"In just a year and a half since its opening, the York Center has enrolled more than half the number of students at the already established Lebanon Campus of HACC," said Jean Treuthart, director of the York Center of HACC.
"We've filled a community need to complement the already existing post secondary institutions in York," said Treuthard. "The York Center of HACC is fast becoming HACC's fifth campus."
Currently classes at the York Center of HACC are held evenings and weekends only, and at four locations including South Western High School in Hanover, Central York Middle School, West York Area High School and Dallastown High School. Some students such as Tammy Avaritt of Mount Wolfe in York County travel between the York Center and other HACC campuses in Harrisburg and Lancaster for classes. She was laid off from her banking position and is at HACC for retraining to become a medical assistant.
More students also are taking a combination of in-class and on-line courses, and HACC this fall has a new Virtual Campus with its own dean. Enrollment figures for on-line students are being pulled from campus enrollment numbers for the first time.
Signs of growth are evident at all HACC campuses this fall, including the completion of the $22 million campus expansion project that doubles the size of the Lancaster Campus of HACC. Enrollment there is expected to swell to more than 4000 students, an 8 percent increase over last year's enrollment.
The new East building at the Lancaster Campus contains an allied health suite including radiology technology room with a darkroom for the new radiology program, two biology labs and a microbiology lab, and 28 general purpose classrooms all with Internet access.
Students have access to four new computer labs, including one equipped with Microsoft A+ certification technology. A workforce and economic development suite offers an on-site area for executive training.
A new lecture hall/multipurpose room is equipped with an electronic folding stage and seating for 140. The art classroom features public areas for displaying artwork. The new building also houses a soundproof music room, language lab and study areas.
The Harrisburg Campus of HACC has the first new construction underway in many years, and the $12 million Select Medical Health Education Pavilion will be completed by fall 2005. The Harrisburg Campus continues to be the largest campus, with enrollments of nearly 8900 students.
As HACC enters its 40th anniversary year, it is recognized as one of the nation's premier community colleges, as well as Pennsylvania's first.
HACC offers more than 120 different certificate, diploma and associate degree options and serves 50,000 non-credit students from HACC's 10-county service areas and beyond. Its open enrollment policy ensures that any student with a high school diploma or GED can enroll in classes.