Enrollment for the fall semester and spring 2019 semester is down about 3 percent, the Butler County Community College board of trustees learned Wednesday.

Fall credits are down by 1,539, or 4.83 percent, from 31,835 in 2017 to 30,296 this year. The student headcount decreased by 101, or 3.02 percent, from 3,341 in 2017 to 3,240 this year. The campuses in Cranberry Township and Armstrong County are the only ones that showed increases.

Spring credits are down by 1,719, or 6.99 percent, from 24,595 this year to 22,876 for 2019. The headcount decreased by 66, or 2.97 percent, from 2,225 this year to 2,159 next year. The Brockway campus was the only one to show an increase.

James Hrabosky, vice president of administration and finance, said he believes many BC3 students work and they are taking fewer credits due to their work demands and schedules. The enrollment losses would be greater if the college didn't have five other campuses in addition to the main campus, said Ray Steffler, trustees chairman.

He said all post-secondary schools are competing to attract students.

“Everybody's out there fighting for the same students,” Steffler said.

Low student loan default rates

Nicholas Neupauer, BC3 president, had some better numbers to report.

He said the school has the lowest student loan default rate of all community colleges in the state.

“BC3 has the lowest default rate of all 14 community colleges,” Neupauer said.

An average of 14.95 percent of community college students statewide default on their loans, but BC3's rate is 9 percent, he said.

At Westmoreland County Community College the rate was 16.2 percent and at Allegheny County Community College the rate is 14.6 percent, he said.

Storm management

Administrators and board members commended Brian Opitz, executive director of operations, for overseeing the response to the November ice storm that left BC3 and many county residents without electricity for several days.

The power went out Nov. 16 and was restored Nov. 18. Classes were canceled.

Board member Glenn Miller said he went to the main campus Nov. 17 after Opitz called him.

Fallen trees and branches and the snow and ice made driving on campus dangerous so he said he walked around to get a look.

“I couldn't believe the state of the campus,” Miller said.

He credited Opitz for organizing the clean up.

“It was a war zone,” Neupauer said.

He said Opitz came to the campus despite not having power at his home.

“This guy is a gem. This guy is remarkable,” Steffler said.