Introduction
Established as a state-assisted university in 1964, Cleveland State University assumed a tradition for excellence when it adopted the buildings, faculty, staff, and programs of Fenn College, a private institution of 2,500 students. In 1969, the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law became part of Cleveland State University.
A young university with a rich history, Cleveland State traces its historical roots to 1870, when the Cleveland YMCA began to offer free classes. The YMCA program was formalized in 1881, reorganized in 1906 as the Association Institute, and became the Cleveland School of Technology, later renamed Fenn College. The Cleveland-Marshall College of Law traces its origins to the founding of Cleveland Law School in 1897 as the first evening law school in the state and one of the first to admit women and minorities. In 1946, Cleveland Law School merged with the John Marshall School of Law, founded in 1916, to become Cleveland-Marshall Law School.
Throughout its long history, Cleveland State University and its predecessors pioneered work in developing student internships with business and industry, expanding an extensive co-op program, and attracting students who did not otherwise have access to higher education. Today, Cleveland State continues to grow by supporting the flexibility of its course offerings, programs, and affordable price with an excellent faculty and state-of-the-art facilities.
Eight Colleges
Courses of instruction leading to degrees are offered through Cleveland State's eight colleges. Undergraduate students enroll in one of the six undergraduate colleges:
- Nance College of Business Administration
- College of Education and Human Services
- Fenn College of Engineering
- College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
- College of Science
- Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs
Many degrees are available from these colleges in the evening.
Other programs available to undergraduates include: Black Studies, a selection of courses, available in various departments, which explores the black experience in America; and the Women's Comprehensive Program, which offers special programming and counseling as well as course work.
Graduate work is offered through the College of Graduate Studies and the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.
A Dynamic Campus Environment
The Cleveland State campus consists of 85 acres--the largest footprint in downtown Cleveland--with 40 buildings used for teaching, research, housing, administration, and recreation. Nineteen-story Rhodes Tower contains the University Library, classrooms, and many faculty offices and is a striking feature on the Cleveland skyline. University buildings feature a blend of old and new architectural styles, with historic landmark Mather Mansion sharing the stage with such modern facilities as Glickman-Miller Hall, home of the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, and the 13,000-seat Bert L. and Iris S. Wolstein Center. The university boasts more than 100 student organizations, including 13 national fraternities and sororities and 17 NCAA Division I men’s and women’s varsity sports.
For Northeast Ohio to be economically competitive, it needs an educated work force. To make that education more convenient than ever before, Cleveland State has extended campuses in Westlake and Solon, where students have access to the same quality education as they have downtown.
The university is in the process of implementing a $200+ million campus master plan, "Building Blocks for the Future," which includes a 130,000-square-foot recreation center; renovation of historic Howe Mansion into Parker Hannifin Hall, the new home of the College of Graduate Studies; the new Parker Hannifin Administration Center; conversion of landmark Fenn Tower into student housing for 400-450 students; and retail outlets, green spaces and parking garages. Not only is the master plan changing the face of the university’s campus, it is creating vibrant interaction with the surrounding community and a new neighborhood in downtown Cleveland.
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