The agreement between the two partners was recently signed, and is the first such for EMU at Lancaster鈥檚 newest academic program, the four-year bachelor鈥檚 degree in leadership and organizational management with an aviation concentration.

鈥淩epublic Airline is honored to partner with EMU at Lancaster as we work together to fill an industry gap,鈥� said Valerie Penn, college relations consultant with the airline company. 鈥淲ith quality pilots in such high demand, Republic sees great value in supporting and investing in flight programs. We look forward to seeing this program grow and look forward to employing the professional pilots produced through education and experience provided by EMU at Lancaster.鈥�

Already in its first semester, the program鈥檚 newest students are on their way to careers in the aviation industry. The first student to make his solo flight achieved this accomplishment last week. All flight training is conducted through a partnership with , an FAA-approved Part 141 Pilot School, in Lititz, Pennsylvania.

Qualified graduates of the program will have earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree, as well as private and commercial pilot certificates with an instrument rating, a flight instructor certificate – and an opportunity to interview with Republic Airline.

鈥淭his partnership with Republic Airline is similar to an articulation agreement with a graduate school or a prospective employer in that it gives our students a headstart in their job search after completing our program,鈥� said EMU at Lancaster Aviation Coordinator Jim Cistone. 鈥淭he program is also a mark of Republic Airline鈥檚 confidence that our program is preparing qualified pilots with exemplary character and high performance standards.鈥�

The agreement ensures that Republic Airlines will notify EMU at Lancaster students with conditional offers of employment of summer internship opportunities before students in other programs.

Additionally, the two partners will cooperate and collaborate to ensure that all students meet a high standard of work ethic, flying skills, aviation knowledge, professional attitude and demeanor, and personal qualifications.

Qualifications for an interview include

• a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher,
• letters of recommendation from EMU at Lancaster faculty,
• signing of a release allowing Republic Airlines to review all academic, aeronautical, EMU at Lancaster and FAA records,
• meeting of standards set for other candidates applying for positions with the airline,
• agreement to several background checks,
• completion of instrument rating and instructor standardization course, and acquisition of FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate with Airplane Multiengine Land, CFI, CFII and preferably MEI certificates;
• possession of a First Class Medical Certificate.

听, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, operates a fleet of nearly 190 Embraer 170/175 aircraft and offers scheduled passenger service with approximately 950 daily flights to 100 cities in 40 U.S. states, Canada, the Caribbean and Central America. The airline provides fixed-fee flights operated under its major airline partner brands of American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express.

Republic also has two pilot development programs, the and the .

The April 10 evening event in the terminal was a dual celebration: a launch party to announce EMU Lancaster鈥檚 new aviation program, the first collegiate degree of its kind in the region, and a gathering of EMU alumni in honor of LovEMU Giving Day, a one-day fundraising campaign.

Lancaster Airport, the fourth busiest airport in the state, is home to 24 businesses, including the regional carrier Southern Airways.

Some of those aviation professionals were in attendance among the crowd, which also included business owners, media invitees, prospective students and EMU alumni.

鈥淭here was excitement in the air,鈥� said Jensen. 鈥淭his program illustrates the unique role EMU Lancaster plays in the region, bringing innovative, partnership-based programs in response to the demands and economic needs of our region.鈥�

Four years in the making, the fully accredited program 鈥� offering a bachelor鈥檚 degree in leadership and organizational management with private and commercial pilot certificates, instrument rating and a flight instructor certificate 鈥攊s definitely off the ground and in the air. Several students are enrolled for fall 2018, and word is spreading about the new opportunity.听The program courses meet one day per week on site at EMU at Lancaster, allowing students the flexibility to work and conveniently schedule their individual flight time the rest of the week.

Read more about the LOM degree with an aviation concentration.

Partnering with a Lititz-based flight school, the new program develops students as pilots and leadership-oriented professionals from the first semester of ground school through an internship in the aviation field and beyond.

Matt Kauffman, director of operations at Aero-Tech, said the collaboration is an exciting opportunity to join an organization with the similar goal of developing people to their full potential. Aero-Tech鈥檚 values of 鈥渃ommunity, integrity, stewardship and service鈥� align well with EMU鈥檚 mission of preparing students to serve and lead in a global context, he added. And he鈥檚 especially intrigued by the potential of working with pilots who are also engaged in collegiate studies and bring a different perspective into their flight training.

Both Tom Baldridge, president and CEO of The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and David Eberly, Lancaster Airport director, pointed out the program鈥檚 potential economic benefits to area residents and businesses.

A recent study by Boeing projects a shortage of 637,000 pilots over the next 20 years, Eberly said, which roughly means 87 new pilots a day 鈥渢o maintain airlines to today鈥檚 standards.鈥�

EMU Lancaster鈥檚 program provides an FAA-approved expedited path to earning an Airline Transport License, saving students both time and money and leading more quickly to employment in a high-demand career, Eberly said.

Baldridge called the program 鈥渙ne more opportunity to keep these graduates locally, to provide family-sustaining jobs and to create a greater economic impact in this region.鈥�

The program will coordinated by Jim Cistone, who holds a PhD in aviation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and has more than three decades of varying experience in the field, from business development, engineering, software development and program management. He is also a certified flight instructor.

Jensen concluded with thanks to her team at EMU Lancaster, 鈥渙ne of the most innovative, collaborative and engaged groups of people with whom I鈥檝e ever had the opportunity to work.鈥�

She especially noted the efforts of Julie Siegfried, director of operations, and Catherine Stover, associate director of marketing and communication. The duo 鈥渃aught the vision鈥� and conducted market research and a feasibility study.

鈥淚t was all here waiting when I arrived in 2015,鈥� said Jensen, who became the site鈥檚 first associate provost in 2015. 鈥淪o without those two women, their vision and perseverance, this probably could not have happened.鈥�