A seven-member higher education commission that was created by Governor Kasich recently voted to award $12.7 million in capital funding to Cleveland State University. The money will be used to renovate an older building for a new engineering program.

CSU plans to renovate Stillwell Hall, adding state-of-the-art laboratories and to partner with Parker Hannifin Corporation (Parker) of Mayfield Heights to pioneer a new, hands-on program. Parker is a $12 billion company that is the world's leading diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems.

CSU's Fenn College of Engineering was established in 1923 and is now the ninth largest cooperative education program in the country. Fenn Engineering students "use state-of-the-art equipment to tackle real world challenges, participate in state and national engineering competitions and work closely with corporate partners to create and design new products," the college website states.

The innovative, new partnership with Parker Hannifin will allow CSU to take its engineering program to the next level, university leaders say. The curriculum is being revised and Parker is funding an endowed chair. Stillwell Hall will be transformed into a practical learning environment in which scientists and engineers collaborate with students and faculty on real world projects.

$350 million was available statewide for capital improvement projects. Kasich had tasked the committee with identifying new, innovative projects that leaders believe will move higher education forward in Ohio. The timeline for Stillwell Hall renovations has not been established yet, according to CSU officials.

Source: Cleveland State University
Writer: Lee Chilcote