careers@csuohio.edu.

Link Summer Preparatory Program

The LINK Summer Preparatory Program is a pre-college transition program designed to enhance the academic, personal, and career development of incoming LINK students. This Program provides preparation for Business, Engineering, and Arts & Sciences curriculum while acclimating the students to Cleveland State University. These LINK students also explore career goals through company tours, presentations, and internships.

Corporate and Community Development

Corporate and community support is essential to the success of the LINK Program in the form of: scholarship awards, corporate and community network rotations (summer volunteer experiences), professional mentoring, and cooperative education placements. The final and most significant link for the students lies with career opportunities in business and industry.

Scholarships

Some LINK Program students may be eligible for scholarships to offset tuition, room and board, and book costs for the freshman year. Students will also be encouraged to submit appropriate information to CSU's Financial Aid & Scholarships department, since scholarships may vary. In addition, click here to view scholarship opportunities that are open to minority students in their senior year in high school or already enrolled in college.

Co-op Placement

During the freshman year, LINK students will be required to complete CSC 121, "Career Orientation," the prerequisite for CSU's Cooperative Education Program. The course emphasizes career planning, resume writing, and interviewing to prepare students for co-op placement. Students will be assigned to Co-op Coordinators to further develop their skills for co-op. These services will be strengthened by a Peer Mentoring and Peer Tutoring program to assist in the out-of-class network that encourages students to succeed.

Benefits of the LINK Program

The benefits for student participants in the LINK Program begin with the introduction of the cooperative education concept - gaining career-related work experience to enhance students' ability to attain personal and professional goals. Not only are business and industry employers seeking more minority candidates to fill their co-op positions, they consistently want to hire students who demonstrate strong academic preparation. The opportunity for LINK students to participate in the LINK Summer Preparatory Program, coordinate with corporate mentors, and work closely with program staff to encourage and monitor academic progress, are well-planned steps leading to the challenges that Cooperative Education can offer.