The Courseveiw Campus Center in Mason is an extension of the Dayton-based college. The fees are expected to generate more than $4.6 million.
Sinclair would use the money to meet the demands of growing enrollment and decreased state support, according to the college. Enrollment has grown 28 percent the past two years and is expected to reach double digits again this fall. Online programs have grown from four in fall 2007 to 17 fall 2009. The school plans to continue to add to its online classes.
Additional technology also will be needed during the next 10 years, such as updating technology in 116 classrooms, is expected to be more than $40 million. Money was already spent to upgrade 210 classrooms to multimedia labs with wireless internet, desktop computers and projectors.
Since 2007, public higher education institutions have only been allowed to increase tuition and fees by 3.5 percent over the previous year, except in extreme cases approved by the controlling board such as this. Sinclair’s board of trustees already approved a 3.5 percent tuition increase for the 2010 to 2011 academic year.
The technology and student success fee impacts more than 25,000 students currently taking classes, 30 percent of whom will be impacted by the out-of-county fee.
The community college has not increased general fees since 1986. Nor has it increased tuition 12 of the last 19 years. And with the fees, Sinclair still has the lowest tuition of a two-year institution in the state, according to Sinclair’s request.
Sinclair has more than 1,000 students from Butler County at its main Dayton campus and Mason campus, with some overlap, according to Natasha Baker, spokeswoman.