Chapter 12: Examining Community College Targeted Expansions in a Rural Environment: The Case of Butler County Community College

When higher education institutions make a conscious effort to expand in an area, especially one encompassing a rural population, administration must account for the specific need or needs absent in the area. In the case of Butler County Community College (BC3), one local campus has expanded into five satellite branch campuses within the past 52 years, with each campus targeting a need of the area in which it is serving, as well as investigating partnerships with neighboring schools to create opportunity for areas in which there is the potential for students to “fall through the cracks.” Once a campus moves past the need for massive recruitment efforts, the focus can then shift to community efforts that can both benefit the students currently pursuing options through higher education, as well as having a positive impact on the surrounding community. This chapter examines BC3’s expansion, and offers reflections— couched as takeaway messages—on such expansion endeavors. Based on BC3’s experience, targeted selection and appropriately-paced development, expansion, and partnership formation can make higher education a reality for all.