Aug. 18, 2010

HARRISBURG  –  The Harrisburg Campus of HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, begins its academic year on Monday with a record 10,000 students.

Enrollment across HACC’s five campuses and the online Virtual Campus increased 5.6 percent with an all-time high of more than 21,800 students.

The Harrisburg Campus is ready with newly completed renovations that adds much-needed classroom space.

At the campus on One HACC Drive, the south section of the first floor in Blocker Hall has been completely overhauled. Allied health classrooms, labs and an advising center have replaced the administrative offices, including the president’s office, which moved to Campus Square at Midtown, 1426 N. Third St.

Midtown 1 at 1523 N. Fourth St. is complete with increased classroom space for HACC’s technology programs on the first floor. Workforce development, including the Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies, is on the second floor, with classroom space and a conference room.

“The added classrooms are a huge benefit for our growing student population,” said Nancy Rockey, interim campus vice president. “More students are choosing HACC for many reasons –  just starting college or returning to improve job skills, they know they are getting a highly qualified and dedicated faculty and convenient ways to take classes that are more affordable, especially in a weak economy.”

Before they get to their classes students at the Harrisburg Campus receive training when they register so they are proficient in using HACC’s online tool, HACCWeb, that will help them with enrollment functions.

“We are empowering our students to manage their schedules, registration, financial aid, payment plans and course searches themselves so they can complete transactions online at their convenience and no longer have to come in on different occasions,” said Winnie Black, campus dean for student affairs.

For more information about classes throughout the first week of the semester, go to www.hacc.edu or call HACC’s admissions office at the Harrisburg Campus, 780-2400.

HACC also has more students attending its other regional campuses.

More students are taking online classes in HACC’s Virtual Campus, 7.6 percent more than last year. New for fall are online courses in enology, the science of making wine. Also new is HACC’s partnership with the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association where journeyman linesmen can enroll in the technology studies program with 30 credits already applied toward an associate degree. Most of the remaining requirements can be completed online.

At HACC’s Gettysburg Campus, where classes start Aug. 30, enrollment is up 15.2 percent. The Lancaster Campus is holding steady and the Lebanon Campus enrollment jumped 10.4 percent. The York Campus continues fast growth with a 10.3 percent increase.