HERMITAGE, Mercer County - Butler County Community College is hosting an open house from 7 to 9 p.m. next Wednesday

for its new

building in Mercer County at the LindenPointe Innovative Business Campus.

The center is located on Route 18 North in Hermitage.

Parents, high school students and returning adult students are invited to come to LindenPointe to see the new facilities and learn more about what a community college can offer to people living in the Shenango Valley and other Mercer County areas.

For 38 years, Butler County Community College has offered higher education and workforce training to residents of Cranberry Township, Butler, Armstrong and Lawrence counties, with some classes in Mercer County on a limited basis.

Now with the new LindenPointe building in Hermitage, BC3 will offer five degree programs that can be completed entirely at the Mercer County location without having to travel to BC3's main campus in Butler.

The programs of study are business administration; business management; computer information systems; elementary education; general studies; and pre-nursing.

A total of 24 classes will be offered, 18 nighttime and six daytime classes for the spring semester, which starts Jan. 13.

Staff and faculty will be available to answer questions, including those on admission procedures, financial aid help and scholarships.

Registration for the spring semester begins Dec. 1. To register, or for more information, call 724-346-2073 or toll-free at 888-826-2829, Ext. 8346 or visit online at www.bc3.edu.