(HERMITAGE, Pa.) — Butler County Community College will discontinue in-person credit programs at its BC3 @ LindenPointe location in Mercer County in August 2025. The decision follows an analysis of enrollment trends, facility usage, financial implications and future sustainability.
Enrollment at BC3 @ LindenPointe has declined significantly over the past decade, from 300 students in fall 2014 to 45 in fall 2024, with the sharpest decline occurring in the 2020-21 academic year.
“In-person enrollment at BC3 @ LindenPointe has continued to decline in recent years, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr. Joshua Novak, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management. “Enrollment continues to be a challenge at many institutions, and our numbers simply have not rebounded to a sustainable level.”
In-person credit classes at BC3 @ LindenPointe will continue through the spring semester and summer session, concluding Aug. 5 with final exams for descriptive chemistry, productivity applications and human growth and development.
All other BC3 locations will remain fully operational and continue accepting new students for the fall 2025 semester and beyond. BC3’s location in Lawrence County will relocate this summer from Union Township to Shenango Township, a site better suited to accommodate enrollment and student needs.
Commitment to student success and impact on employees
The college has notified students attending BC3 @ LindenPointe, as well as the full- and part-time faculty and staff at the Hermitage facility, about the decision.
“Ensuring that currently enrolled students have a clear path to completing their degrees is the top priority,” said Dr. Belinda Richardson, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We are in the process of developing completion plans for each student, which may include online courses or courses offered at our other locations.”
BC3 is exploring opportunities for faculty and staff currently employed at BC3 @ LindenPointe, including reassignment to areas with the greatest potential for growth.
BC3 @ LindenPointe offers associate degrees in 11 transfer programs, four career programs and one certificate program. Credits earned at BC3 are transferable to public, private and online four-year colleges and universities.
Continued presence in Mercer County
BC3 will continue serving Mercer County through online programs and classes, workforce training and high school dual enrollment.
In the 2024-25 academic year, nearly 100 Mercer County residents took at least one online class from BC3. The college anticipates growth in dual enrollment opportunities with the introduction of new, affordable tuition for the program and potential state grant funding.
BC3 currently offers training in emergency medical services and fire services at Mercer County fire departments and is developing additional workforce training programs.
“We remain committed to serving Mercer County in meaningful ways,” said Megan Coval, BC3 interim president. “While we are discontinuing in-person credit programs at BC3 @ LindenPointe, we are exploring other opportunities to meet the needs of residents and remain an educational partner in Mercer County.”
Commitment to fiscal responsibility
BC3 leadership emphasized that the decision to discontinue in-person credit programs at BC3 @ LindenPointe is part of a broader effort to address financial challenges and maintain the institution’s long-term stability amid demographic changes.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Mercer County public school districts enrolled 18,644 students in the 2005-06 academic year. That number is projected to decline to 11,797 by the 2033-34 academic year, a nearly 37% decrease.
“While this is a difficult transition, it is our responsibility to make sound financial decisions for the future of the college,” said Jake Friel, vice president for administration and finance. “Discontinuing in-person programs at BC3 @ LindenPointe is expected to save approximately $450,000 annually, allowing us to better allocate resources to serve our students.”
BC3 explored creative ways to continue offering in-person credit programs in Mercer County, including a feasibility study with Penn State Shenango in 2023 that examined the possibility of colocation.
“While we looked at potential partnerships and alternative models, we could not identify a solution that was feasible long term,” Coval said. “The trends in enrollment and demographics made it clear that our best course of action was to focus on online education and dual enrollment in Mercer County.”
BC3 has served students in Mercer County since 1997. Credit programs and courses were first offered at what is now the LindenPointe Business Campus in Hermitage in 2004. The BC3 Education Foundation purchased the BC3 @ LindenPointe building in 2010 and expanded it by 16,000 square feet in 2011 to accommodate growing enrollment at the time.
The foundation leases the 20,212-square-foot BC3 @ LindenPointe building, situated on 8.81 acres in the LindenPointe Business Campus, to the college. The building was listed for sale at $3.1 million in June 2024.
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Contact: Jessica Matonak, Executive Director of Communications and Marketing, 724-287-8711, ext. 8822, Jessica.Matonak@bc3.edu.
