BUTLER TWP — Butler County Community College’s website will undergo a major overhaul.

The BC3 trustees on Wednesday approved a $294,000 contract with BarkleyREI of Pittsburgh to completely revamp the website over 18 months.

The price tag includes a new responsive operating system that adapts to visitors using a smartphone, electronic tablet or computer. It also includes creating and working with focus groups, testing the site and training the faculty to use it.

“It has been six years since the college had a redesign of its website. This also is the first time we have contracted a third-party service whose sole business was Web design,” said Susan Chagnon, BC3 spokeswoman, adding that the cost was similar to other systems the college has researched.

Another aspect of the cost, she said, is the size of the BC3 website, which started at almost 1,200 individual pages, but has been trimmed to about 600 pages.

Chagnon said the BC3 website will remain operational while the new one is constructed, and students will provide input for the new site by participating in the focus groups and in testing.

She noted the current website has no online applications, and the new one will support applications, registration, book purchasing and everything else possible.

“It all has to be at a student’s fingertips,” Chagnon said. “Because of smartphones and iPads and new technology, BC3 needs to have a modern website.”