Harrisburg University of Science & Technology, commonly referred to as Harrisburg University (HU), is a
private
Private or privates may refer to:
Music
* " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation''
* Private (band), a Denmark-based band
* "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...
STEM-focused university in
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with an additional location in
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
. Founded in 2001 as Harrisburg Polytechnic Institute, it offers
STEM-focused degree and certificate programs.
Harrisburg University places special emphasis on education in fields related to engineering, applied science and technology and offers 15
bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...
s, 13
master's degrees
A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice. , and 3
doctoral degrees
A doctorate (from Latin ''docere'', "to teach"), doctor's degree (from Latin ''doctor'', "teacher"), or doctoral degree is an academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism ''l ...
and certificate programs. The university is accredited by the
Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
History
The university was started as Harrisburg
Polytechnic Institute
An institute of technology (also referred to as: technological university, technical university, university of technology, technological educational institute, technical college, polytechnic university or just polytechnic) is an institution of te ...
to address the
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania region's need for educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math careers. Before creation of Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, Harrisburg was the largest state capital in the country without a four-year university. The institute received $12 million in state capital funding in 2003 for the construction and related services of the institute from then
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
Ed Rendell
Edward Gene Rendell (; born January 5, 1944) is an American lawyer, prosecutor, politician, and author. He served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania from 2003 to 2011, as chair of the national Democratic Party, and as the 96th Mayor of Philad ...
.
The
YWCA
The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) is a nonprofit organization with a focus on empowerment, leadership, and rights of women, young women, and girls in more than 100 countries.
The World office is currently based in Geneva, Swi ...
building at 215 Market Street was the first home for the university. In the same year the university changed its name to Harrisburg University of Science and Technology.
Harrisburg University is home to many research centers including the Center for Advanced Entertainment and Learning Technologies, Security Center of Excellence, the Government Technology Institute, Center for Advanced Agriculture and Sustainability, and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
2020 facial recognition software controversy
In May 2020, a team of two Harrisburg University professors and a Ph.D. student announced they had developed computer
facial recognition software capable of
predicting whether someone is likely to be a criminal based solely on a photo of their face, and "with no racial bias," a claim found dubious by critics. The announcement was criticized as being "21st-century
phrenology" and going "way further than the
pseudoscience
Pseudoscience consists of statements, beliefs, or practices that claim to be both scientific and factual but are incompatible with the scientific method. Pseudoscience is often characterized by contradictory, exaggerated or unfalsifiable clai ...
of
physiognomy
Physiognomy (from the Greek , , meaning "nature", and , meaning "judge" or "interpreter") is the practice of assessing a person's character or personality from their outer appearance—especially the face. The term can also refer to the genera ...
." The university later deleted the press release at the request of the researchers involved, noting that they are "updating the paper to address concerns raised."
Campus
The university's 371,000-
square-foot Academic Center is a 16-story building in downtown Harrisburg, 326 Market St. The building includes classrooms, science labs, meeting areas, seminar rooms, a 125-seat auditorium and a courtyard. The academic center has wireless internet, video conferencing and a multi-media production facility. It also has seven levels of parking between the ground floor and the academic floors.
In 2017, the university opened a
satellite
A satellite or artificial satellite is an object intentionally placed into orbit in outer space. Except for passive satellites, most satellites have an electricity generation system for equipment on board, such as solar panels or radioi ...
location in
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
.
The
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
location offers bachelor's degree programs in Computer and Information Science, Esports Management, Information Systems and Information Technologies, Management and Entrepreneurship, and Interactive Media and also master's courses in Techpreneurship.
In 2022, the university opened a location in the City of Knowledge in Panama. Additionally, the university is currently constructing a $100-million Science Education Center at 3rd and Chestnut in Harrisburg. The 11-story building is set to open in January 2023.
Academics
Harrisburg University has 15
undergraduate
Undergraduate education is education conducted after secondary education and before postgraduate education. It typically includes all postsecondary programs up to the level of a bachelor's degree. For example, in the United States, an entry-le ...
,
13
master's
A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice. and 3
doctoral programs
in science and technology-related disciplines. The university follows a trimester system. Programs are offered at the academic center located on the main campus in downtown Harrisburg. Some programs are also offered at the Harrisburg University location in Philadelphia, while others are offered only online. The
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
location offers bachelor's courses in Computer and Information Science, Esports Management, Information Systems and Information Technologies, Management and Entrepreneurship, and Interactive Media and also master's courses in Techpreneurship. The university offers online degree programs, including an RN-to-BSN.
Accreditations
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is accredited by the
Middle States Commission on Higher Education since 2009.
All Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral (Research) degrees are accredited.
In 2014, the commission placed the university on probation for failing to comply with its standards. In March, 2016, the commission determined that the school was in compliance and reaffirmed accreditation until 2021. In 2022, the university accreditation was re-affirmed through 2029.
The university is also approved by the
Pennsylvania Department of Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Education is the executive department of the state charged with publicly funded preschool, K-12 and adult educational budgeting, management and guidelines. As the state education agency, its activities are directed ...
Bureau of Postsecondary and Adult Education. The MS in Project Management is accredited by the Global Accreditation Center from the Project Management Institute. The B.S. in Computer and Information Science program is accredited by ABET. The RN-BSN and MS in Nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Rankings
In its 2020 rankings, ''
U.S. News & World Report'' ranked the university in the range #129-#170 in Regional Universities North and tied for #21 in the Most Innovative Schools list.
Professional education
The university offers many professional education programs and centers in partnership with businesses and local government.
* Agile Lean Center
* Center for Advanced Entertainment and Learning Technologies
* Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
* Geospatial Technology Center
* Government Technology Institute
* Security Center of Excellence
* User Experience Center
Student life
The university's housing is located close to campus in
downtown Harrisburg
Downtown Harrisburg is the central core neighborhood, business and government center which surrounds the focal point of Market Square, and serves as the regional center for the greater metropolitan area of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States. ...
. Housing is offered to undergraduate students and consists of the Residences on Market and Market View Place. The university is located near the
Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts
Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts is located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The center is the first complex of its kind in the United States to use science as an entry to the arts. Whitaker Center exhibits science, the performing arts, and ...
, and the
State Museum of Pennsylvania. The university is also a half block from the
state capitol of Pennsylvania, and a brief walk to the
Riverfront Park along the
Susquehanna River. Fitness and dining facilities are leveraged by
Strawberry Square
Strawberry Square is a mixed-use retail and commercial complex located in downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It is owned and managed by the Harristown Development Corporation (HDC), a non-profit organization.
History
Strawberry Square is conside ...
. In 2017, the university opened a
satellite location in Philadelphia. The university fields an
esports varsity team that has won two national championships.
Notable alumni
*
Timothy DeFoor
Timothy Lionel DeFoor (born November 18, 1961) is an American politician who currently serves as the Pennsylvania Auditor General. He previously served as the Controller of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Republican Party.
D ...
,
Auditor General of Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania auditor general is the chief fiscal officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It became an elected office in 1850. The current auditor general of Pennsylvania is Republican Timothy DeFoor.
History
The office of the auditor ...
References
External links
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harrisburg University Of Science And Technology
Educational institutions established in 2001
Universities and colleges in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Engineering universities and colleges in Pennsylvania
Technological universities in the United States
Private universities and colleges in Pennsylvania
2001 establishments in Pennsylvania