HACC's Gettysburg Campus streamlining its outreach efforts to Franklin County

GETTYSBURG – The Gettysburg Campus of HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College is streamlining its outreach efforts and off-site locations in Franklin County. The Gettysburg Campus will continue to leverage enrollment, provide high-quality services and offer unique programs so that more students like Eathen Theimer of Mercersburg can benefit.

Theimer, a mechatronics student graduating this spring, said, “My education at HACC has opened many doors for me. I currently am doing internships with two companies and have had three full-time job offers when I graduate in May.” 
 
 
Enrollment
 
The College has five physical campuses and a virtual campus and serves approximately 22,000 students. Of these students, more than 10 percent attend the Gettysburg Campus.
 
 
Services
 
The Gettysburg Campus is located at 731 Old Harrisburg Road in Gettysburg.
 
The campus provides a student-centered environment with the following services:

• Full-service bookstore
• Library
• Nursing, allied health and science labs
• General purpose classrooms
• Wireless Internet access throughout the Campus
• Academic advising and counseling services
• Career and transfer services
• Financial aid
• Veterans affairs
• Disability support services
• Academic support services
• Career services
• Opportunities for students to get involved with student clubs and organizations

 
Another mechatronics student, Brian Culver of Littlestown, who will be graduating summer 2014, said “My outlook toward education has changed for the better. All my instructors have been very knowledgeable and always willing to accommodate my learning style through tutoring and with extra help with projects.”
 
 
Unique Programs and Courses
 
The Gettysburg Campus offers several unique programs and courses:

• Credit classes in industrial maintenance technology, industrial automation, HVAC-R, electronics and welding: HACC faculty bring their real-world experiences to prepare students for a career in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration. Students learn from experts on state-of-the-art motors and controls training equipment and learn robotic maintenance and programming on Motorman industrial robots.

 
William Reed of Greencastle is an industrial maintenance technology student who has been taking classes for enrichment purposes for the past year at HACC. “HACC is improving and refreshing my skills to get a new job in industrial maintenance,” said Reed.
 
Second semester mechatronics student, Eric Kauffman said, “HACC has given me more confidence. We do lots of hands on learning in the classroom so that when I am faced with real world application, I can act more confidently to resolve problems and repair things I encounter.” 
 

• College in the High School (CHS): The program enables qualified high school students to enroll in college-level courses at their high school or technical school during the regular school day. CHS students earn concurrent high school and college credit. Course offerings are selected from HACC’s required courses, core curriculum or technical courses. Courses are taught by a high school teacher who qualifies as a HACC adjunct faculty member and are offered to high school students at a reduced tuition rate.

• Early Admission and Early College Academy: These programs enable qualified high school juniors and seniors to enroll in and take college credit courses at the Gettysburg Campus or at one of the off-site locations. Early Admission and Early College Academy students earn concurrent high school and college credits. Course offerings are suggested and approved by HACC with an emphasis on those courses having the maximum transferability to post-secondary institutions. Courses are taught by HACC faculty members and consist of Early Admission and Early College Academy students and traditional HACC students. Courses are offered to high school juniors and seniors at the prevailing college tuition rate.

 
 
Off-Site Locations
 
In addition to on-campus day and  evening classes, HACC’s Gettysburg Campus also offers classes at six convenient off-campus locations.
 
At two of the sites – Franklin County Career & Technology Center and Chambersburg Area Senior High School – administrative services will no longer be provided. Instead, those services, including recruitment and enrollment, will be provided through the Gettysburg Campus.
 
The low enrollment numbers at the Franklin County off-site locations no longer made it feasible for the College to fund previously grant-funded positions and operational expenses. As a result, one full-time and one part-time position will be eliminated.
 
Shannon Harvey, the vice president at the HACC Gettysburg Campus, said, “The decision to close HACC’s administrative and student support office at Chambersburg Area Senior High School was extremely difficult, as it affects dedicated staff who have worked tirelessly to expand HACC’s outreach to Franklin County. TheGettysburg Campus is committed to continuing to work with the Franklin County Economic Development Corporation, the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce, Franklin County school districts and community-based organizations to promote HACC’s courses, programs, academic support resources and workforce development offerings in Franklin County and at the Gettysburg Campus.”
 
Harvey added, “I salute Evelyn Weaver for the work she’s done in Franklin County. Her leadership of the grant resulted in the establishment of HACC course offerings in Franklin County to educate and train students to fill the need for skilled workers in mechatronics.”
 
“Employers in the Franklin County area seek out the students in our mechatronics and other HACC programs. Although I am sad to be leaving my position with HACC, I leave with a lot of pride, having launched and directed the programming here in Franklin County that gives student the confidence and skills to advance in their careers. I am confident that HACC will continue to grow and help build a highly talented workforce for employers in the area,” said Evelyn Weaver, Franklin County coordinator.
 
The off-campus locations are:
 

Off-Campus Location	Services Currently Offered (as of April 4, 2013)	Services to be Offered After July 1, 2013
Franklin County Career & Technology Center, Chambersburg	·         College in the High School ·         Evening HACC credit classes in industrial maintenance technology, industrial automation, HVAC-R, electronics and welding ·         HACC administrative office	·         College in the High School ·         Evening HACC credit classes in industrial maintenance technology, industrial automation, HVAC-R, electronics, and welding ·         Administrative services, including recruitment and enrollment, will be provided through the Gettysburg Campus.
Chambersburg Area Senior High School, Chambersburg	·         College in the High School ·         Evening HACC credit classes ·         HACC administrative office	·         College in the High School ·         Evening HACC credit classes ·         Administrative services, including recruitment and enrollment, will be provided through the Gettysburg Campus.
Chambersburg Career Magnet School	·         Evening HACC credit classes	·         Evening HACC credit classes
Southwestern High School, Hanover	·         College in the High School ·         Evening HACC credit classes	·         College in the High School ·         Evening HACC credit classes
Hanover High School, Hanover	·         College in the High School ·         Evening HACC credit classes	·         College in the High School ·         Evening HACC credit classes
Hanover Hospital Wellness and Education Center, Hanover	·         Daytime HACC credit classes	·         Daytime HACC credit classes

 
 
Student Recruitment Activities
 
Individuals interested in taking classes in Franklin County or at the Gettysburg Campus are encouraged to attend one or more of the following events:
 
One-Stop Enrollment Events at the Gettysburg Campus 

• May 4, 2013, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
• June 18, 2013, 2–8 p.m.
• July 10, 2013, 8 a.m.–6:30 p.m.

 
During the one-stop enrollment events, prospective students will have an opportunity to:

• Complete an application for admission
• Take placement testing to determine course eligibility (approximately 2 hours)
• Find out about financial aid and payment options

 
A photo ID is required for admission. The application fee of $35 will be waived at this event.
 
High school senior and home school open house at the Gettysburg Campus on April 17, 2013, from 6-8 p.m. Future HACC students will receive information about admissions, academic program options, financial aid, transfer and career options, tour the campus and meet current students and faculty.
 
Summer classes will be offered in Franklin County at Chambersburg Area Senior High School and begin the week of June 17.  Fall classes at the Franklin County locations will begin the week of Aug. 19, and fall classes at the Gettysburg Campus and Hanover locations will begin the week of Aug. 26.
 
 
 
New Online Scholarship Process
 
HACC has more than 200 scholarship funds available to current and prospective students. Scholarships are important, because the funds are not loans, students do not have to repay these funds and students can receive financial assistance for their tuition and books. Students need a minimum GPA of 2.0 to apply for scholarships. Also, students selected to receive scholarships can reduce the amount of their student loans and out-of-pocket expenses.
 
Current and future HACC students are encouraged to complete the online scholarship application process by April 15.
 
 
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