The college grants associate and bachelor degrees across five schools of study, including business, health sciences, information technology, criminal justice and veterinary technology. It also has a culinary division.
Many of its 6,000 students from across the United States and abroad take classes online.
That’s the case locally, but there is a plan to hire adjunct faculty by next fall.
“We don’t know how many yet,” spokesman Mark Apple said, adding it will be based on how many students sign up for September classes.
“Our long-term plan is to offer some blended classes through that facility,” he said.
Online students would be able to take a course or a portion of a course at the learning center, where students can now go for a quiet place to study or use a computer offering free Wi-Fi.
The college has 11 campuses in Indiana and expanded into Ohio with a Columbus area campus it opened in 2009.
Officials decided to expand in Dayton because of its commitment to higher education, the community’s initiative to establish itself as a center for growth in the technology sector and its proximity to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Apple said.
“We have an interest due to our success in attracting, retaining and graduating military service members,” he said.
“We also have quite a bit of experience in training displaced workers. Unfortunately, Dayton has a relatively high unemployment rate at this time and also our research shows a number of people who consider themselves to be underemployed.”
Harrison College is the latest school to locate to Fairborn, joining Strayer University, which opened at 2600 Paramount Place in October 2010.
Chris Wimsatt, Fairborn’s community development director, said work force development remains a big issue in this region as many people transition into new careers.
In Beavercreek, Clark State University and DeVry University have campuses along Pentagon Boulevard near the Mall at Fairfield Commons.
Hondros College, located in Fairborn’s Valle Green North business park, added a second building last year.
Wimsatt said the growth the area is seeing in colleges expanding or locating to the area is market driven.
“There is just a need for that,” he said.
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