With Auburn University's Aviation Management program in danger of termination, a meeting between Auburn faculty and aviation students was held Monday, April 29, at 11:00 a.m. in Samford Hall.
Earlier this year it was announced that Auburn's Aviation Management program, housed under the College of Business, would likely shut down. Reasons given are a lack of faculty as well as issues with funding. Only one tenured professor is left in the program, preventing students from taking required classes and setting them back in their majors.
If Auburn does lose its Aviation Management program, it will no longer be accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International, or AABI, resulting in grant losses. There are only 130 AABI schools worldwide.
At the forum, students tried to find common ground with administration and outline problems in order to work with campus officials to find solutions.
"There is a gap between students and administration," said David Hoebelheinreich, co-captain of the War Eagle Flying Team.
Students seem confident that a solution can be reached, however.
"Auburn Aviation is not a dwindling program," Hoebelheinreich said.
Still, the problems extend beyond a lack of faculty or the small size of the program. Many aviation students have summer internships, or even full time jobs, waiting with "legacy carriers," the large, non-regional airlines. If Auburn loses AABI accreditation, these students will lose the jobs waiting for them.
Another problem is flight hours. Airlines now require 1,500 flight hours before a pilot may apply to fly with them. If a pilot graduates from an AABI school, however, he or she only has to complete 750 hours. Once again, if Auburn loses accreditation this will no longer apply to graduates.
Because of opportunities such as this, Auburn's aviation program is well respected. Forty nine percent of aviation students come from out of state.
"Students won't switch to other majors, they'll leave the University," said Bennet Nast, senior in aviation management.
Auburn's airport terminal facilities are outdated and need replacement as well. A plan to move them is in place, but cannot go through without sufficient funds.
Paths to solutions were laid out at Monday's forum. According to the students, present compromise must be reached. At the same time, objections from administration must be heard in order to find ways to work on the problems together.
The ultimate stated goals of such compromise are fourfold:
1. Provide a superior experience that produces highly sought after graduates, so that students continue to want to attend Auburn.
2. Produce research that advances academy, business thought and contributes to practice.
"Aviation technology is changing 100 percent of the time," said Blake Schuette, captain of the War Eagle Flying Team.
3. To gain and retain new faculty.
4. Encourage stakeholders in the program, for instance Jet Blue, which is currently a major supporter of the University.
As the meeting concluded, students pointed out that few professions are more passion driven than aviation, and that this would hopefully influence whatever decisions are made. "We love airplanes," said Scuette, summing up the feelings throughout the aviation program.
No definite decisions were made by the administration on the future of the program.
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