"The new facility will provide enhanced outreach and improved access to higher education opportunities for residents of Adams County, Western York County and the surrounding vicinity," wrote Sec. of Education Dr. Eugene W. Hickok in his letter of approval. "The sustained upward trend in enrollment experienced from the early 1990s through the present clearly demonstrates the success of HACC's Gettysburg operation in tapping this potential for the benefit of students, employers and the community."
"HACC is extremely pleased to receive PDE's support for a greater presence in Gettysburg," said HACC President Dr. Edna V. Baehre. "The hard work and dedication of our faculty and staff in Gettysburg have made our Gettysburg operation an excellent example of HACC's mission to be responsive to the educational and training needs of the citizens and businesses in our communities."
The Gettysburg Center of HACC has been providing occupational preparation, developmental education, transfer-based education, business and industry training and community services for the past nine years to the Adams and York County communities. Credit enrollments have increased from 218 in the Fall of 1990 to 628 in the Fall of 1999.
"As a life-long resident of this area, I am very pleased that our community will benefit from the educational resources that a branch campus will provide," said Jennifer Weaver, Director of the Gettysburg Campus. "Over the years, we've found our niche as an accessible and affordable provider of programs and services which include credit and noncredit programs as well as technical training for business and industry."
As a branch campus, HACC's Gettysburg operation will have the ability to offer students the opportunity to complete many additional academic programs in Gettysburg. These new programs will include Criminal Justice, Computer Information Systems - Microcomputer Specialist, Computer Repair, and Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Management - Culinary Arts. Students also will be able to take advantage of enhanced student support services in the areas of academic advising and counseling, financial aid, and career planning and placement, plus expanded, on-site library services.
"The Gettysburg Campus plans to complete the implementation of an on-site library, increase financial aid and career services for students and build new partnerships with secondary and post-secondary institutions, said Weaver. "We also are making an even stronger commitment to participate in workforce and economic development initiatives throughout the region."
The Gettysburg Campus is an 18,600 square foot facility at the North Gettysburg Shopping Center. The campus offers students a library, seven classrooms, three state-of-the-art computer laboratories, a hardware repair lab to facilitate hands on training in PC Repair and Testing, an Allied Health equipped training classroom, a student multi-purpose room, and free parking. The Gettysburg Campus also offers programs to the community at Gettysburg High School, New Oxford High School and South Western School District.