Harrisburg Area Community College
PAE-10: Affordability and Access Programs

None

HACC offers Pennsylvania Keystone Education Yields Success (KEYS) at all of its campuses. The KEYS program assists parents receiving TANF or SNAP (food stamp) benefits who are in certificate or degree programs at Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges. Individuals are referred to KEYS by the human services agency, though many “self-initiate” their enrollment at community colleges and are later referred into KEYS by local welfare offices. Each KEYS student receives support and guidance from a “KEYS student facilitator,” who is an employee of the community college paid through grants to the college from the state welfare agency. When a student enrolls, the facilitator helps the student identify potential career goals in fields with available jobs that pay family-sustaining wages. The facilitator also helps the student design a course schedule appropriate for meeting those goals and assists with financial aid applications and transportation and child care arrangements. The facilitator maintains open lines of communication with state Department of Public Welfare (DPW) county assistance workers to ensure that the student receives essential services. DPW’s Special Allowances for Supportive Services (SPALs) can pay student registration fees for education and training programs and provide students with transportation and child care assistance, books and school supplies, and clothing and uniforms. Although the Pennsylvania TANF program as a rule does not pay tuition, in rare cases, when a student is expected to qualify for financial aid. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/KEYS.pdf

The college offers 'Bridges Out of Poverty' workshops, which provide both the social service provider and the community member key lessons in dealing with individuals from poverty. Topics include increasing awareness of the differences in economic cultures and how those differences affect opportunties for success.

The College offers New Student Advising & Registration Sessions (in person and online) for all new students. At these sessions students are provided with the tools necessary to be a successful student at HACC. This includes information about building their educational plan, paying for college, using student services, student life, college policies and procedures, using HACC’s web resources, and how to register.

http://www.hacc.edu/HACCFoundation/

The College offers New Student Advising & Registration sessions for all new students (see above). Parents are welcome to attend. Some campuses offer break out sessions for Parents.

While HACC works with all high schools within our target area, we give specific attention to low income area high schools particularly because those schools have the highest rate of college non-attendance among their graduates. Low income high schools encompass urban centers and rural communities. HACC works with these schools to establish developmental curriculums that leads to increases in college attendance including the College in the High School program which allow capable students to take college credit courses in their high school at a significantly lower rate of tuition. This program alone can allow students to acquire up to 12 credits at just $90 per course before they even graduate from high school. College faculty and staff work with superintendents, principles, guidance counselors, and teachers to assist high schools in preparing their students for college. This process is multi-faceted and begins in as low as sixth grade. Programs include career and college readiness presentations, campus field trips, and financial literacy programs. All programs contribute to targeted outreach to low income students.