Cleveland State University President Laura Bloomberg is heading to Columbus to talk about the school’s capital needs. But she is prepared to talk about a lot more, including the school’s financial trouble and diversity, equity and inclusion issues. 

On Tuesday, she will testify before members of the Senate Workforce and Higher Education Committee.  

“I’m hoping to be able to talk about our capital needs, which is what the purpose of the testimony is about,” she told the university’s faculty senate at a meeting earlier this week.

Committee chair State Sen. Jerry Cirino has asked Bloomberg – along with each president of Ohio’s 13 other public four-year universities – to talk about a slew of additional topics, too.

Public presidents to discuss costs, employee headcounts

One of those items, according to a letter Cirino wrote to the presidents, is a “detailed breakdown of annual costs and employee headcounts, an annual count of all faculty, administration and employees, and a complete accounting of all spending on diversity, equity and inclusion, or related subjects.” 

Lawmakers want a five-year cost summary in three categories. That list includes instruction costs related to students, a general look at at staff, maintenance, and administration expenses, and a look at any other employee-related costs.

That’s all according to the Ohio Statehouse News Bureau, which conducted a detailed examination of all of Cirino’s requests earlier this year. 

Cleveland State’s financial roller coaster

Bloomberg told her faculty members she’d be ready to talk about the work her university’s been doing to balance its budget, too. 

As Signal Cleveland reported last month, Cleveland State is moving forward with its plans to offer buyouts to faculty and staff as the university faces a projected $40 million budget gap.

The university’s also awaiting a report from accounting and consulting firm Ernst & Young. Those consultants are looking at both short-term steps related to the university’s budget as well as opportunities that could pan out for Cleveland State in the future.

What type of coverage is missing when it comes to higher education in Cleveland? Our reporter Amy Morona wants to know what you think! Send her a note by filling out this form.