Cleveland State University partners with the City of Cleveland for Information Systems: Classroom to the World of Work program

Cleveland State University’s Monte Ahuja College of Business has partnered with the City of Cleveland to create the Information Systems: Classroom to the World of Work program. The program will become a pipeline for skilled and prepared individuals to enter into open roles in the region’s technology workforce. 

According to an article on Cleveland State University’s website, Anne Nelson, who is the senior assistant dean in the CSU Monte Ahuja College of Business, was quoted as saying of the partnership, “CSU students now have a direct bridge to enter the technology workforce. They are not only learning in the classroom, they are applying their skills to real projects that make an immediate impact on the city.”

Nelson designed the program, with support from Kim Roy Wilson, who serves as the director of the City of Cleveland’s office of information technology and services. The two-year program began with the Fall 2025 semester with five students in the Monte Ahuja College of Business who are enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Information Systems degree program. 

As part of the program, students will participate in a paid internship with the City of Cleveland which includes hands-on work experience, academic coursework, and co-curricular professional development activities. Participating students will receive a $2,000 scholarship for the summer semester to help students remain enrolled during the summer. These students will also have access to a dedicated career fair at which employers are seeking individuals with information technology skills.

Wilson said, “This program directly supports the need for skilled IT professionals in Greater Cleveland. By offering a full-time position to a graduate of this program, the City is investing in local talent and helping launch meaningful careers.”

Dr. Melissa Gruys, who serves as the dean of the Monte Ahuja College of Business, said, “Being in and of the City of Cleveland, CSU is committed to strategic partnerships that expand access, deliver real experience and prepare students for high-demand careers. We are continually working to expand this model across other disciplines within the college and grow these programs with additional employers.”

For more information about Cleveland State University, visit the school’s website.