HARRISBURG, PA – Following a busy Move-In Week for students and their families, August 26 marked the first day of classes for the 2024–25 academic year at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU).

As students return to campus, they find it better equipped than ever before, built to spark imagination and ignite exciting careers in science, engineering, business, and technology fields.

This is also the beginning of HU’s 20th academic year. Our first class began 20 years ago with 73 undergraduate students; since then, enrollment has grown to over 9,000 students annually in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, as well as professional certificates, dual enrollment, and continuing education programs.

Harrisburg University came from humble beginnings. Our first biology and chemistry classrooms were situated on the second floor of the local train station. Today, our signature 16-story, 250,000-square-foot Academic Tower is a highlight of our city’s Capitol District, frequently hosting industry conferences, collaborations with local businesses, and visiting students from partner high schools and universities. In September 2023, we officially opened the UPMC Health Sciences Tower at Harrisburg University, an 11-story, 260,000-square-foot research center featuring cutting-edge robotics labs, industrial 3D printers, Registered Nurse and Medical Assistant training centers, and multimedia content creation labs.

You could say we’ve come a long way. Of course, none of this matters without the students.

As reported by Fox43, HU students got their first taste of campus life for the academic year on Wednesday, August 28, during a “Break the Ice” event. Featuring Rita’s Italian Ice, community partners and employers like UPMC, Members 1st, PennLive, and Harrisburg Young Professionals, as well as representatives from HU’s Counseling Center, Office of Student Life, and Career Services and Experiential Learning, the event was well attended and gave students a way to ease into the school year.

For many, the return to classes comes with mixed emotions – both positive and negative. Like any campus community, HU sees its share of anxiety and nerves. The question is, what can students do about it?

Noah Rice, an HU freshman from Mechanicsburg, welcomed early opportunities to socialize, including the “Break the Ice” event. “I think getting to know new people and getting to experience things that I might not have experienced back in high school, even if I haven’t gotten into classes for my major as deeply yet, makes it a lot more fun.”

Another student, Journey Barksdale, transferred to HU this year from Temple University. She told Fox43’s Aniya Faulcon that she’s using her arrival at HU as a personal challenge – not just to improve her performance but also to lean on the community when coursework gets tough or anxiety rears its head.

“I will admit, I’m a little anxious for this school year,” said Journey. “But after what I went through at Temple, I was keeping in the back of my head, ‘Don’t be afraid to ask for help.’ Since this is a relatively small school, I know that if I reach out for help, I’ll get it.”

HU’s Melissa Morgan, Associate Vice President of Student Services, shared potential sources of back-to-school anxiety along with some ideas for students to stay positive and keep themselves feeling grounded and supported.

“Any start of a new school year brings a range of emotions for students. What does it meant to be a college student? Are they going to make friends? Are their classes going be really hard? Are they prepared to be independent and living on their own?”

Luckily, Harrisburg is a welcoming campus – and the city isn’t short on things to do to lift one’s spirits.

“The first thing is, we want to let our students know that feeling nervous or anxious about school starting is completely normal,” continued Melissa. “There are plenty of things that students can do, including connecting with their faculty and academic resources, their student success coordinators or coaches, and their peer advisors that they might be more comfortable working with. They can work on their time management skills or make an individual appointment on how to handle the rigors of coursework.”

Melissa also reminded students to take time for self-care, too, suggesting options for working through the back-to-school transition: “Deep breathing, mindfulness, going out for long walks around City Island, having great food with friends, connecting with peers, calling friends, family and loved ones, and making sure that they’re remaining connected.”

She continued, “We have highly trained staff on campus, like our resident assistants and our Connection Leader program, which is our peer program. Those first couple of weeks of classes, they’re really looking to make sure that students are engaging socially, coming out of their dorm rooms, and making it to class. In addition to that, we have a fully staffed counseling center for students who might be feeling homesick, and we also have trainings for both faculty and staff so they can help address any anxiety students may be feeling.”

To all students returning to Harrisburg University or attending classes with us for the first time … Welcome! We’re so glad you are here. Remember that Harrisburg University’s Student Support Services are available to you at any time, including Academic Support, Career Services, Experiential Learning, and the Connection Leader peer-mentor program. We’re here to make sure the time you spend with us adds value to your life and unlocks the door to a brilliant future. We’ll help you make the most of it.

ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY

Harrisburg University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a private, nonprofit university offering bachelor's and graduate degree programs in the fields of science, technology, and mathematics. For additional information about the University's affordable, demand-driven undergraduate and graduate programs, please call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay updated by following Harrisburg University on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.