The Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) School of Science, Aviation, Health, and Technology Department is part of a new initiative with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), that highlights Historically Black College and University (HBCU) aviation programming.
Each month, the FAA-HBCU Fourth Friday “End Your Day with FAA” Zoom series will feature a different HBCU. On Nov. 17 at 4 p.m., ECSU Department Chairperson Kevin Kupietz, Ph.D. and Department Dean, Kuldeep Rawat, Ph.D., are the featured guests. The conversation will also include aviation industry professionals.
The series is an opportunity for the FAA to highlight its academic partnerships, like the one it has with ECSU. The university’s aviation program participates in the administration’s Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI), the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Collegiate Training Initiative (UAS-CTI) and is a recipient of the Aviation Workforce Development Grant.
Additionally, ECSU’s flight training is approved by the FAA for Restricted Airline Pilot (R-ATP) authorization, which allows students to qualify as an airline pilot with 1,000 hours compared to the 1,500 hours requirement. It is the only four-year Aviation Science degree program in North Carolina with concentrations in flight education, aviation management, and professional aeronautics. Currently, the program has 250 student majors, making it the number one field of study for currently enrolled students. The major saw a 39 % increase in enrollment from fall 2022.
“This is a great opportunity for ECSU to highlight the work we do alongside the FAA,” Kupietz said. “I’m hopeful our students, and particularly prospective students, will join this conversation and learn more.”
Event registration information is available here.