Automotive, aviation have new names, but still strong alumni support
The newly formed College of Health and Human Sciences includes six schools: automotive, aviation, health sciences, human sciences, justice and public safety, and psychological and behavioral sciences.
For the fall 2021 semester, the School of Automotive and the School of Aviation are among the top five programs bringing the largest number of new students to campus, Meera Komarraju, provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs, said.
Komarraju notes that even with the name change, alumni support for both programs remains strong, “as evidenced by the impressive Transportation Education Center building, active advisory boards and scholarships that support our students.”
Eugene Talley, interim director of the School of Automotive, said having the school become a part of the College of Health and Human Sciences provides “great opportunities for collaboration as the mobility industry evolves.”
He also noted the university’s commitment to the automotive program.
“This commitment is based on the decades of success that the program has achieved through the years,” he said. “The School of Automotive will be the launching pad for future online programs. The school designation recognizes the scope of our curriculum and the extensive opportunities for students within the industry.”
Mike Burgener, interim director of the School of Aviation, said having the three aviation programs under one school benefits students “because it provides them more opportunities to select from a wider range of aviation courses and programs and it makes the programs more efficient.”
Burgener and Talley both note the programs’ respective high placement rates – each at 90 percent.
Enrollment also increased in both programs this semester, with a 4.5% increase to 641 students from a year ago in aviation, including 95 new freshman. The automotive program has just under 300 students this fall, with more than 70 freshman.
Komarraju noted that students in both programs have opportunities for “valuable, practical, hands-on experiences and internship opportunities that lead to successful employment.” She also said both schools “actively recruit and retain students from diverse backgrounds,” with both programs having registered students organizations (RSOs) that support and promote women.
On Sept. 22, the two schools hosted more than 130 students from local high schools and Rend Lake College. The students were introduced to both programs and they experienced virtual reality hardware and software under development.
Karen Johnson, an associate professor in aviation technologies, received a grant to develop virtual reality content for vocational training based on the aviation maintenance career field. Johnson and local high school teachers collaborated to bring students out to participate in several interactive demonstrations. Students who participated were from Benton Community High School, Brehm Preparatory School in Carbondale, Carbondale Community High School, Murphysboro High School, Vienna High School, COPE Alternative School in Murphysboro and Rend Lake College.