Sands will receive nearly $1 million to leave his role as university president

Sands will remain at CSU to teach law classes in the fall

Harlan Sands will receive $928,200 to leave his position as president of Cleveland State University, according to a copy of his separation agreement that was obtained by WKYC. This value is two years of his current base salary. The separation was a mutual decision between Sands and the Board of Trustees due to “differences regarding how the university should be led in the future.”

In addition to the payment, Sands was offered a tenured full professorship at the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, a condition of his 2021 contract extension. His base salary will be $348,000- equivalent to 75% of salary as university president.

The average salary for full professors at Cleveland State University was less than a third of this, at $112,200 in 2018, according to a survey by the American Association of University Professors.

Sands earned his Doctor of Law degree from George Mason University in 1994. He practiced law for four years as a public defender in Miami before moving into a career in higher education administration.

Sands will remain available through June 26 to assist with the transition, and has until Sept. 5 to vacate the university owned house provided to him. CSU will also pay his moving expenses.