The popularity of distance education — taking courses online, at one's own convenience — is growing full-time enrollment at Butler County Community College.

The number of students attending BC3 full-time is up by 111 more students than in fall 2009, reflected in a 4.6 percent increase in the number of credits students purchased, said Susan Changnon, BC3 director of communications and marketing.

Overall, enrollment grew by 2.3 percent this fall, on top of last year's 15 percent student surge. As of Monday, overall enrollment reached 4,373 students, 98 more than a year earlier.

"We started the Distance Learning program in the '90s, and it grows every year," Changnon said.

BC3's students are often working at the same time they attend college, and thus are often attracted to online learning because it permits them to finish college faster, she said. At the same time, part-time enrollment is down by 13 students.

Of those 4,373 students: 2,783 are Butler County residents, a 4.8 percent increase; 771 are Lawrence County residents, a 1.4 percent increase; and 380 students live in Mercer County, a 26.2 percent increase.

In addition, BC3 has 385 students from other counties, 28 from out-of-state — mainly Ohio, 17 who are enrolled in college at the same time they are in high school, and nine who attend in conjunction with their employment.

Although enrollment numbers will change throughout the year, as students enroll or drop out, the college estimates it will experience a 5 percent increase in enrollment by the end of summer 2011, which is the end of its school year.

"Typically, we get more students in fall than in spring, but not always," Changnon said.

In 2009-10, BC3 held the distinction of being the fastest-growing public institution in Pennsylvania, said Nick Neupauer, BC3 president. It grew fastest of any of the state's 14 community colleges, its 14 state universities and its four other state-related schools, including the University of Pittsburgh and Penn State.

The college will have to wait until the end of its school year to learn if it can keep that title.

Nationally, community colleges are the largest and fastest growing segment of America's higher education system, enrolling more than 8 million students each year, according to a White House news release.

As a result, the White House announced Thursday that Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, will convene the first White House Summit on Community Colleges Oct. 5.

The White House has set up a number of ways for the public to participate in the summit online at: WhiteHouse.gov/CommunityCollege.

Community college students are encouraged to submit their stories about how community college has changed their lives.

Educators, administrators, students and stakeholders can participate in an online dialogue about improving community colleges for the future.

Jill Biden taught English and reading in high schools for 13 years, and also taught adolescents with emotional disabilities at a psychiatric hospital. From 1993 to 2008 she was an English and writing instructor at Delaware Technical & Community College.

As of 2009, she is an adjunct English professor at Northern Virginia Community College, and she is thought to be the first second lady to hold a paying job while her husband serves as vice president.