Saint Vincent College introduces new aviation degree

Renatta Signorini, Tribune-Review, Greensburg, Pa.
·3 min read

Jan. 17—A new major at Saint Vincent College will propel students to careers in aviation and help them earn a license to become a pilot.

The unique partnership behind the offering has been in the works for about a year, said officials from the Unity college, Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, Community College of Beaver County and the Laurel Highlands Aeronautical Academy.

It'll be a rigorous program, starting this fall, that will allow students to earn a bachelor of science degree in aviation management, an associate degree from the Community College of Beaver County and a commercial pilot's license in four years or less, said Michael Urick, dean of the college's Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics and Government.

Students will learn general business concepts that would apply to careers in aviation administration, such as airline and airport management.

"The timing is right for this major given the anticipated pilot shortage over the coming years," Urick said.

The major and partnership were announced Wednesday at the airport in Unity, about 2 1/2 miles from the college across Route 30. Airlines have been dealing with a pilot shortage for years, and it was exacerbated during the pandemic when pilots were encouraged to take early retirement as air travel shut down in 2020, according to the Associated Press.

Analysts estimate 10,000 pilots have left the field since then. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there will be an average of 17,000 job openings for pilots per year until 2032 to replace workers who leave the field or retire.

"This unique concurrent enrollment program provides flexibility, accessibility and value while developing future aviation leaders and pilots, and the program's convenient," said John Higgs, senior dean and dean of James M. Johnson School of Aviation Sciences at the Community College of Beaver County.

The new major could help Saint Vincent become the premiere aviation school in the Northeast, said James Arnold, administrator at Laurel Highlands Aeronautical Academy. Saint Vincent aviation students will get their flight hours through the academy, which has an existing relationship with the airport.

"This isn't exactly about making money. This is about giving back to aviation," he said. "This is about giving back to our airport, our community and, most importantly, our students, who will carry this trade into the future."

Saint Vincent officials said they hope the program will connect students to an important industry and enable them to fill a regional need.

"We certainly think there's an opportunity for this agreement and this partnership and this degree to make Westmoreland County a destination," said Jeffrie Mallory, executive vice president at chief operating officer at Saint Vincent. "The reach of Saint Vincent College will be worldwide as a result of this agreement."

John Delaney, vice president of academic affairs at the college, said the program leverages existing regional resources.

"We are in partnership with various local high schools where some students are interested in learning to fly and to get an aviation degree," Delaney said. "Our hope is that this is a way to cultivate students from their early years in Westmoreland County ... to bring them into a great job and to keep them in the region."

Westmoreland County Airport Authority Executive Director Gabe Monzo said he is looking forward to working together with new partners.

"We're very happy to bring Saint Vincent into the fold. We know what Laurel Highlands can do, we know the background of CCBC," he said. "We think that it's going to be great for us, great for the airport and great for the students that take advantage of the program."

Renatta Signorini is a TribLive reporter covering breaking news, crime, courts and Jeannette. She has been working at the Trib since 2005. She can be reached at rsignorini@triblive.com.