BUTLER TWP — The U.S. Department of Education has asked Butler County Community College to attend the first of its four regional conferences to promote community colleges.

Nicholas C. Neupauer, BC3 president, will attend the Community College Regional Summit on Feb. 28 in Philadelphia.

The meetings are part of President Obama's push to grow the number of U.S. college graduates. He wants the country to have the highest proportion of college graduates worldwide by 2020.

At the meeting, Department of Education officials will work with community college leaders on practices that reduce student barriers to graduation.