UCM Aviation, GoJet Forge New Partnership
WARRENSBURG, MO (Aug. 29, 2014)- The University of Central Missouri and GoJet Airlines have joined forces to ensure the continued success of UCM aviation students with the signing of memorandum of understanding Wednesday afternoon by Deborah Curtis, UCM provost and chief learning officer, and Steven Briner, GoJet director of operations.
Under the terms of the agreement between GoJet and UCM, UCM aviation students are eligible to enter the joint Professional Pilot Program as a sophomore with 57 hours of college credit, a first class medical certificate and completion of a screening interview. Upon degree completion, UCM aviation graduates who have completed flight training school, met GPA requirements and obtained recommendations from UCM aviation personnel will be guaranteed an interview and extension of an offer for conditional employment to fill current vacancies with GoJet.
GoJet will maintain a presence on the UCM campus and within the UCM aviation program throughout the two-year period of the agreement with a GoJet pilot visiting the program a minimum of two days per month, mentoring students and encouraging them to succeed. Internships also will be available to UCM aviation students through GoJet, not only to those studying to be pilots, but also to those seeking degrees in aviation safety and aviation management.
According to Tony Monetti, assistant dean of aviation and executive director of the Max B. Swisher Skyhaven Airport, GoJet’s professional presence in the aviation program will allow UCM and GoJet to share information about their common goal—the success of UCM’s aviation students.
“Go Jet can suggest curriculum revisions based upon their knowledge of the needs of the profession,” he said, “and we can have an ongoing dialogue with them about the resources required by our program to maintain and grow the quality of our instruction.”
Roger Best, dean of the Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies at UCM, noted that the university and its aviation program have seen positive changes as a result of new partnerships similar to the one with GoJet.
“We do our very best to prepare you for the career you’ve chosen,” he said to the aviation students present at the signing ceremony, “but we all benefit from relationships with professionals like GoJet.”
“We’ve been cultivating this relationship with UCM for some time, and we’re excited to be a part the success of UCM’s aviation students,” Briner said, stressing the ever-increasing need for qualified pilots. “We’re here to add to your student experience through internships and the mentorship program we will make available on campus. It will be a long-term partnership, and we feel it is a partnership that is our way of giving something to the aviation world via UCM.”
With headquarters in Bridgeton, Mo., GoJet Airlines operates CRJ700 regional jets for United Express and Delta Connection out of United Airlines hubs at Chicago O'Hare, Denver and Washington-Dulles Airports and Delta Connection hubs at Detroit Metro and LaGuardia Airports. The airline operates more than 200 flights out of more than 50 cities. GoJet became a partner with United Airlines in 2005 and Delta Airlines in 2012.
UCM's Department of Aviation is a Federal Aviation Administration Part 141 school and one of fewer than 30 Aviation Accreditation Board International accredited aviation programs. UCM maintains a training fleet that includes Cessna single-engine and Piper Seminole multi-engine planes, Skyhawks, Redbird simulators and a 737 simulator. Students are afforded hands-on experiences in all aspects of the program, assuring a high level of student success.
(Courtesy of UCM Public Affairs)
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