HCC is adding biotechnology programs

September 14, 2007

Hagerstown Community College

11400 Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown

Phone number: 301-790-2800.

Beginning this fall, Hagerstown Community College is offering certificate and degree programs in biotechnology.

College officials have said the courses are a response to the increased demand for biotech workers in the area.

The HCC program has been designed for technicians-in-training who plan to enter the biotechnology industry after completing their certificates or associate degrees and/or to proceed to four-year colleges and universities.

Established in 1946, HCC was the first community college to open its doors in Maryland. Today, it serves the Tri-State area, offering more than 120 degree and certificate programs for university transfer or job entry, as well as continuing education and adult basic education. Classes are offered throughout the year in traditional 15-week semesters. There are several shorter sessions.

HCC is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and is a member of the American Association of Community Colleges.

The 319-acre campus has 17 buildings, including a full-service business incubator and outdoor amphitheater. Special programs, such as the Job Training Institute for adults in need of immediate job skills and the ESSENCE Program for high school students, have expanded HCC's services.

Enrollment is more than 5,000 credit students and 9,000 continuing-education students each year.

Tuition per credit hour for the fall 2007 semester is: Washington County residents, $94; out-of-county residents, $149; and out-of-state residents, $196.

Renovations to the career programs building and construction to complete the campus loop road are under way. When it reopens in 2008, the 84,000-square-foot building will house a state-of-the-art facility for nursing and health sciences programs, a 15,000-square-foot continuing education and conference center and some academic and campus support departments.

Construction on an addition to the Technical Innovation Center for several biotech research labs will be completed in early 2008.

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