Sinclair seeks to offer targeted four-year degrees

Ohio leaders are preparing to let Sinclair Community College offer four-year baccalaureate degrees in certain targeted disciplines, Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor and Ohio Chancellor John Carey said today at Sinclair.

Sinclair leaders now expect to begin a process that ultimately will allow students to pursue four-year courses of study in technical areas and majors yet to be announced.

Such a change is not an altogether new idea. There are currently 64 community colleges in 16 states that are allowed to confer four-year bachelor’s degrees, including Ohio neighbors Indiana and Michigan, according to the Community College Baccalaureate Association 2014 fall schedule. But the change — which has not been approved by legislators, Carey, the Board of Regents or Sinclair’s own board — would be a first in Ohio.