HARRISBURG, Pa. – On April 3, 2018, the Board of Trustees of HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, adopted a $142-million 2018-19 budget.
 
“HACC faces enrollment challenges similar to other colleges and universities across the commonwealth and throughout the country. These challenges resulted in a $1.7-million revenue shortfall,” said HACC President John J. “Ski” Sygielski.
 
“In order to address this shortfall and continue to offer the high-quality education that HACC students expect and deserve, the Trustees approved increases in tuition and fees to generate revenue of $2.4 million and cost-saving measures totaling nearly $1.5 million,” Sygielski said.
 
Tuition
 
Tuition increases, an increase in the student technology fee and other initiatives to generate revenue were put into place after internal cost-saving measures were taken.
 
These initiatives, which include an average 2.9-percent increase in tuition to generate additional revenue of $2.4 million, are:

• $6 per credit-hour increase for sponsoring, non-sponsoring and out-of-state tuition rates
• $25 per credit-hour increase in tuition rates for College in the High School and Dual Enrollment programs
• A $1-per-credit-hour increase in the technology fees for students

The cost of participating in HACC’s Dual Enrollment or College in the High School programs remains a savings to qualified high school juniors or seniors compared to HACC’s tuition rates. They can earn college credits at up to 35 percent less than HACC’s tuition rates for non-sponsored in-state students.

Dual Enrollment provides an opportunity to receive high school and college credit simultaneously. College in the High School provides the opportunity to enroll in college-level courses taught by the student’s high school or technical school teacher.
 
Cost-saving measures
 
Internal cost-saving measures in the 2018-19 budget, include:

• Realizing cost savings and efficiencies in expenses that are directly controlled by the College
• Reviewing and identifying projects that can be completed in house rather than through a contractor
• Implementing environmentally friendly improvements such as:
  • Upgrading lighting to cost-saving light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures
  • Leveling internal temperatures across all campuses

Fundraising campaign
 
A robust fundraising campaign spearheaded by the HACC Foundation generates scholarships to help students defray the cost of their HACC education. Students are encouraged to take advantage of this free money by completing the steps for applying.

Students can save money on tuition, fees and books by applying for more than 200 scholarships through the HACC Foundation. Students who have registered for classes are eligible to apply.
 
Employee benefits
 
The 2018-19 budget also includes a 2-percent salary increase and an adjustment in salary levels to align with market rates, an exercise the College carries out every three years. “This modest increase recognizes the hard work contributed by HACC employees to the success of the College,” Sygielski said.
 
HACC remains an affordable option
 
“HACC provides a high-quality education that can help students enter the workforce quickly, earn an associate degree, certificate or diploma and save money while transferring credits to a four-year institution,” Sygielski said.
 
Students who attend HACC to further their postsecondary education and enhance career opportunities pay approximately 40 percent less than the average full-time tuition at nearby four-year institutions.
 
“We know that higher education is changing, and HACC needs to build on our strengths of flexibility and quality to meet our students’ changing needs. We will continue to explore innovations that will increase our revenue in 2018-19 and future years,” Sygielski said.
 
For more information about HACC, including previous budgets, please see College Fact Sheet.
 
About HACC
HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, is the first and largest of Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges. HACC offers over 100 career and transfer associate degree, certificate and diploma programs to approximately 19,000 students. Also, the College serves students at its Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon and York campuses; through virtual learning; and via workforce development and continuing education training. For more information on how HACC is uniquely YOURS, visit hacc.edu. Also, follow us on Twitter (@HACC_info), like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HACC64) and use #HACCNews.


About the HACC Foundation
The HACC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was established in 1985 to raise private and corporate revenues in support of HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College. The HACC Foundation provides funding for student scholarships, innovative academic programs, state-of-the art training equipment and modernized facilities. To learn more about the HACC Foundation, please visit haccfoundation.org. To contribute to the HACC Foundation, please visit hacc.edu/GiveNow.