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SIUC aviation program may branch to Metro East

BY ADAM TESTA, THE SOUTHERN

Monday, August 18, 2008 11:22 PM CDT

CARBONDALE - An extended partnership between Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey may take flight within the next year.

A standing agreement ensures credit hours earned through Lewis and Clark's associate in applied science in pilot training degree program will transfer to SIUC's aviation management program, but officials at both schools said actual bachelor's degree classes may soon be heading to the Metro East area.

"It might be easier to work out a partnership where the people don't have to move all the way to Carbondale," said David NewMyer, chair of SIUC's aviation management and flight department.

If there would be enough student interest and approval from the board of trustees at each school, as well as the Illinois Board of Higher Education, bachelor's degree classes would be offered every other weekend at the Lewis and Clark campus and at St. Louis Regional Airport in Bethalto, NewMyer said.

SIUC offers similar programs in North Carolina and California.

There would need to be about 25 students in the program at any given time to make it financially feasible, NewMyer said.

Between 100 and 120 students are enrolled in Lewis and Clark's program, said Program Coordinator Scott Langa.

Lewis and Clark currently partners with Langa Air, a private flight training company, on its associate's degree program, and an advanced partnership with SIUC would be the next step, NewMyer said.

"We're piggybacking on top of that partnership with this partnership," he said.

The program would serve as an additional source of students for SIUC's program, while allowing Lewis and Clark students to advance their education without leaving the Metro East area, NewMyer said.

Jill Lane, dean of liberal arts and business at Lewis and Clark, and Langa both stressed the importance of having course offerings available to home for many students because they are not in a position to pack up and move to Carbondale.

"Right now, it looks really good for both of us to get it working," Langa said.

NewMyer said a formal plan will be drafted this fall to be presented to the SIUC Board of Trustees and the IBHE. The program could be in place within a year, he said.

"It's certainly not finalized yet, but it's in the works," Lane said.

adam.testa@thesouthern.com

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