Case Western Reserve University announced on Sept. 13 that it will cover the total cost of attendance for eligible high-school graduates from the East Cleveland City School District and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) who choose to attend the university. The goal is to lessen the disparity between the “CWRU Bubble” and other areas of Cleveland by providing increased opportunity for students from Cleveland to attend the university.

“President Kaler has established community engagement as a top priority for the university, and challenged undergraduate admissions to identify additional ways to increase opportunities for talented Cleveland and East Cleveland students to pursue bachelor’s degrees on our campus,” noted Vice President for Enrollment Management Rick Bischoff.

The program will be open to students who spent at least the last two years of their high school careers in CMSD or East Cleveland schools, including CMSD partner charter schools. The program will cover tuition, housing, books and various other “supplies and personal expenses.” The program also covers a paid research or internship experience on campus.

The program debuted in 2017; previously, those enrolled in the program received full-ride tuition, but they had to pay for their own room, board and other materials.

In comments to various news sources, including Ideastream Public Media, the CEO of CMSD, Warren Morgan said this will make a difference in the lives of many students.

“The fact that some of our most talented graduates will now have extra incentive to continue their education at one of America’s leading universities will pay immediate dividends to CWRU and all of Northeast Ohio,” Morgan said regarding the benefits of the program.

There are currently 56 students enrolled, and Bischoff plans on doubling that number. “As with most campus scholarship programs across the country, retroactive support is not available to previous recipients,” Bischoff explained further.

With the announcement of the expanding program, there is chatter about the relationship between CWRU and the surrounding Cleveland community.

“The expansion of Cleveland Scholars is [a] great start and a good opportunity for CWRU to form better connections with the community,” said Emma Mitchell, the president of Know Your Neighbors, a community advocacy student organization at CWRU.

Mitchell cautions this being the turning of the tide for community relations. “CWRU has the resources to be doing more; they can engage in ways with the community that [go] beyond students that will go to CWRU.”

Mitchell said that CWRU should develop college-prep programs and focus on bringing educational opportunities to local students.

Through a Neighborhood Advisory Council, Community Card Program, the Wade Park Community Engagement Center and an Office of Pre-Collegiate programs, Assistant Vice President of Local Government and Community Relations Julian Rogers specifically highlights how engagement has increased with local neighborhoods “which [are] charged to enhance K-12 pipeline programs.”

Rogers specifically notes that such initiatives were developed under President Eric Kaler’s leadership.

“CWRU has a good relationship with the residents in nearby neighborhoods and cities and the expansion of the Cleveland Scholars Program will only lead to making those relationships stronger,” said Rogers.