Sinclair Community College held its annual 2010 Board Advance meeting on Jan. 30, as the Sinclair Board of Trustees discussed and voted on numerous issues involving the college.
During the meeting, the trustees voted to invest $75 million into the Dayton campus over a five-year span.
In a town hall meeting on Feb. 5, Sinclair President Steven Johnson stressed that the college is as healthy as ever and “there isn’t a better college in Ohio better prepared for the future.”
Johnson said in the meeting Sinclair is contemplating an increase in tuition, which could see a rise up to 15 percent in the future. Johnson said he would like to see an incremental increase rather than one large jump in tuition and the college would continue to hold the lowest tuition rate in the state.
“We are pretty sure raising tuition would not be a barrier of access,” he said in the meeting. “We would not hurt our access and affordability.”
Sinclair’s Director of College Relations Natasha Baker said the Board of Trustees did not vote on tuition increases, but the issue was discussed.
“The board is still very much committed to staying the lowest tuition in the state,” Baker said. “No decision was made on (Jan. 30) to raise tuition.”
“We’re sitting in economic times like everyone else,” Baker said.
Sinclair raised its tuition by 3.5 percent at the beginning of winter quarter. The increase was Sinclair’s first in more than three years. Montgomery County residents pay $46.55 per credit hour; Ohio residents outside of Montgomery County pay a rate of $76.50; and out-of-state residents pay $150.55 per credit hour.
The trustees also discussed the developing Courseview Campus Center in Mason. Johnson said at the town hall meeting that the center has expanded at a far greater pace than Sinclair expected and the trustees are exploring ways to expand the growing Mason campus.
“Sinclair is healthy, viable and has grown to meet student needs,” he said, “and we will continue to do so.”