HACC Among Top Digital Community Colleges, STEP Graduation Set and More

Current news from HACC, May 30, 2018

  HARRISBURG, Pa. – HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, shares recent news, including:

• HACC Ranks High on List of Top 10 Digital Community Colleges
• Annville Cleona Students to Graduate from HACC’s STEP Academy
• HACC Offers New Boot Camp for Licensed Massage Therapists
• Bruce E. Cooper Student Center Architect Earns Recognition

HACC Ranks High on List of Top 10 Digital Community Colleges
HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Center for Digital Education recently recognized HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, as sixth of the top 10 community colleges in the country in its 2017-18 Digital Community Colleges Survey. HACC is the highest ranked community college in Pennsylvania and has been named a top 10 finalist for the past four years. 
 
The Digital Community Colleges Survey analyzes how community colleges use a range of technologies to improve services to students, faculty, staff and the community. HACC has made investments in future classroom technology to move the College forward and meet the needs and expectations of its students. In 2018, HACC’s Center for Design and Instruction began work on a seven-year plan to upgrade technology in classrooms across the College.
 
HACC’s Office of Information Services and Technology provides comprehensive services for all HACC employees and students. The division is responsible for ensuring that the College’s technological processes, procedures and policies continue to evolve through best practices and cutting edge approaches.
 

Annville Cleona Students to Graduate from HACC’s STEP Academy
ANNVILLE, Pa. – A group of Annville Cleona High School seniors will participate in a special graduation event June 1, 2018, at noon at the high school with their families in attendance.

The 22 seniors completed HACC’s STEP Academy, an intensive five-week training program that teaches them how to successfully use soft skills – such as conflict resolution, leadership and interpersonal communication – in a professional setting. They will receive a professional portfolio, a certificate of completion and certificates including National Career Readiness, OSHA 10 and CPR.

Graduates also will have the opportunity to enroll in a certificate program at HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, which will further prepare them for one of several in-demand jobs in today’s workforce.

Graduate Rhema Victa said, “I learned a lot in the STEP program (including) leadership skills, the importance of team work, presentation skills and how to present to business people. I also learned what a SMART [specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, timely] goal is versus a regular goal. I plan to go to HACC next fall 2018 and enroll in a Radiologic Technology or Radiology Informatics program at the Lancaster Campus.”

She added, “I am glad to have the opportunity to do it and I would recommend the STEP program to any high school student.” 

Annville-Cleona School District partnered with HACC in February 2018 to provide the STEP Academy. HACC also has teamed up with the school districts of Harrisburg, Cornwall Lebanon, Pequea and Steelton Highspire to bring the STEP Academy to their students. In fall 2018, HACC will also bring the program to the Susquehanna Township and Solanco school districts.

HACC’s STEP Academy is built on four tenets: Setting goals, Taking action, Expecting great things, Putting in the work. More information about the STEP Academy is available online.
 

HACC Offers New Boot Camp for Licensed Massage Therapists
HARRISBURG, Pa. – HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, is offering a high-quality boot camp for licensed massage therapists to earn their continuing education credits in four days.
 
The boot camp will address the following topics:

• Act 31 Mandated Reporter Training
• Advance Deep Tissue
• CPR
• Ethics
• Licensed Massage Therapist Self-Care
• Oncology Basics

 
The boot camp will take place July 16, 17, 23 and 24 at HACC’s Harrisburg Campus.
 
Licensed massage therapists must complete 24 continuing education contact hours every two years to maintain their licensure.
 
Approximately 30 individuals attended massage therapy classes at HACC in the fall 2017 term.
 
Professionals may visit hacc.edu/MassageContinuingEd for more information and to register.
 
 
Bruce E. Cooper Student Center Architect Earns Recognition
HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Bruce E. Cooper Student Center on the Harrisburg Campus of HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, was selected among the “Best Interior Architecture of 2017” in a recent edition of the Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal.

Murray Associates Architects, P.C. submitted the Cooper Renovation Project to the journal, which is published in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

The original building was constructed in 1968 and underwent several minor renovations in the 1980s and 1990s. However, students’ needs changed dramatically over the 50 years since construction, and the College needed to adapt to better serve its students.

The 19-month renovation that began in February 2016 transformed the student center into a one-stop location for student services, including registration, financial aid, disability services and counseling and advising. The building serves as the hub of the campus with the College-operated Chef’s Apprentice restaurant, Subway food service, banking services from a local credit union and space throughout where students can congregate to study for classes or socialize.

During the formal opening of the $12 million renovated student center in August 2017, HACC President John J. “Ski” Sygielski, Ed.D., said, “By putting all of these services in one location, our students are able to receive the assistance they need to be successful in and out of the classroom.”

“The new facility will provide our students with numerous study and/or activity spaces to enhance their collegiate experience on our Harrisburg Campus,” said Sygielski. “The Bruce E. Cooper Student Center is now a more inviting, welcoming place for students, employees and visitors to connect, socialize and re-energize.”
 
About HACC
HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, is the first and largest of Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges. HACC offers over 100 career and transfer associate degree, certificate and diploma programs to approximately 19,000 students. Also, the College serves students at its Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon and York campuses; through virtual learning; and via workforce development and continuing education training. For more information on how HACC is uniquely YOURS, visit hacc.edu. Also, follow us on Twitter (@HACC_info), like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HACC64) and use #HACCNews.