BUTLER TWP — Butler County Community College is going through its reaccreditation process, with a visit from the Middle States Commission of Higher Education March 20- 23.

The accreditation process ensures that colleges uphold standards set by a peer review board of faculty from other accredited institutions.

Reaccreditation, which occurs every 10 years, according to President Nick Neupauer, is important because it can affect the degrees that a college can grant and its financial aid availability.

As part of the process, the college does a two-year self-study, which at BC3 was conducted by Alex Gladis, director of BC3’s Cranberry campus, and Sherri Mack, a professor in the business division.

Middle States will validate BC3’s self-study’s findings, relating to 14 standards, including the institution’s integrity, student assessment, educational offerings and student support services.

“The substance of our report has been strategic planning 10 years in the making,” Neupauer said.

The college had its last visit evaluation in 2006 and then participated in a standard, five-year review in 2011.

Regarding the evaluation, Neupauer said, “I feel confident with where we are as an institution. I have every confidence that we’ve done everything we’ve needed to do as an institution.”

The college expects to hear the final report on its reaccreditation in the summer, Neupauer said.