Cleveland State University

Cleveland State University (CSU) is a public research institution with nearly 16,000 students, 10 colleges and schools and more than 175 academic programs. The Mandel Foundation has supported Cleveland State University since the 1970s, and in 2014 provided $3.6 million to establish the Mandel Honors College. The Mandel Honors College enables 500 students to combine the experience of a large urban university with the small class size of a liberal arts college. The Foundation’s gift was used to renovate a building to house the Mandel Honors College, which provided honors students a dedicated state-of-the-art learning space. These capital improvements coincided with the creation of the endowed Chair in Humanities and merit scholarships for Mandel Honors students.

In partnership with Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), the Mandel Continuing Scholars Program was established in 2017 to become a national model for honors student transfers from two- to four-year colleges. This academic pathway links students from Tri-C to CSU’s Mandel Honors College, offering a seamless transition for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree.