Bucks County Community College (Bucks) is a publiccommunity college in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1964, Bucks has three campuses and online courses: a main campus in Newtown, an "Upper Bucks" campus in the town of Perkasie, and a "Lower Bucks" campus in the town of Bristol. There are also various satellite facilities located throughout the county. The college offers courses via face-to-face classroom-based instruction, eLearning classes offered completely online (often referred to as distance learning), and in hybrid (blended) modes that combine face-to-face instruction with online learning. The college is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.[2]
History
The main Newtown campus is located on a former estate that Bucks County acquired in very early 1965 from Temple University, which had inherited it from Stella Elkins Tyler, a wealthy benefactor, only two years before. The George F. Tyler Mansion houses administrative offices.[3] It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.[4]
Locations
Bucks has three campuses and also offers online classes.[5]
Facilities include: library, computer labs, science labs, teleconference center, art studios and workshops, TV studios, auditorium, early learning center, fitness center, gymnasium, cafeteria, and café.[6]
Zlock Performing Arts Center
In October 2014, the Gateway Auditorium would be renamed in honor of local philanthropists Kevin and Sima Zlock.[7]
Established in 2007, the Gene & Marlene Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks is located in Bristol, Pennsylvania.[9]
Academics
Bucks offers over 90 academic programs within 7 Academic Departments, including 43 Associate's Degree programs designed to transfer to a four-year institution for the completion of a Bachelor's Degree. There are also 23 occupational Associate's Degree programs and 27 certificate programs, both designed to prepare students to directly enter the workforce in a variety of disciplines.[10]
Students can take advantage of transfer agreements with four-year institutions to complete their Bachelor's Degree, including 27 Transfer Intent (Dual Enrollment) agreements with the following schools:
The Center for Workforce Development offers Career and Workforce Training, some of which is in partnership with PA CareerLink and the County of Bucks.[22] A new Center for Advanced Manufacturing began construction in the spring of 2021 at the Lower Bucks Campus.[13]
Fire & Public Safety
Department of Public and Industrial Safety Training & Certification offers training and accredited certifications in public safety operation and management, emergency management, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) industrial safety, and hazmat procedure.[23] They also host Fire Training Weekends for Pennsylvania fire departments.[24]