Sinclair Campus Closes | Graphic by Abigail Abbott | The Wright State Guardian
Sinclair Community College is set to close two of its six learning centers in May. The Huber Heights and Englewood locations that were once important parts of their communities are now closing due to attendance issues.
History of Sinclair
Sinclair Community College was founded by David Sinclair in 1887, according to the college’s website. It started as an educational program in the YMCA. The first courses offered there were in Bookkeeping and Mechanical Drawing.
In 1959, Sinclair College received its separate incorporation. In 1965, Sinclair went public and became an official community college.
From there, many advancements were made up to 2006, when the Englewood and Huber Heights locations were built.
Why are they closing?
These two locations are mainly closing due to enrollment numbers. Catherine Peterson, chief of public information, stated that attendance has witnessed a steady drop for years and got worse following the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
These two locations were vital to their communities following the 2008 recession but are now considered unnecessary.
“These two locations have had significant enrollment drop in the past 10 years,” Peterson said. “This issue has been exacerbated by the pandemic, with more students taking online courses and more high school College-Credit Plus students going to other campuses. The use of these locations [has] become obsolete.”
Peterson reports that these locations will close at the end of the spring 2024 semester. The fate of the buildings is still up in the air.
Student reaction
Some Wright State students who grew up in the closing locations’ areas admit that they were not shocked by the news of their closing.
Karama Noaks is a Public Administration major and Huber Heights resident.
“I’ve lived in Huber Heights my whole life, and it definitely has been steadily not busy. When I was little, it was booming, but now it seems no one goes there,” Noaks said.
Others remember having classes and feeling a fondness for the schools.
“I had one or two classes at the Englewood location,” Cassie Busey, a psychology major who transferred from Sinclair, said. “I kind of liked how that campus was set up too. It’s a shame.”
While these locations are closing, Sinclair Community College’s other locations will remain open. These campuses include Dayton-Main, Centerville, Wright–Patterson Air Force Base and Mason.
