Jobless rate rises
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
The Harrisburg-area unemployment rate inched up to 3.9 percent in May, from 3.8 percent in April. A year ago, the area jobless rate was 4.1 percent.
The Harrisburg area -- Cumberland, Dauphin and York counties -- continued to have the fourth-lowest unemployment rate in the state.
The Lebanon area had the lowest rate last month, at 3.6 percent, while the State College and Lancaster areas each had unemployment rates of 3.7 percent.
The York-Hanover area unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in May.
The statewide unemployment rate in May was 4.8 percent and the national rate was 4.6 percent.
The number of jobs in the Harrisburg area totaled 332,600 in May, an increase of 3,700 from April and 5,400 more than a year ago. The April-to-May increase was higher than normal because of the addition of more goods-producing jobs.
Manufacturing jobs in the Harrisburg area totaled 24,700 in May. That was up by 200 from April, but down 500 from a year ago.
Leisure and hospitality jobs increased by 2,000 from April due to seasonal hiring.
The average manufacturing wage in the Harrisburg area totaled $16.18 an hour in May, compared with the statewide average of $15.37. The average manufacturing work week in the area was 38.8 hours, compared with 41.1 statewide.
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HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Accreditation move might boost enrollment
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
BY JOHN LUCIEW
Of The Patriot-News
A stamp of approval for the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology should help it boost enrollment in its second year.
The Middle States Commission, which rules on college and university accreditation, has approved Harrisburg University as a candidate for accreditation in the university's first year of operation, Mayor Stephen R. Reed and university officials announced yesterday.
Typically, this candidate status occurs in the second year, Reed said. Final accreditation takes four years, after the first undergraduate class graduates, he said.
Candidate accreditation status opens the doors to Harrisburg University students being eligible for a wider range of loans and grants, as well as tuition reimbursements, including the Pell Grant program offered by the U.S. Government, university officials said.
In addition, the Middle States Commission provides an independent assessment regarding the university's academic program.
"This represents an important benchmark in our growth as a private comprehensive university," said University President Melvyn Schiavelli.
Schiavelli said Harrisburg has enrolled about 110 students for the fall, equal the number of its inaugural class last Aug. 29 and guaranteeing the university will double in size.
But with Harrisburg University attracting many transfer students and older adults, it's looking to build enrollment over the summer, a time when other universities have finished recruiting, spokesman Steven Infanti said.
Toward that end, the university is holding an admissions night from 6 to 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at the campus, 215 Market St. A second admission night is scheduled for July 11.
Infanti said the event would be a chance for students to speak with university officials about academic programs and financial aid.
The university has received about 250 applications and attracted more than 600 student inquiries this year, Infanti said.
As an incentive, students enrolling for the fall semester beginning on Sept. 5 are eligible for a $3,000 scholarship and might be able to get other scholarships, loans or payment plans. Harrisburg High School graduates can get $2,500 scholarships in addition to the other funds.
Harrisburg University is the first comprehensive university chartered in Pennsylvania in more than 100 years. It focuses on advanced studies in math, science and high technologies, offering full- or part-time enrollment, day or evening classes, and undergraduate and graduate studies.
Here's another article about it on the city's site:
http://www.harrisburgpa.gov/pressRel...20achieves.htm