INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Cleveland State Athletics Department has been awarded the NCAA Accelerating Academic Success Program grant, as announced by the NCAA on Thursday. Cleveland State is one of 17 institutions to receive the grant during the 2026-27 academic year.

Cleveland State received a single-year grant totaling $37,600 from the NCAA and will use these funds to bolster the Deckard Family Collaboration Lounge in the Physical Education Building with updated technology, furniture improvements and new trophy showcase areas.

In addition, Cleveland State will also use the grant to conduct a bridge program for select student-athletes during the 2027-28 academic year.

"We are excited to once again receive support from the NCAA and be a recipient of the AASP grant program as we continue to enhance our academic services that we provide our student-athletes on a daily basis. This will be a large part of allowing us to continue to provide a transformational student-athlete experience through our academic areas and beyond," said Dr. Kendra Greene, Senior Associate Athletic Director of Student-Athlete Experience.

This marks the second time over the last four years that Cleveland State is receiving funds from the NCAA AASP Grant, as the Vikings were also recipients in 2022, with the funds being used to complete upgrades to the study hall and academic areas in the PE Building and Wolstein Center.

The NCAA annually awards more than $1 million in AASP grants to colleges and universities to help boost academic programs and initiatives, which tie to graduation and the overall success of its student-athletes.

Individuals interested in joining the support for Cleveland State Athletics through academic center upgrades or other projects, can contact Brandon Longmeier, Senior Assistant Athletic Director for the Viking Fund at b.longmeier@csuohio.edu.