Bryell Turner enrolled in HACC after receiving a postcard in the mail geared towards adults who were looking to return to school.
“Ten years after I graduated high school, I decided I was tired of being a broke, single mother, so I enrolled at HACC,” she said. “The age, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity appealed to me.”
Turner signed up for the Community College Scholars Program, geared towards high-performing, low-income students.
“You take two summer courses at Bucknell while studying at HACC, and then, when you obtain your associate’s degree, you transfer into the junior program at the university,” she explained.
The Hanover student graduated with her associate’s degree in social sciences, crediting the flexibility of Saturday and evening classes, coupled with an online learning option, for allowing her to launch her dreams of a better life.
Turner said she is looking forward to graduating in May with a bachelor’s degree in women’s and gender studies and a minor in sociology. She now wants to become a professor herself, so will be applying to Ph.D. programs.
In the Beginning
Turner’s success story is just one of many throughout the history of HACC, which this year marks its 50th anniversary with a yearlong celebration.
In 1963, Gov. William Scranton signed Act 484 creating the community college system in Pennsylvania. On Valentine’s Day of the following year, the state Board of Education approved HACC as the commonwealth’s first community college.
An article in the Lebanon Daily News, dated Jan. 13, 1965, reported how officials sprang into action to get the institution up and running.
“In a froth of community activity, it came into being,” said the article, which described the chosen location and the rather crowded conditions. “The hurriedly scrambled site of the new institution was the old and revered Harrisburg Academy in uptown Harrisburg, now used by the Naval Reserve.”
It then explained that officials, who anticipated 350 enrollees, ended up admitting 429.
“The kids go to classes in every conceivable nook and cranny,” said the newspaper, which described the student “hub” as a boarded-over swimming pool.
Since then, HACC’s digs have improved considerably, and, today, there is no lack of elbow room on any of the five campuses located in Harrisburg, Gettysburg, Lancaster, Lebanon and York. The largest and oldest of Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges, HACC now touts an impressive enrollment of about 20,000 students, offering nearly 200 academic, career associate and transfer degrees, diploma and certificate programs.
“The reasons students choose HACC are many—undecided majors, convenience in proximity, cost, course offerings, credit or non-credit, methods available, including virtual or face-to-face learning,” said President John J. Sygielski. “We also offer non-credit courses and short-term classes from leadership training to writing skills, language skills, accounting and marketing.”
Known affectionately to both staff and students as “Dr. Ski,” Sygielski chose to come to HACC due to the college’s reputation and its location, returning east after serving as president of Mount Hood Community College in Portland, Ore.
“It’s closer to my home of Ohio, and I wanted to be part of an innovative institution that stays close to its community and understands the educational and training needs of the individuals,” he said.
Sygielski’s eyes light up as he speaks enthusiastically about the students he serves and the diversity among the population.
“Working with them is really rewarding because many of them remind me of myself—a first-generation college student,” he said. “The average age is 27, but we’ve also had 16-year-olds study here, and we even had a 97-year-old take a class at our Gettysburg campus.”
Rocky Terrain
When Sygielski took the helm, he faced many unexpected issues that needed to be addressed immediately, before he could implement real change.
“I arrived with great excitement and plans of innovation,” he said.
Instead, he was forced to focus on issues like a $9-million-dollar deficit and non-compliance warnings issued by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education for concerns about accreditation standards.
“The first six months of my tenure, I spent listening, observing and understanding the culture of the college, the communities we serve and learning about prior mismanagement,” he said. “That information and communication enabled me to work with the college and the community.”
Today the budget is balanced, and the college is in compliance with two of the three standards it was originally on warning for in November 2012. In March, HACC submitted a report outlining evidence that it is in compliance and has the structures in place to maintain compliance with the third standard.
Towards the Future
Sygielski envisions a bright future for HACC, in which technology will continue to play an even larger role.
“We are involved in Apple iTunes U. There are courses there from Harvard, Yale, MIT and, right in the middle of it all, is HACC. We’ve hit our billionth download,” he said, shaking his head in disbelief.
The college launched its 50th anniversary celebration last month. HACC employees, students, board of trustees members, HACC Foundation Board members, politicians, donors and alumni joined together at the Harrisburg campus to hear speakers and attend the formal dedication of the recently renovated Ted Lick Administration building, named in honor of the late Ted Lick, a founding HACC Foundation Board member and donor.
Throughout the year, the college will host additional events to continue the anniversary celebration, and the university president will be embarking on his own style of ambassadorship.
On April 22, the avid cyclist will kick off “Dr. Ski’s Miles of Gratitude, Tour de HACC,” a three-day bike ride across 150 miles to express his gratitude for all that central Pennsylvania does for its community college. Sygielski will stop at each of the five campuses, where he will give away a variety of items ranging from water bottles to bikes and even scholarships.
“My goal for the next several years is that every household in our service district will be touched in one way or another by HACC,” he said.
For more information on other 50th anniversary events, or to learn how you can work or study at HACC, or to learn more about Dr. Ski’s Tour de HACC and how you can participate or be a sponsor, visit the website at www.hacc.edu.
