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Frequently Asked Questions about the Vote

Jan. 11, 2020
This document will be updated often with questions and responses. The questions are unedited and appear exactly as submitted to HACC.
Additional information regarding this issue is available at hacc.edu/TheVote and in the College’s online newsroom: Last updated: Jan. 21, 2020, 3 p.m.
Number Questions HACC’s Responses
  1.  
Can you tell me did the board’s vote to extend Ski come after the receipt of the Dec. 13 no confidence resolution? The Board of Trustees approved an extension to Dr. Ski’s contract on Dec. 3, 2019, at its meeting, which began at noon.
 
On Dec. 3, 2019, at 2 p.m., in a separate meeting that occurred after the Board of Trustees meeting, Dr. Ski received a draft of the resolution from the president of the Faculty Organization.
  1.  
When was Ski’s contract to expire? At the end of the current year? The contract was going to expire on Dec. 31, 2020.
  1.  
What the salary terms of the extension? The contract was amended to extend it through June 30, 2023. No other changes were made.
  1.  
What was the vote? Was there any opposition? The vote of the HACC Board of Trustees was unanimous.
  1.  
What is Dr. Ski’s current salary? Dr. Ski’s currently salary is $239,292.
  1.  
What’s enrollment at HACC (all campuses) and HACC (Lancaster campus) in 2020 compared to 10 years ago? Please visit this webpage for this information.
  1.  
I read that there was a $3M operating loss this year. Is that true? The core operating loss for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2019, was $2,983,232.
  1.  
Is there a projected loss next year? If so, what is it? The budgeted core operating loss for the fiscal year that will end June 30, 2020, is $2.7 million.
  1.  
Any plans our readers show know about? We are working on an opportunity for the media to learn more about the situation and ask questions. Details will be announced soon.
We are grateful for the outpouring of support from students, employees, alumni, donors, community leaders and colleagues across the country. Their responses demonstrate that HACC is highly respected in our community and beyond. HACC continues to have a positive and measurable impact in the community.
 
We will continue to work collaboratively with the faculty organization and other employee and student government leadership about next steps, including establishing a collegewide committee to address issues of concern.
  1.  
I have been told that the resolution of no confidence was given to President Ski in good faith, as a heads up, BEFORE it went to the faculty for a vote, and that he in turn went to the Board of Trustees to have his contract renewed? Is this true, were Trustees and the President aware of and in receipt of the resolution, BEFORE it was given to the faculty for a vote? Internal discussions about extending Dr. Ski’s contract began as early as October 2019.
 
On Nov. 21, 2019, the HACC Faculty Organization president informed Dr. Ski that she wanted to meet with him and members of the Cabinet to brief them on the vote.
 
On Nov. 24, 2019, Dr. Ski informed the HACC Board of Trustees about the upcoming meeting with the Faculty Organization president.
 
On Nov. 27, 2019, the HACC Faculty Organization president met with Dr. Ski and members of the Cabinet to discuss the vote.
 
The HACC Board of Trustees voted to extend Dr. Ski’s contract at their Dec. 3, 2019 meeting, which began at noon. 
 
The HACC Faculty Organization president shared a draft of the resolution with Dr. Ski during a 2 p.m. meeting on Dec. 3, 2019.
 
The survey to vote on the resolution was open from Dec. 9 through Dec. 13, 2019. 
  1.  
I would like to talk to someone about a press release published Jan. 20, 2020 that explains HACC administration wants to reduce its operating expenses. One way of doing that is by reducing the number of vice presidents at each of the community college’s branches.
Is that a true statement? Are all vice president positions going to be eliminated at the start of the fiscal year?
In January 2019, HACC’s Cabinet discussed the One-College reorganization extensively. At that time, all five campus leaders learned that their positions would be eliminated. All five campus leaders were encouraged to make decisions in the best interests of their families and professional careers.
 
Following are the five campus leader positions referenced above:
  • Vice President of the Gettysburg Campus
  • Vice President of the Harrisburg Campus
  • Vice President of the Lancaster Campus
  • Executive Director of the Lebanon Campus
  • Vice President of the York Campus
 
All of these positions will be eliminated on or before June 30, 2020. Again, these individuals were informed of this a year ago.
  1.  
How much were they earning? With salaries and benefits, the five campus leaders were earning $794,827.
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Were they offered a settlement or compensation package? Yes, they were.
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How much money is this anticipated to save HACC in one year and going forward? Expected savings after repurposing three positions are approximately $509,924.
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Why did administrators look to cut these positions? Because all of our functions are shifting to a collegewide approach, where leaders have responsibilities at all campuses, the position of campus leader did not align with the One-College focus. Most of the responsibilities of the campus leader position will be handled by collegewide employees. Three repurposed positions will handle external community partnerships.
 
About HACC
HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, is the first and largest of Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges. HACC offers approximately 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), follow us on Instagram (@HACC_edu), like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HACC64) and use #HACCNews.
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