| 1990 | The Harrisburg Patriot News, in a January 7th editorial, calls for creation of four-year institution of higher learning to be located in the heart of Harrisburg. |
| 1997 | Local community leaders, volunteers, and the business community form a coalition—ENVISION Capital Region—to address the crucial need for more educational opportunities in the Central Pennsylvania region. |
| 2001 | On April 2, Mayor Stephen R. Reed announced the formation of a development corporation to pursue creation on a non-traditional university in downtown Harrisburg to fulfill a “niche mission” of addressing region-specific needs not currently served by existing colleges and universities. Plans call for it to be called Harrisburg Polytechnic Institute. David A. Schankweiler, CEO of Journal Publications Inc., becomes chair of the newly established Harrisburg Polytechnic Development Corporation. The Harrisburg Polytechnic Institute incorporates in the Commonwealth on December 12 to address the region’s need for increased educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers. |
| 2002 | Dr. Melvyn Schiavelli joins The Harrisburg Polytechnic Institute as president. |
| 2003 | The Harrisburg Polytechnic Institute changes its name to Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. The University begins the renovation of its campus at 215 Market Street, which will house a high school and business incubator. The University invests $18.4 million in the 80,000-square-foot building. |
| 2005 | The Pennsylvania Department of Education certifies Harrisburg University on January 20 to grant undergraduate certificates, bachelor of science degrees and master of science degrees. Governor Edward G. Rendell presented $15 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funds on May 9 to the City of Harrisburg for the construction of the first permanent location that will house the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. The University opens its doors on August 25, welcoming its first class of 113. The university draws its initial enrollment from the eight counties that comprise south central Pennsylvania as well as from several counties in Eastern Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland. The University becomes home to the National Center for Science and Civic Engagement. The nation’s first African American astronaut to walk in space, Dr. Bernard Harris Jr., serves as keynote speaker for the University’s inaugural opening convocation on August 29. |
| 2006 | Harrisburg University forms its Honorary Alumni Association on January 25th. The 126 founding members contribute more than $100,000 in scholarship support to the University. Mayor Stephen R. Reed is the first honorary alumnus of the University. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education announced that Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is a Candidate for Accreditation on June 22. The University reaches this milestone in its first year of operation. |
| | The University hosts a gala on November 3 to unveil plans for its new 16-story, $73-million Academic Center at 326 Market Street. More than 352 people attend the event. During the event, HU awards its first honorary degrees to Assistant Secretary of Labor Emily DeRocco, Mayor Stephen R. Reed, and former Pennsylvania Attorney General Leroy S. Zimmerman. |
| | The University publicly launches its inaugural, multi-year, comprehensive $40-million fundraising effort--CONNECT: The Campaign for Harrisburg—at the same event. HU trustee and Commerce Bank Chairman, President, and CEO Gary Nalbandian leads the Campaign as chairman of the steering committee. |
| | The University unveils its new Seal, designed as gift-in-kind by the Pavone Agency, during the fifth anniversary of its incorporation, December 12. The event, called Founder’s Day, takes place at Haydn’s on Pine in Harrisburg. |
| | Twenty-two national institutional investment firms compete on December 14 to purchase the University’s bonds for construction of the new Academic Center. The $89 million issue was 12 times over subscribed with investors issuing $1.08 billion in purchase offers. The unprecedented level of investor interest, managed by underwriters A.G. Edwards, resulted in significantly reduced debt service costs to the University. |
| 2007 | The University receives approval on January 5th from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to offer an M.S. degree in Learning Technologies. HU Chairman of the Board of Trustees David Schankweiler confers the bachelor of science degree to the University’s first graduate, Michael R. Wright. A native of Carlisle, Wright graduates with a 3.8 gpa and commits a $5,000 gift to the University at the event. Jaime Novinger of the Harrisburg University Honorary Alumni Association responds to Mr. Wright’s generosity by immediately committing a $7,500 gift to establish a named scholarship in Michael’s honor. The Michael R. Wright Scholarship provides a $2,500 need-based award to one HU student over each of the next five years. |
| | The University holds its first formal commencement exercises for nine students. The May 11th Commencement features remarks from Mayor Stephen Reed, David Schankweiler, Dr. Christina Dryden and Brian Thomas, '07. |
| | The first steel beams arrive for the 16-story Academic Center on June 25th. |
| | University outgrows space at 215 Market Street. University relocates offices and classrooms to Strawberry Square. |
| | Carnegie Mellon University and the Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania partner with University to create The Center for Advanced Entertainment and Learning Technologies on September 6. |
| | University receives its first million-dollar private gifts as the private family foundations of Rocco A. Ortenzio and Robert A. Ortenzio committed a combined $2.65-million to the University on September 13th. This is the largest private gift commitment in the institution’s five-year history.Two separate gifts of $1.325-million from both The Ortenzio Family Foundation and the Robert and Angela Ortenzio Family Foundation will establish the Ortenzio Learning Center in the University’s new Academic Center. |
| | Construction of the University’s new Academic Center reaches its highest structural point on Dec. 12th. Members of the community who made a significant philanthropic investment in the project are invited to sign the final beam during the Topping-Off ceremony held the same day. |
| 2008 |
University receives a $2.6-million gift on April 8 from Select Medical Corporation. It is the largest corporate gift in the history of the University. |
| | University staff and faculty move into the new Academic Center on December 22nd. |
| 2009 |
Students begin taking classes in the new Academic Center of January 12th. |
| | Nearly 800 people attend the Dedication Ceremony for the Academic Center on February 25th. The Dedication Ceremony marks the official opening of the facility. |
| | The University graduates its Pioneer Class during its May 14th Commencement Exercises and Partners Day. |
| | The University receives its accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. |
