Michael Schwartz (educational administrator)

Michael Schwartz is an American academic administrator who served as president of Kent State University and later in the same position at Cleveland State University (CSU). While at CSU he phased out open admissions for college undergraduates.

Biography

Schwartz was educated as a sociologist, with all his degrees (BS, MA, Ph.D.) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He was on the faculty of Indiana University, Wayne State University and Florida Atlantic University. He came to Kent State University in 1976 as vice president over graduate studies and research. He served as president of Kent State from 1982-1990.

Schwartz implemented major reforms while at CSU. New dorms were built, a new student center and new administration buildings. There were also major renovations of class room buildings. He not only implemented admission requirements, but he also oversaw a major rise in the bar passing rate of Cleveland-Marshall School of Law graduates. His administration also faced the fiscal problems of most state universities in the time frame of 2008-2010, and even before. One of his last acts as president was to recommend a salary freeze for the next fiscal year.

The Library at CSU is now named for Schwartz.

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