In a move that marks a major expansion for Bucks County Community College, officials have announced plans to build a new $10 million campus center in Bristol to serve students in Lower Bucks County.

College administrators, township officials and county commissioners gathered Oct. 30 at the proposed site for the project, a parcel of 17 acres of undeveloped land at Route 413 and Rockview Drive in Bristol Township. They said if construction went as scheduled, the new facility could be open by 2006.

The project will be a public/business partnership with the college and First Federal Saving and Loan Bank of Bucks County, which will help with the creation of the new campus.

Bucks County Commissioner Michael G. Fitzpatrick was joined by commissioners Sandra Miller and Charles H. Martin, as well as college executives. Bank executives were also there to make the announcement.

“It has been our mission to help in the community,” said Bob Coffin, Senior Vice President of First Federal Bank.

“The Bank has been an important part of the community since it’s founding over 100 years ago,” said Fitzpatrick. “It will be a great partnership with the college.”

Although the college and bank jointly found the site it was First Federal that purchased the 17 acres of land on behalf of the college. “The bank has been very generous and supportive,” said College President Dr. James Linksz.”Out of the 17 acres, First Federal only needed 4 acres and sold Bucks 13 of that.”

In addition, First Federal will build a new bank in front of the college.

Because of student demand for more classes and less traveling time, Bucks will be expanding its educational opportunities with a new campus and expanded course offerings.

Students who live in Bristol, Bensalem, and Levittown will not have to travel as far when the new campus opens. As of now those students who want to attend the Bristol campus cannot always do so because certain courses such as science and nursing are not offered there. They must travel to the main campus in Newtown.

Furthermore, the county is more congested making traveling a nightmare for some students who attend college. “I makes it hard to fit college into their lives for some students,” Linksz said. “It is also in the general opinion that a student should not have to travel more than thirty minutes for classes.”

Moreover, when the new campus opens students will have a brand new building nestled into a wooded area similar to the Newtown campus. “It’s going to be a state of the art facility,” said Fitzpatrick. “It’s going to be so beautiful.”

Rather than being just part of an office center, which is what they have now with only a few classrooms, they will have more additional classrooms and students space as well. “There is just not enough space,” said Peter Gallagher, Coordinator of the Bristol Center. “Faculty has to work out of classrooms they teach in because there is no space for offices.”

There is also no room for a cafeteria. There is only a small vending area for students and staff to use.”

As of now there are only eleven classrooms and three computer labs. Each computer lab is dedicated for a single purpose. One lab is dedicated for non-credit courses, another is for continuing education, and the other is for literacy. This leaves students with only one computer lab to use. However, when the new campus opens, there will be more computer labs and students space as well. Also, science and nursing labs will be added to the new campus. In addition, there will be faculty offices, a caf