The approval means HACC will receive funding for its program to provide learning and special counseling services to undergraduate students whose cultural, economic and educational disadvantages impair their initial ability to pursue successfully higher education opportunities.
"Act 101 is a great program that turned 32 years old in September," said Marguerite MacDonald, HACC's director of Learning Support Services. "Every May when these students graduate, you realize how this program impacts them and makes a difference in their lives. The students served by the program throughout the Commonwealth are potential business owners and taxpayers for the state."
HACC is one of 77 colleges statewide that participates in the program. It also was one of the first community colleges to offer the program when it started in the early 1970s.
"Because the state prefers to serve the largest number of students at one site, the program is offered only at our Harrisburg Campus," explained MacDonald. "We serve 250 students-165 full time and 85 part time. We follow them from the moment they enter the program until they graduate or transfer to another college."
HACC also announced that MacDonald was elected chair of the Act 101 Directors' Association. She will serve as chair-elect for 2004-2005 and as chair for 2005-2006.
"The association provides orientation for new directors and provides assistance for the programs," she said. "As the chair, I will represent the association on official matters, working closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Education."
MacDonald joined HACC in 1990 as its Act 101 counselor. In the mid 1990s, she became the director of the program, and, in 1999, she took on the additional role of director, Learning Support Services.