BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing Unveils 3 New Career Programs

(New Castle) BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing has become the first of Butler County Community College’s five additional sites to offer associate of applied science degree programs in office administration-medical and in accounting, and the second in office administration-executive – career programs that will allow students to develop skills needed to enter the workforce immediately after graduation.

Students completing an associate degree in office administration-medical can work as secretaries or administrative assistants in a medical environment. Those professions in 2016 paid an average salary of $34,600 in Pennsylvania, according to the state Department of Labor and Industry. Employees with experience earned up to $39,030.

Students with an associate degree in office administration-executive can work as secretaries or administrative assistants in business, government, educational or industrial environments. Those professions in 2016 paid an average salary of $34,930 in Pennsylvania, according to the state Department of Labor and Industry. Those with experience earned up to $40,480.

Labor market statistics support the need for job placement opportunities in these specialized areas, said Dr. Belinda Richardson, BC3’s vice president for academic affairs.

“BC3 has offered these programs at its main campus in Butler Township,” Richardson said. “Expanding these offerings to BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing supports our strategic plan objectives to create pathways for students to complete their academic goals at all campus locations.”

Dean: Need on rise for those with accounting skills

Students earning an associate degree in accounting work as governmental, junior or cost accountants; as accounting trainees, clerks and assistants; and as financial and control clerks. Professions such as financial clerks in 2016 paid an average salary of $42,130 in Pennsylvania, according to the state Department of Labor and Industry. Employees with experience earned up to $46,520.

“There is an increasing need for students who are knowledgeable in accounting concepts,” said Dr. Christian Ola, BC3’s dean of business. “So many times, people think it’s just about being a CPA and the reality is, a majority of employers need students who can support daily operations doing things like accounts payable, inventory management and reconciliation. BC3’s degree in accounting fully prepares students to enter the workforce in this capacity, as well as enables students to continue on to a four-year degree if they choose that direction.”

BC3 graduates seeking to pursue a bachelor’s degree in accounting can do so from BC3’s main campus through a degree-completion partnership with Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

Seventy-five percent of BC3’s recent graduates are debt-free. BC3’s tuition is the least expensive among 42 western Pennsylvania colleges and universities, according to the U.S. Department of Education, which adds that BC3 has the highest ratio among those 42 schools of graduates’ salaries compared with the cost of attending.

Students are shown at BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing in New Castle in this spring 2018 file photo. BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing has added three new associate of applied science degree programs that will allow students to develop skills needed to enter the workforce immediately after graduation.

Director: BC3 strives to meet community needs

Students in BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing’s office administration-executive program will acquire skills in Microsoft programs, office procedures, customer service and in business communication.

Those in BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing’s office administration-medical program will also develop skills in Microsoft programs, and in medical terminology, insurance billing and coding, front office duties and in office procedures.

Students in BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing’s accounting program will be able to apply accounting concepts and terms to accounting problems; complete payroll processes in a simulated payroll project; analyze the financial effects of a company’s activities; and complete computerized accounting cycle tasks and reports using general ledger accounting software.

The three new career programs at BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing join those in business management, emergency services-police services option, human resource management and technical trades-cosmetology management option.

“I think it’s tremendous that students can now complete degrees in these popular programs without having to leave Lawrence County,” said Sean Carroll, director of BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing. “BC3 is always striving to meet the needs of the communities in which it serves, and the students who complete these degrees have a great opportunity to enter the workforce and earn a significant wage.”

BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing also offers transfer programs in business administration, criminology, early childhood education (pre K-4), general studies, history, physical education-sports management option, pre-nursing, psychology, secondary education and in social work.

2 one-year certificate programs also on menu

BC3’s credits transfer to public, private and online institutions. Students who complete degrees in business administration, criminology, early childhood education (pre K-4), history, psychology and social work can transfer to any Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education institution with junior standing.

Students at BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing can also pursue certificates in medical assistant, and medical coding and billing specialist, that take one year to complete.

In addition to having the least expensive tuition and the highest salary-to-cost ratio among 42 western Pennsylvania colleges and universities, BC3 has been ranked the No. 1 community college in the state in two consecutive surveys by Schools.com.

According to Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, community college graduates earn $423,000 more over a lifetime than do individuals with only a high school diploma.

BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing’s fall 2018 open house is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at 2849 W. State St., New Castle.