In 2006, spurred by a looming recession and an increase in prospective students, Sinclair opened the doors of two regional campuses in Englewood and Huber Heights. After various factors led to low enrollment at these campuses, at the close of the fiscal calendar in 2024, their doors will be closing.
With the country heading towards the Great Recession in 2006, companies like General Motors, Mead and NCR closed shop in the Dayton area. Employees, left without jobs but wanting to remain in Dayton, needed to boost their portfolios with additional education and skills.
In conversation with The Clarion, Catherine Petersen, Sinclair’s Chief of Public Information, said, “Having the regional centers was so convenient for our Northern audience of students, so they didn’t have to come downtown.”
Related Article: Sinclair’s Englewood, Huber Heights Learning Centers to Close at the End of the Fiscal Year
At peak enrollment, Englewood saw about 2,500 students and Huber Heights saw 3,000 students. These metrics were stable for several years. Over the years, various factors, the most dramatic being the COVID-19 pandemic, led to a crash in enrollment.
“The decision was made by the board of trustees earlier this year that it was in the best interest of the college to close those two regional centers. We still have regional centers in Centerville and Mason where both have seen a bounce back in enrollment,” said Petersen.
Although a return to in-person learning seems to be preferred, backed statistically by students returning to face-to-face classes in Mason, Centerville, and downtown Dayton, Englewood and Huber Heights weren’t able to return to their former successful enrollment metrics.
At its peak, the Huber Heights campus hosted 3,000 students. Photo Credit: Jay Mazega
There’s a bittersweet sentiment from faculty regarding the closures. These regional campuses increased the schools outreach and offered otherwise unavailable resources, such as the allied health labs at Huber Heights. Students often used the campuses to study or receive tutoring and faculty who lived further from downtown would set up their offices there. On the other hand, there’s the understanding that, with low enrollment at these campuses, the resources would be better allocated towards improvements elsewhere.
This change will not only affect faculty, but the entire Sinclair community, especially students.
Speaking to The Clarion, former Sinclair student, Parker Moore, who took courses at the Huber Heights campus, said “It was a really easy drive and a nice environment. I liked my time there a lot.”
“I’m sad to see it close, but I’m glad I got the opportunity to go there. . . It was the perfect way to get out of the house for school without making the trip downtown”, added the former student.
Although students and staff seem to have enjoyed these campuses, that feeling isn’t backed by data. It boils down to Sinclair listening to what the public wants. With decreased enrollment there and increases at the main campus and the two remaining regional campuses, the move to close is logical.
The college experience is what you make it, but the campus you choose has a large impact. Former Huber Heights and Englewood students and faculty will be understandably downhearted, but the school’s hope is that the action may be viewed positively and lead to a brighter future overall.
Davis Miller, Intern
(Featured Image by Jay Mazega)