COMPUTER SCIENCE The Universities that teach it & the Companies that use it

Wentworths Co-op program is about to take flight.
from Wentworth Institute of Technology

Wentworth Institute of Technology has been certified for the Federal Aviation Administration Airways Facilities Collegiate Training Initiative [AF-CTI] co-op program. The program, which includes a student intern program and is responsible for direct hiring, will give Wentworth students in electronic engineering technology and computer engineering technology more opportunities for hands on learning. Wentworths administrators and faculty joined representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] in an official ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday October 19 to celebrate the commitment the FAA has made with the Institute.

President Zorica Pantic-Tanner, who spoke at the event, was thrilled by the prospects now available to students.

The importance of this program is to work in teams and become incorporated in the workplace, said Dr. Pantic-Tanner. I feel that this program, and others like it, contributes to our mission of economically enhancing surrounding communities. Co-op placements under the new program became available to students beginning Fall 2005. Since then, seven Wentworth students have begun work at Bostons Logan airport and Manchester airport in New Hampshire. The government-operated program has opened the doors for students to work in diverse locations around the nation. This is a good opportunity for a new job market, explained Dr. Michael Jackson, professor of electronics and mechanics at Wentworth. The FAA will open the entire nation for job placement. The program will allow the co-op student to work anywhere. Amy Corbett, regional administrator of the FAA in New England, expressed the mutual feelings between the two organizations. Its exciting to see the growing facility you have here, Corbett said. On behalf of the almost 3,000 FAA personal who work in the New England area, we are looking forward to this. Other FAA personal that contributed to the partnership are New England Systems Maintenance Office Manager William Trettor, Collegiate Training Initiative and Training Program Manager Sue Gordon, Boston Radar/Data/Environmental Systems Service Center Manager Mike Migdallivich, Mission Support Branch Manager Steve C Y Ng, and Personnel Management Specialist Katrina Newlon. Vice President for Student Affairs Maureen Keefe commended those who worked to bring this program to Wentworth. Bringing the FAA to Wentworth was a team effort, Keefe said. I would like to thank the career services department, as well as the academic departments who have contributed." Keefe then pointed to Co-op coordinator Andrea Juliano, who was instrumental in the partnership. Other than preparing students for FAA employment, the program provides the FAA with a stable recruiting avenue, and students with coveted FAA training. Wentworth was awarded the sought-after program after passing a lengthy certification process.

Many departments, including the library, lab facilities, career center, and program curriculum, were heavily inspected. All passed the accreditation process. and Wentworth has become the only four-year school in Massachusetts certified for the AF-CTI program.

The FAA wanted to make sure Wentworth was sound and stable, Professor Jackson said. They had to assure themselves that Wentworth could handle the program.

Although intense, the certification process was worthwhile for the rewards of this renowned program. This program brings many exciting aspects that can contribute a lot at Wentworth, said Jackson.