Case Western Reserve University (CWRU)

At Case Western Reserve University, we think big. But we don't just think—we do. In labs and lecture halls, we spend each day asking—and discovering—how to solve the biggest issues of today and tomorrow. At Case Western Reserve University, nd tomorrow. At Case Western Reserve University, we're a community of innovators, knowledge-seekers and groundbreakers. As a leading national research university located in one of the nation's top arts districts and within walking distance of three major hospitals, we offer ample opportunities for you to excel. With programs spanning the arts and sciences, engineering, health sciences, law, management, and social work, our research and educational opportunities allow our students, faculty, staff and alumni to tackle today’s toughest problems—and transform the future. Learn from renowned faculty across Case Western Reserve’s more than 100 undergraduate degree programs, about 160 graduate and professional options, and over 145 dual-degree programs. Plus, we have more than 100 interdisciplinary academic and research centers and institutes where you can explore just about any area of interest. At Case Western Reserve, we help dreamers become doers. Whether you’re a student with a bright idea or a professor with a breakthrough, we have the programs, people and resources you need to bring it to others. The Larry Sears and Sally Zlotnick Sears think[box], for example, is a 50,000-square-foot innovation center where you can plan, prototype and even 3D-print your product. Plus, it’s home to the Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship—where you'll find the advisors and assistance you need to help you move your concept to market. When you enroll at Case Western Reserve, you join a network of more than 125,000 graduates across the globe who have gone on to incredible success. Our alumni launch companies, win Nobel Prizes, reform politics, fight for social justice, transform the ways we watch movies, pound pavement and protect computers, and so much more. From the founding of Western Reserve College and Case School of Applied Science to the federation of the two institutions, and the mergers of many schools along the way, there’s much to know about how Case Western Reserve became the leading research university it is today. Black and white photo of a building on the Western Reserve campus Western Reserve’s Founding Western Reserve College was founded in 1826 in Hudson, Ohio, about 30 miles southeast of Cleveland. The college—the first in northern Ohio—took its name from the surrounding region (known at that time as the Western Reserve of Connecticut). Yet it stood out in the mid- and late-19th century as one of only a few institutions that sought innovation and embraced the sciences. As the 20th century approached, a newly thriving economy had led to unprecedented population and financial growth in Cleveland. The progress made the city hungry for a university. With funding from American industrialist Amasa Stone, the college moved in 1882 to “uptown” Cleveland, where it lives today, and assumed the name Western Reserve University. Black and white historical photo of an aerial view of what is now Case Western Reserve University’s campus The Case Story The new university wouldn’t occupy this stretch of Euclid Avenue alone. Five years before Western Reserve’s big move, attorney and philanthropist Leonard Case Jr. had initiated a secret trust to endow a polytechnic school in Cleveland. This school would train men in engineering, sciences, mining, metallurgy and more. Just months after his death in 1880, the Case School of Applied Science was born. Classes initially were held in the Case family’s downtown Cleveland home until a provision to Stone’s gift—that Western Reserve University and the Case School of Applied Science occupy adjoining campuses—led to the school’s relocation in 1885 after a committee for the two institutions raised funds for the land—and landowners Cordelia Ford and Liberty Holden sold a 43-acre parcel at a substantial discount. Funds for the land, however, had to be raised by the community. A committee for the two institutions raised $119,400 from 56 donors by March 1881. A land purchase discount from Cordelia Ford and Liberty E. Holden, whose 43-acre property formed the early campus, netted $33,000. The joint land purchase was the first of many collaborations between Western Reserve University and the Case School of Applied Science. Over the years, the university developed strong liberal arts and professional programs, while the applied science school, which adopted the name Case Institute of Technology in 1947, became a leading school of science and engineering. By the mid-1960s, the two institutions’ leaders began to recognize the substantial benefits of becoming a single institution. After extensive study and discussion, the boards approved federation. On July 1, 1967, Case Western Reserve University became an official entity—although the full process of integration took another quarter-century to finish. At Case Western Reserve University, our mission, vision and values are more than just words. They drive who we are and who we want to be. They advance what we study and how. They shape our community, both on campus and off. And they propel us, every day, to think big—and think beyond the possible. Mission Case Western Reserve University improves and enriches people’s lives through research that capitalizes on the power of collaboration and education that dramatically engages our students. We realize this goal through: Scholarship and creative endeavor that draws on all forms of inquiry. Learning that is active, creative and continuous. Promotion of an inclusive culture of global citizenship. Photo of the exterior of Sheila and Eric Samson Pavilion at the Health Education Campus of Case Western Reserve and Cleveland Clinic at dusk Vision We aim to be recognized internationally as an institution that imagines and influences the future. Toward that end we will: Support advancement of thriving disciplines as well as new areas of interdisciplinary excellence. Provide students with the knowledge, skills and experiences necessary to become leaders in a world characterized by rapid change and increasing interdependence. Nurture a community of exceptional scholars who are cooperative and collegial, functioning in an atmosphere distinguished by support, mentoring and inclusion. Pursue distinctive opportunities to build on our special features, including our relationships with world-class healthcare, cultural, educational, and scientific institutions in University Circle and across greater Cleveland. Photo of four Case Western Reserve University students holding a sign that says “#YouAreWelcomeHereCWRU” Core Values Our four areas of focus guide our decision-making to ensure we make a measurable impact at Case Western Reserve—and far beyond. Academic Excellence & Impact Eminence in teaching and research Scholarship that changes lives and deepens understanding Creativity and innovation as hallmarks of our efforts Inclusiveness & Diversity Civility and the free exchange of ideas Civic and international engagement Appreciation for the distinct perspectives and talents of each individual Integrity & Transparency Academic freedom and responsibility Ethical behavior Shared governance Effective Stewardship Strong, ongoing financial planning Emphasis on sustainability Systems that support attainment of our mission ...view more