The new Student Success Center at Butler County Community College, which was officially opened with a ribbon cutting last week, manages to be new, while still looking like an established part of the campus' fresh face, nestled in front of tall oak trees and beside the striking Science and Technology Center.

Thursday's celebration of the Success Center's opening was a reminder of BC3's knack for being progressive, as well as practical and cost-conscious — all positive traits.

The new building, which has been open since the start of the semester and which houses admissions, campus police, tutoring, preadmission testing as well as student clubs and other services, is a one-stop shop efficiently serving students' needs. Putting the various student-centered functions under one roof has eliminated students having to go from one building to another all over campus for the various services.

Housing these various student services in one building reflects a practical, forward-looking approach at the college. As a complement to that progressive approach, the building features a nod to the past in its lodge-inspired design and the way it blends in with the rest of the campus. A three-story-tall glass front provides natural lighting for an open atrium and towering stone walls, giving the building's lobby an airy and modern look that still feels warm and comfortable.

A nod to the past and BC3's beginning is found in the building's design. The $6.6 million building was designed by architect John Kosar, of Burt Hill, who was involved in designing the original buildings on the Oak Hills campus in 1966.

Beyond its functionality and attractive design, the Student Success Center also demonstrates the project-management capabilities of BC3 officials, along with contractors and architects. The building was completed on time and came in at 20 percent under budget. County officials should take note.

The construction growth at BC3 represented by the new Student Success Center is mirrored by admissions growth at the college, which has hit a record 4,226 this fall, a 15 percent increase over last year.

Full-time students have increased by 21 percent, and part-time student enrollment is up 9 percent.

Within Butler County, the college's enrollment figures are up 11 percent. At the school's out-of-county facilities, enrollment increased even more, with Lawrence County seeing a 28 percent jump, and enrollment at the Mercer County facility run by BC3 growing by 35 percent.

Given the fact that 28 percent of the high school graduates from Butler, Karns City, Slippery Rock and Moniteau school districts attend BC3, the community college plays a significant role in post-secondary education in the county. BC3 attendance for graduates of Knoch is 25 percent, while it's 17 percent of Mars' graduates and 16 percent of Seneca Valley grads.

These figures are a reminder of the college's central role in education in Butler County, for students seeking associate degrees or planning to attend a four-year college, as well as those taking non-credit courses for personal enrichment.

And with tuition costs at most four-year colleges continuing the troubling trend of increasing faster than inflation, more and more students are following a path to a college degree from a four-year institution that begins at a community college, where costs are much lower and many students can save even more by living at home.

With last week's celebration of the opening of the new Student Success Center, BC3 continues to demonstrate its leadership role in the education, development and growth of Butler County.