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Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) is taking significant steps to address a multi-million-dollar budget deficit by selling or leasing seven of its buildings. The decision, approved by the HACC Board of Trustees on Tuesday (June 2), is part of a broader strategy to reduce the college's operating deficit from $5 million to approximately $800,000 for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
The buildings affected include the main building of the Lancaster Campus and properties in Harrisburg, York, and Gettysburg. Despite these changes, HACC has assured that all five campuses will remain open and 97% of academic-credit students will not be impacted. The college aims to achieve a structurally balanced budget by fiscal year 2027-28.
According to HACC President and CEO John J. "Ski" Sygielski, "The work between April and June has nearly doubled our identified savings." He emphasized the importance of disciplined stewardship and structural changes for long-term sustainability.
The decision to downsize comes as HACC faces a $63 million debt obligation and over $163 million in deferred maintenance. The college has also experienced a 47% decline in enrollment over the past 16 years, with 45% of credits now taken online.
John Sygielski, who presented the resolution on his last day as president, highlighted the need for more state funding and the importance of space utilization. The consolidation plan is expected to unfold over the next couple of years, beginning with the York Campus in summer 2026.
The board also approved resolutions for flexible service contracts to align operating costs with the college's rightsized footprint. These measures aim to optimize resources and adapt to changing student needs.
New leadership will take over as Daniel Lufkin begins his role as school president. Sygielski will assist Lufkin in the transition for about a month.