Thanks to financial pledges from North Star Aviation and other private companies and individuals, Minnesota State University, Mankato’s aviation program will continue for another three years.
President Richard Davenport has announced that, because of the private financial assistance, the program will continue on a probationary basis, to be re-evaluated in 2013.
“This speaks well to the community stepping up to the plate when they needed to provide support and funding,” Davenport said. “This is a very positive thing.”
Davenport added that, after three years, the program will need to show an enrollment increase if it is to continue to be viable.
Last month aviation was scheduled to be eliminated after a university-wide academic evaluation placed it among programs that will be phased out due to expected future state funding cuts.
Aviation was in jeopardy because of its high cost and relatively low enrollment. At the time Davenport said the program might be continued if private funders could pledge support to help cover the costs.
The aviation program prepares students for careers in air transportation, including airline operations and management, corporate aviation, airport management and government operations. The university contracts with North Star Aviation at Mankato Regional Airport to provide students with professional flight training.
Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive, doctoral university with 14,950 students, is part of the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system, which comprises 32 institutions across the state.
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