President Johnson provides insight into the 2011-2012 academic year
Clarion: What are you like outside of Sinclair?
President Johnson: I really enjoy reading. I do a fair amount of reading. I really enjoy music, and I like strumming guitars. I also have chickens because I raise chickens.
Clarion: How well can you play the guitar?
President Johnson: I play a strumming guitar. I can strum some stuff; I’m not a really good guitar player. Let’s just say that the strumming that I did 30 years ago, I’ve perfected.
Clarion: How does it feel to wear so many hats?
President Johnson: I do have many roles, but I have always enjoyed variety. It serves me perfectly fine and well. I love it.
What is your favorite television show to watch on television?
Clarion: If you had one wish what would that wish be?
President Johnson: I wish that every student that came to Sinclair would find the success that they are seeking. That they would achieve what they have come to Sinclair to achieve. Whether it is a course, a series of course, a certificate or a degree, I want to make sure that we are delivering the best that anyone could ever do.
Clarion: What was the last book you read and why?
President Johnson: The very last book I read was about water called The Big Thirst: the secret life of water. It is about the usefulness and history of water and then about how various communities in Spain, Nevada and Africa have approached their water crisis.
Clarion: As president, what has been the best experience?
President Johnson: I ask students at commencement to stand if they were told that they were not college material. To see 500 students stand up out of 700 it is like wow and to see that they are graduating. I really enjoy that.
Clarion: We hear that tuition is being raised? How much and why?
President Johnson: We are one of the few colleges with the lowest tuition cost in the state. This fall the board chose to freeze tuition, which means that the tuition you paid in the summer that is what you will pay in the fall.
Clarion: With the recent rise in enrollment this fall quarter, what are Sinclair’s plans to adjust to the new wave of students?
President Johnson: We are adding more faculty positions and advisors. We are looking at the possibility of expanding in Warren County.
Clarion: How do you feel about the rise in enrollment?
President Johnson: Enrollment has increased so quickly that it is an indication of how many people want and need to go to college. I am glad that we have been able to increase our capacity and not turn students away. It has been really important to us to not turn students away.
Clarion: Do you hear complaints from students?
President Johnson: I hear good things and I hear issues of concern. The things that students are concerned about are the lines in the bookstore; the close-end parking being full or that sometimes classrooms are overcrowded. Those are most of the concerns I hear.
Clarion: Do you hear any good things from students?
President Johnson: For many years, students have told me how friendly and caring people are. That there is good financial aid and scholarships available and that tuition is low.
Clarion: Where do you see the Sinclair in the next five years?
President Johnson: The most important thing for all of us – and students can help us out with this is focusing on student completion. I mean there are many students that say they want to get a degree or a certificate. But not everyone that comes here is serious, but they need to be serious because it is really important to complete a credential. So, we will be working together with students to help those students who are not completing be more successful.
Clarion: What are some changes taking place within Sinclair?
President Johnson: Sinclair works really hard to be aligned with the Dayton region, which is providing the education that is needed to live here. Sinclair will be offering new effective programs; so that we are staying fresh and these courses will help students get jobs.
Clarion: How is the Bill and Melinda Gates initiative coming along?
President Johnson: We are in the planning phrases right now. We are analyzing why students are dropping out to see if is something we are doing wrong.
Clarion: Why is this an important step for the college?
President Johnson: Sinclair strives to be the best college on the planet and being the best college means that nobody does a better job with helping students get a certificate, a degree or take some classes and transfer. In many ways, we are that college right now, but we want to make sure that we are doing the best job that we can for everybody.
Clarion: Yes, parking is always an issue. What has Sinclair done to try to make parking more accessible for students?
President Johnson: We have continued to lease land and parking lots in order to provide overflow parking. We continue to maintain the shuttle service to those more remote lots. We are doing a review of possibly building another parking garage.
Clarion: What is your favorite meal to eat on Campus?
President Johnson: All food is my friend. There has never been much that I don’t like. There has never been a pizza that I didn’t like. Suzie down in the cafeteria, makes the best Buffalo Chicken wraps. She makes the best wraps that I have ever had. I don’t know what her secret sauce is. Jimmy also makes the best Asian food.
Clarion: If you were a student at Sinclair, what classes would you take?
President Johnson: If I were a student that has never taken classes before, I would listen to my advisor about what I should take because they really know how to make that happen. I would take art, a little bit of design and culinary art classes.
Clarion: What is your feeling toward semester transition?
President Johnson: I am so proud of how everyone has pulled together to plan and implement probably one of the most difficult things a college could ever do and that is to change calendars and schedules because it changes everything. I wouldn’t have done it, but every other college is changing and I didn’t want Sinclair students to be disadvantaged.
Clarion: Are there any ways students can give you feedback?
President Johnson: president@sinclair.edu, they can call 512-2525 or stop by the office. They can also come to the student forum that we are going to be doing on Sept. 27 at 11 a.m. in the Library Loggia.