Sinclair Community College is an urban community college located in downtown Dayton, Ohio and is the largest community college at a single location in the state of Ohio.
Sinclair had an enrollment of 25,345 students in 2009, making the main campus one of the largest (by enrollment) community college campuses in North America.
Because of special funding set up by the taxpayers of Montgomery County, the tuition of the college is the lowest in Ohio for residents of that county; the tuition necessary to complete an associate degree program can cost less than a single quarter’s tuition at other colleges.
Sinclair Community College was featured in a 2009 issue of The New York Times. The article explained how community colleges in the United States, like Sinclair, help to create jobs in an unstable economy. The article also stated that Sinclair is widely known as one of the best community colleges in the region.
History
Sinclair Community College is named for David A. Sinclair, a Scottish immigrant and secretary of the Dayton YMCA (1874â€"1902), who founded the adult training school that eventually became Sinclair College in 1948.
Under the leadership of Dr. David Ponitz, who served as president from 1975 to 1997, Sinclair became a model institution for community colleges by pioneering new approaches in technology and business curricula. The David H. Ponitz Sinclair Center (Building 12) is named after him.
Campus
Until 2006, the main campus in downtown Dayton was the college’s only learning area, aside from some classes held in area high schools, YMCAs, and other facilities.
Sinclair's satellite facilities are located in cities near Dayton: Englewood, Eaton, Huber Heights, and Mason. Ribbon-cutting ceremonies for the Englewood Learning Center, located at the YMCA in Englewood, were held on May 8, 2006; for the Huber Heights Learning Center on September 22, 2006; and for the Courseview Campus Center in Mason on September 7, 2007. Classes began at the Preble County Learning Facility, located next to the YMCA in Eaton, on September 9, 2009.
Sinclair Community College is a purely commuter school and does not currently have any dorms or other forms of on-campus housing. Sinclair also offers over 180 different online courses.
Academics
Accreditation
As of 2009, Sinclair is an accredited member of The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Sinclair is also a member of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges. Programs of study are approved by the Ohio Board of Regents. Sinclair is authorized to grant associate degrees in arts, sciences, applied science, and individualized and technical study.
Of the more than 70 programs offered at the college, only the following have program-specific accreditation:
Controversies
In March 2013 the college settled a First Amendment lawsuit by revising a speech code that prohibited students and visitors from holding signs on campus. In March 2017 the college ordered student Advisors A.J. Owens and Dr. Matt Massie to apologize to Forest Wilson, a student and candidate for Student Senate President over Wilson's campaign to get food stamps accepted on campus.
See also
- List of community colleges
References
External links
- Sinclair Community College Web site
- Englewood Learning Center Web site
- Huber Heights Learning Center Web site
- Courseview Campus Center (Mason, Ohio) Web site
- Preble County Learning Center (Eaton, Ohio) Web site
- Sinclair Alumni Association Web site