HARRISBURG, Pa. – HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, has partnerships with clinical mental health providers and community organizations to refer students in need of these services.
 
These partnerships were in existence before HACC removed clinical mental health counseling responsibilities from faculty counselor positions on Sept. 11, 2019. At that time, HACC employees were advised to use these external resources to help students who need clinical mental health assistance. No specific notice was given to the providers and community partners because HACC has existing relationships with them.
 
The College has traditionally made few external referrals because most clinical mental health counseling needs were handled internally and resolved within one or two visits. For example, in 2018-19, HACC provided clinical mental health services to less than 1% of the College’s 17,000 students.
 
HACC continues to address the needs of students by providing a range of vital services to support their academic success. While the College needs to be fiscally responsible and modify or eliminate certain services, it is doing so with students’ academic success and well-being at the forefront.
 
The safety of HACC students, employees and visitors is a top priority for the College. Any student who expresses intent to harm themselves or others receives immediate help through HACC’s established crisis protocol. We have made employees aware of this protocol. If an employee does not follow protocol, it is addressed with the employee by their supervisor and steps are taken to ensure that it does not happen again.  
 
HACC urges any student who needs assistance, feels requested assistance was not provided by the College or may need assistance in the future to contact the dean of student affairs at their campus.
 
About HACC
HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, is the first and largest of Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges. HACC offers approximately 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), follow us on Instagram (@HACC_edu), like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HACC64) and use #HACCNews.