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¾«¶«Ó°Òµ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ University Board of Trustees approved the establishment of six new majors during its regular quarterly meeting held March 9 in Columbus, Ohio, at Le Meridien Columbus, ¾«¶«Ó°ÒµJoseph. Five of the new majors fall under the College of Aeronautics and Engineering, and one falls under the College of Arts and Sciences.

Addressing the Future of Flight

With the Board’s approval, five concentrations of the Aeronautics major in the College of Aeronautics and Engineering will be elevated to separate majors, effective fall 2023, pending approval of the Ohio Department of Higher Education and the Higher Learning Commission. These new Bachelor of Science degree programs are Aeronautical Studies, Air Traffic and Airspace Management, Aviation Management, Professional Pilot and the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Operations.

With more than 1,100 students for fall 2022, the College of Aeronautics and Engineering saw the largest enrollment growth among ¾«¶«Ó°Òµâ€™s colleges compared to the previous year.

¾«¶«Ó°Òµnew Aeronautical Studies major prepares students for entry-level technological positions in aviation and related areas. ¾«¶«Ó°Òµprogram is well suited for transfer students with military credits; students with professional flight experience, certificates and/or ratings; and students who love the field of aviation but wish to seek a more entrepreneurial pathway into the field.

¾«¶«Ó°Òµnew Air Traffic and Airspace Management major offers practical simulation-based training to prepare students for professional work in air traffic control and management as well as employment as air traffic controllers, aircraft dispatchers, airspace managers and numerous other types of professionals operating in the National Airspace System.

¾«¶«Ó°Òµnew Aviation Management major prepares students for entry-level management supervisory and administrative positions in aviation and other aviation-related professional fields. This course of study combines technical and aeronautical courses with courses in management and information systems.

¾«¶«Ó°Òµnew Professional Pilot major prepares students to qualify for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certificates and ratings required for giving flight and ground instruction and commercial and instrument operations in Federal Aviation Regulations Part 121 air carrier operations or business general aviation.

¾«¶«Ó°Òµnew Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Operations major is for students who aspire to become professional unmanned aircraft pilots (drone pilots). This program focuses on the safe operations of unmanned aircraft systems, regulations, the technology of autonomous systems and policies regarding the operations of unmanned aerial elements.

Board Approves Deferred Maintenance Project for ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ University Airport Hangar

¾«¶«Ó°ÒµBoard approved a project with an estimated cost of $5 million to be funded from federal, state and university sources to address deferred maintenance at the ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ University Airport hangar. ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ University Airport has been serving the community since 1917. ¾«¶«Ó°Òµcommunity hangar was constructed in 1945 and purchased as an Army surplus Quonset building. This structure houses 34 single-engine and light twin aircraft, the largest aircraft fleet of any aeronautics program in Ohio. Community and university stakeholders have continued to express the desire to maintain this facility.

¾«¶«Ó°Òµhangar has received various repairs over its nearly 80-year life. Many components have exceeded their useful life, including hangar doors. This project will provide new hangar doors along with structural steel repairs, envelope and roof replacement, painting and corrosion repairs, floor improvements and electrical improvements. ¾«¶«Ó°Òµrepairs and renovations will extend the life of this building a minimum of 20 years to meet the required grant assurances of the FAA.

A design-build team selection is underway, and the design phase will begin immediately upon Board approval. Construction will begin in summer 2023, and the work will be planned and scheduled to minimize impact to the Aeronautics flight programming. Project costs will be phased over four fiscal years.

To view the full Board of Trustees update from the March 9 meeting, click here.