Beaufort County Community College is a vital component of the county’s educational and economic progress. The college regularly advertises for and holds events that generate interest among those wishing to better themselves in the community.

Next month, the college will hold two events in particular, giving the public the chance to learn about the college, its resources and what it is like to be a college student in Beaufort County. The first event, scheduled for Oct. 2 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., is BCCC’s Open House, which will give participants a chance to visit the college, meet with staff about issues like financial aid, admissions and other departments and even be able to sit in on some classes going on during the Open House.

The event is the first of its kind, according to BCCC Vice President of Research and Institutional Effectiveness Jay Sullivan, who said the open house will cover a wide scope of what the college has to offer and will occur during an instructional day.

Participants can come to the open house and receive answers to questions like, “Do I qualify for financial aid?” and “What classes should I take based on my goals?” Information such as this could direct future students to a program of study or guide them to the coursework necessary to become certified in a particular field.

An opportunity during open house will also aid attendees in making decisions about whether or not to participate in an event at the college the following week on Oct. 9 — BCCC Free Day.

Those planning to attend Free Day will get an advantage during Open House. The chance to explore classes going on at the college during Open House will give attendees an idea of what classes they wish to participate in during Free Day. Free Day will give participants a chance to attend a full day of classes at no charge.

These two events are tremendous opportunities for those that have been wanting to enroll in college courses, but aren’t sure whether they can handle or afford going back to school.