CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield County Commissioners heard a presentation on Pennsylvania’s fastest growing community college at a work shop meeting Tuesday.
Butler County Community College is now servicing 11 counties in the Northwest/Central region and opening its fifth branch, BC3 at Upper Allegheny, in Reynoldsville on Jan. 18 of next year.
Director Jill Martin Rend said there currently isn’t a community college located north of Interstate 80. She said BC3 is to offer two online degree programs, and courses will be provided each spring, summer and fall.
According to her, they will offer a two-year, associate’s degree in business management. In addition, students who successfully complete the two-year general studies program will be able to transfer credits to a four-year institution.
She said their main satellite location is at Jeff Tech, 576 Vo Tech Rd., in Reynoldsville. However, branch satellite locations are in Port Allegany, St. Marys, Warren and Shippenville as well, she said.
This spring, Rend said there will be 11 courses offered at the BC3 campus. She said six courses will be taught online while five others are to be face-to-face.
Rend said all applicants will be admitted to BC3 and required to complete placement testing in reading, writing and math. She said it will allow them to better place students in the respective programs.
“We’re coming in to offer a new opportunity to everyone. We want everyone in the region to get an education,” she said. She added that some courses are offered online in order to increase access to prospective students.
She emphasized that each branch houses a computer laboratory, which offers high-speed Internet access. She said any student can commute to campus to complete course work and for online access.
Rend said that students who are in face-to-face courses will pay $188 per credit. Online courses are $15 more, or $203 per credit, she said.
She said they have partnered with many four-year colleges and universities. She said many of their students earn their two-year degree there but then transfer to pursue further education. She said they have also worked with high schools to offer dual enrollment opportunities since 1997.
When asked about enrollment by Commissioner Joan Robinson-McMillen, Rend said they have several students currently in the placement testing. But she said there has been a lot of interest generated by phone calls and online.
“Our Web site has really been hit hard,” Rend said.
Commissioner Mark McCracken welcomed Rend and BC3 to the region. He said it was great to see a more cost-effective option to education for the residents of Clearfield County.