BC3 Adding Satellite Campus in Manor Township

by Jonathan Weaver

A regional community college is moving back into Armstrong County at the beginning of the fiscal year.

Butler County Community College, often abbreviated BC3, will open a satellite campus July 1 at Lenape Technical School’s NexTier Adult Learning Center in Manor Township.

Lenape Technical School Administrator Dawn Kocher-Taylor called BC3 Vice-President for Continuing Education and Off-Campus Sites William O`Brien two or three months ago – just after the Adult Learning Center was completed – about moving back into the county.

BC3 did operate a satellite location at Lenape Tech for 20 years – from 1982 to 2002 – but only offered night classes.

“She asked if we had a desire to come back. I went and did some research, and found out we don’t have as many students today as when we were here – so we thought we could gain those students by having a presence,” O`Brien said. “We looked at some other places, too, but at this time, we felt this was the best place to locate.”

Nearly 150 BC3 students are currently enrolled from Armstrong County, but there were up to as many as nearly 500 in 1992.

And that was just during evening classes. Starting in August, both daytime and evening classes in General Studies, Psychology and Business Administration will be offered – with templates in-place for other programs in the future.

There will be 16 courses offered this Fall and 18 this Spring.

Kocher-Taylor has been at Lenape Tech for 18 years, and said BC3 was a popular program here but students became discouraged when they had to transfer to the main campus to finish their degree. She was hopeful Lenape Tech could gain post-secondary partners to enrich local opportunities.

“This program provides the continuity for them to start and finish a program right here,” Kocher-Taylor said.
The college currently has satellite locations in Jefferson, Lawrence and Mercer Counties as well to complement its main location in Cranberry Township. Though Armstrong would be the smallest satellite, O`Brien said enrollment increases will lead the college to purchase more space.

Admission counselors currently recruit in Armstrong, but that will multiply with the addition of the new campus. Advertisement might also draw some Indiana County residents.

“We think that we’ve lost some Armstrong County residents because of the drive -, the gas prices, the tough weather in the wintertime,” O`Brien said. “That’s inconvenient for students to drive 45 minutes - Ford City and Kittanning are right in the middle, where your population base is.”

O`Brien said the program will become successful because of Kocher-Taylor’s enthusiasm.

“This is the type of training that the labor market of today demands – they need more than a traditional high school diploma, but less than a Bachelor’s degree,” Kocher-Taylor said. “This gives them the perfect foundation.

“I think that we’re perfect partners, I think that we have very similar visions and I think that we can build this – I already had one parent in my office today. There’s just so much potential for young people and adults, and I only see this getting better and growing.”

The average community college student is approximately 26 years old, O`Brien said.

BC3 already has a successful College within the High School Program with Lenape Tech and Ford City Junior/Senior High in the Armstrong School District.

Armstrong County Commissioner David Battaglia heard the presentation Thursday, and called it “a fantastic idea” to keep students in Armstrong County instead of leaving for college. Lenape Tech educates high school students from Apollo-Ridge, Armstrong, Freeport and Leechburg school districts.

“Employment has dropped dramatically over the last four years – five percent, with a lot of it energy-related – so the more people we can train locally, the better,” Battaglia said. “What really matters is, now instead of people taking their college dollars outside the county to get educated, we’ll keeping them here. If you train them to leave the county for school, you training them to leave the county for jobs

“Now, we’re giving them the opportunities and the reasons to stay here.”

BC3 officials are already connecting Internet and telephone cables, with plans to move in furniture this May. While the community college will utilize current staff, others will also be hired starting in July.

3 Comments

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  By jorn jensen, March 20, 2015 @ 7:26 AM

  This is really good news. Lenape VoTech is a gem for Armstrong County and BC3 will add to the shine. Good to have BC3 back. To bring private sector jobs to Armstrong County, we need a trained and ready/willing workforce as a start. Thank you Dawn Kocher-Taylor and BC3 leaders!
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  By Patzu, March 20, 2015 @ 2:33 PM

  Great news!

  Thanks to all who helped make this happen. We need more of this.
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  By Jane_PA, March 20, 2015 @ 4:17 PM

  What good news! I am positive the BC3 campus will be a success. What an opportunity for young and old to take classes!

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