The site - located in the former Evangelical Press Building at 3rd and Reily - will give the college room to grow these technical programs and give the college additional classroom space on the main part of the campus located near the Farm Show Complex.
"The beginning of classes this week heralds a major expansion of the Harrisburg Campus. Midtown II will allow students to complete their education entirely at this location," notes Edna V. Baehre, Ph.D., president of HACC. "We're starting this fall with programs in technology and the trades, eventually growing to include architecture and engineering. Ultimately we will be able to accommodate 1500 students each semester. It's an exciting opportunity for our students and for the revitalization of our community.
"The new structure opens up space in existing buildings for the expansion of additional programs. In addition to Midtown, this fall signals the opening of the Alex Grass School of Business Leadership, thanks to a $1.5 million gift from Alex Grass, retired Rite Aid founder and CEO. And, The Fulton Bank Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies continues to be a invaluable resource to neophyte and veteran business owners in central Pennsylvania."
HACC begins the academic year continuing the trend of major growth with the college's Virtual Campus. More and more students are discovering the convenience of taking courses online. Currently HACC has nearly 3500 students enrolled in the Virtual Campus - 7.4 percent more than last fall.
"HACC's Virtual Campus continues to be among the fastest growing campus - offering a global connection to students all over the world, from as far away as Baghdad, Iraq, to throughout the Central Pennsylvania area," said Larry Adams, Ph.D., dean of the Virtual Campus and Instructional Technology. "The Virtual Campus fits into everyone's lifestyle, offering the most flexible way of getting an education. In addition, HACC students enrolled at any of the regional campuses can choose online classes as well that best meet their individual needs."
Overall enrollment for the college has increased almost 4.8 percent from last fall, with more than 18,000 students attending one of the regional campuses or studying online.
The York Center, with a major jump in enrollment of nearly 26 percent with more than 1660 students, already has 30 programs that can be completed entirely in York. The highest enrollment is found in business management, human services, criminal justice, education, psychology and nursing programs.
The Lebanon Campus starts the fall semester with a new dean/CEO, Kathleen Kramer, Ed.D. The campus enrollment remains steady at more than 850 students.
In Lancaster HACC's local campus has an increase of 6.6 percent more than last fall with nearly 4015 students.
At the Gettysburg Campus, where currently nearly 1300 students will begin classes this week, there is an increase in the number of new students who are just out of high school. The nursing and allied health programs are also attracting a large number of students.
Later this month Gettysburg Campus officials plan to close on the purchase of the entire North Gettysburg Center for a major expansion. Construction is scheduled to begin in next June and to be completed in January of 2009.