BC3 at LindenPointe Considers Move to Penn State Shenango Campus

BUTLER, Pa. – Officials are considering moving Butler County Community College’s BC3 at LindenPointe to Penn State Shenango’s campus in Sharon.

A feasibility study will explore opportunities for shared resources while educating each institution’s students separately at Penn State Shenango. The institutions will study degree offerings to avoid duplication and explore academic programs to benefit local workforce needs. 

If the co-location is approved, BC3 at LindenPointe, currently located in Hermitage, Pa., would become the first Pennsylvania community college to be located on a Penn State campus. 

“These are two strong institutions that are looking into joining forces to sustain the delivery of affordable and accessible higher education in the Shenango Valley,” said Nick Neupauer, president of BC3. “That’s incredibly important. In this day and age, it is not about being in silos. It’s about the synergy involved with collaborations and partnerships.” 

Penn State Shenango and BC3 at LindenPointe have served the greater Sharon region since 1963 and 1997, respectively.  

“Penn State Shenango looks forward to discussing the opportunity to strengthen our partnership with Butler County Community College and continuing to work together to ensure that our residents have access to postsecondary education,” said Jo Anne Carrick, campus director and chief academic officer at Penn State Shenango. 

The feasibility study announcement comes five months after Gov. Josh Shapiro said in his 2023 budget address that Pennsylvania needs to reevaluate its higher education system amid declining enrollments. 

“Colleges [are] competing with one another for a limited dollar, duplicating degree programs, driving up costs and actually reducing access,” Shapiro said. 

The result of the feasibility study is expected by Dec. 31. Among factors to be considered will be the sale of the BC3 at LindenPointe building, which is owned by the BC3 Education Foundation.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.