HARRISBURG, Pa. – HACC President John J. “Ski” Sygielski, Ed.D. is aware of a resolution of no confidence in his presidency and his senior leadership team presented by the Faculty Senate Cabinet to HACC faculty. Faculty were prompted via an online survey to cast a vote from Dec. 9-13, 2019.
 
Dr. Ski and his senior leadership team met with faculty organization leadership about next steps and agreed to establish a collegewide committee.
 
The College has 957 full-time faculty and vested adjunct faculty (those who have taught at least six semesters at HACC). According to results provided by the faculty organization, 812 full-time faculty and vested adjunct faculty were surveyed. There were 421 responses to the survey. Of those who responded to the survey, 254 said they had no confidence in HACC’s senior leadership; 109 responded they do have confidence in HACC’s senior leadership; and 58 responded that they abstained.
 
Dr. Ski and the College’s senior leadership have been in conversation with all employee groups, including faculty, regarding the One-College reorganization since April 2019.
 
 “This action by faculty is regrettable, because the One-College reorganization and other measures are being taken to ensure HACC avoids becoming another statistic in the nationwide trend of college closings,” Sygielski said.
 
“The HACC Board of Trustees wholeheartedly supports Dr. Ski and his Cabinet, and we stand united with them,” said Tom Richey, chair of the HACC Board of Trustees and a proud member of the Board since 2007. In December 2019, the Board renewed Dr. Ski’s contract through June 2023.
 
Sygielski said, “I firmly believe what I wrote in my opinion editorial to Community College Daily, ‘Colleges do not fail because of competition, environmental changes or even declining or changing student demographics. Colleges fail when leadership ignores warning signs and becomes paralyzed by tradition or ignorance.’ I do not intend to protect the status quo and watch our beloved College fail.”
 
Sygielski said, “The direction we are taking is critical to HACC’s relevance and success in the future. I understand and acknowledge that change is difficult and am happy to work with those who share our values for this institution.”

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Additional information regarding this issue is available in the College’s online newsroom:

• Frequently Asked Questions about the Vote 
• Statement from HACC Board of Trustees Regarding Actions by Some Faculty 
• Media Statement on Resolution of No Confidence: Kathleen Adams Pratt, President, Faculty Organization

 
About HACC
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