BUTLER TWP — Butler County Community College will investigate how it might expand even more outside Butler County.

By the end of this year a committee at the college will review census and other data as officials consider growth in Cranberry Township, Mercer County and Erie, said Stephen Catt, director of development at the college.

"We're the furthest north of any of the community colleges in Western Pennsylvania, so we get training inquiries from as far away as Erie, DuBois and even St. Mary's," Catt said.

The ideas for target areas came from a brainstorming session, said Bill O'Brian, vice president for continuing education.

Forming a committee to look at expansion stems from one of the four initiatives the BC3 board of directors approved on Wednesday. The board also approved mission and vision statements.

O'Brian stressed plans are in the early stages and said it is possible the college will not expand at all.

"It's just an exploring process," he said.

The statement approved by the board states the college will "investigate geographic expansion beyond Butler County." The college will look at how, where and when to expand, as well as how to fund it.

A committee, which may form in the next month, will prioritize population when considering where the college may expand, O'Brian said. Because the college doesn't have student housing, its customers are commuters.

The goal is to have commuters drive less than an hour to school, he said.

"When we were established in 1966, this was where the population was," O'Brian said of the campus centered just outside of Butler.

Already the school has sites in Cranberry Township, Hermitage, Mercer County and New Castle.

Catt said any expansion most likely would be another off-campus center instead of a stand-alone site because of regulations.

Other initiatives include focusing on student recruitment and retention; making decisions based on credible data and information; and keeping the facilities in good condition.

The four initiatives were chosen from about 50 suggestions from faculty, administration and staff, Catt said.

The college began the process of creating the initiatives, vision and mission statements in the fall of 2004. Catt said the idea to put the items in writing came from an upcoming Middle States accreditation review.

The statements "help us bridge from vision to mission," Catt said.

The vision statement establishes four points BC3 wants to be known for, including, excellent education, affordable programs, leading in workforce development, and improving quality of life for the community.

The initiatives and statements "are not fancy. They aren't flashy," Catt said. "But they are a foundation to take the next step forward."