CLEVELAND — Cleveland State University President Harlan Sands was rewarded with a three-year contract extension on Thursday, keeping him in his current position through at least 2026.
The CSU Board of Trustees unanimously approved the extension, citing their desire to continue the "transformational reach" the school has seen during Sands' tenure even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Sands released the following statement:
"There is nowhere I would rather be than here at CSU representing and supporting our faculty and staff as they transform student lives every day. It has been an incredible privilege, and I am truly grateful to the Board of Trustees for their continuing confidence. I also want to thank the many faculty, staff and students that make us who we are – you are the inspiration that drives us, and the reason I am so confident we will achieve our collective dreams for CSU."
Since Sands replaced Dr. Ronald M. Berkman in 2018, the board says has helped boost enrollment, create partnerships with various local institutions, improve the university's financial standing, and increase donations by 50%. He also helped establish the Forward Together Fund, which has so far raised $744,000 for students and gained $1 million more in pledges.
Watch Sands' 2018 investiture in the player below:
"Harlan is a dynamic leader and there is no one our Board would rather have leading us during this time of great change and challenge," David Gunning, chair of the board of trustees, said. "Leaders are measured by how they lead during the most trying times... This is the leader we need now and going forward."
Following the announcement, Sands and his family announced their own gift of $100,000 to the Forward Together Fund.
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