YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – A Youngstown State University associate of applied science degree in aviation is nearing takeoff.
“This curriculum started at YSU as an associate’s of individualized studies with a focus on aviation,” Jennifer Pintar, YSU provost and vice president of academic affairs, told the university trustees’ academic excellence and student success committee Wednesday.
She said YSU is hoping to earn approval from the state for an associate of applied science degree in aviation. Pintar and Thomas Wakefield, mathematics and statistics chairman and professor, worked with the Western Reserve Port Authority in developing the curriculum to ensure it meets the port authority’s needs.
“We also did it to make sure we had the most efficiency we could, so that we were only having separate courses that needed to be separate,” the provost said, adding that it was designed with small cohorts of students in mind to allow one-on-one training.
Last month, JobsOhio awarded a $1 million grant to the YNG Aviation Education Center at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport. The grant represents the final piece of funding for the $5.5 million center at the regional airport, which is operated by the port authority.
The port authority announced plans last year for the 18,000-square-foot center to house the YNG Flight School and an expansion of Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics’ campus at the airport.
Pintar told the YSU trustees committee that the curriculum is set up for students to earn a private pilot or aviation instrument certificate as well.
“If they take the associate’s degree, they can get both the private pilot and the instrument [certificates] within that associate’s degree,” she explained.
Other Matters
At the trustees’ workforce education and innovation committee Wednesday, Wim Steelant, dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, told the panel he hopes to start the commercial drivers license driving school this summer at the airport.
The program formerly was an initiative of Eastern Gateway Community College, which closed last year.
“It used to be the home base in Steubenvillle, and the satellite offering was here,” Steelant said. “Right now, it’s kind of reversed. The home base is here in Youngstown. We’re still interested in Steubenville, and we’re working on the details of where we’ll have a location over there.”
The program wouldn’t be possible without contributions from two donors, the dean said.
“This would be an expensive school,” Steelant said. “We need semitrucks. We need diesel …”
One donor contributed two semis for the program, and another donated diesel and truck maintenance. A trailer was also donated.
Pintar said the holdup is securing insurance. Carriers want to insure a fleet, but insuring two trucks is less appealing. The trucks remain on the donors’ lot until insurance is obtained.
The 3D printer that was at Eastern Gateway through a partnership with America Makes has been moved to YSU’s Excellence Training Center, Steelant said.
YSU President Bill Johnson pointed out the university is a partner in the $26 million Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense announced last month for downtown Youngstown. The Youngstown Business Incubator will operate the hub.
“We are in the process of working with them,” he said.
Chuck George, trustees vice chairman and the chairman of the workforce education and innovation committee, told Johnson he was being modest.
“As you know and I know, probably a big reason that innovation project is here is because of Youngstown State …” he said. “So we’re very proud of that.”
Pictured at top: A rendering of the YNG Aviation Education Center.