The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected Lewis University in Romeoville as one of nine new colleges and universities to prepare students for careers as air traffic controllers. The University was recently notified of its acceptance into the FAA’s Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) program, which is part of a larger effort by the FAA to train and hire air traffic controllers as current professionals in the field reach retirement.

The FAA estimates that over the next 10 years more than 15,000 air traffic controllers will be needed due to the retirement of current staff.

Acceptance into the program classifies an educational institution as an FAA partner, and gives hiring preference to those who are graduates of these schools. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for an air traffic controller is more than $100,000.

Only 23 colleges and universities nationwide are approved participants to date. Lewis, the only university in Illinois with this designation, plans to officially launch its new air traffic controller program this fall.

“Lewis University is positioned to provide students with a strong and rigorous program and internship possibilities better than any existing air traffic control school in the Midwest,” said William Brogan, chair of Lewis’ Department of Aviation and Transportation Studies.

Located adjacent to the main campus is the Lewis University Airport, which serves as a reliever airport for O’Hare International.

“A full array of air traffic facilities exist within close proximity to the university,” explained Brogan. “Lewis University’s access to this range of facilities provides our program with the unique capability of introducing our aviation majors to the real world of air traffic control.

Joliet J.C. gets grant for building trades

Joliet Junior College )))JJC Workforce Development has been awarded $619,109 under the Employment Opportunities Grant Program (EOGP) from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to implement the Building Workers, Constructing Lives program.

The program will expand the number of women and minorities who enter and complete building trades apprenticeship programs and achieve journey-level status within a union.

“Females and minorities will have the opportunity to explore the many different types of construction trades available and learn some associated hands-on skills to determine which trade is right for them,” said Paige Vanderhyden, JJC workforce skills manager.

Roosevelt collaborates on real estate with Chinese university

Real estate development and management are the focus of a new international collaboration agreement between Roosevelt University’s Walter E. Heller College of Business Administration and the School of Economics and Management at Tongji University in China.

Through the program, the schools will exchange faculty and students, collaborate with industry professionals and work on real estate research projects. A delegation of Chinese real estate executives will visit Chicago this fall for two weeks of interaction with Chicago developers and real estate industry firms.

Westerly winds

To the west of the suburbs, Highland Community College in Freeport has been given official approval of the state’s first associate degree program for wind turbine technicians. The program was developed through a partnership with EcoEnergy of California. The two-year program will include courses in subjects including electronics, meteorology, math and even business, speech and physical education.

Concordia adds programs

Concordia University Chicago is offering a new graduate certificate program in Not-for-Profit/Church Management. This program is intended to increase the proficiency of not-for-profit and church administrators/professionals. The program is now accepting applications for classes to begin this summer. For more information on the Graduate Certificate Program in Not-for-Profit/Church Management, please contact Lorraine Gleeson at 708-209-3108 .

Concordia also has begun its first Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). It has an emphasis in banking and finance and is currently being run in a cohort model with an average completion time of two years. The College of Business is accepting applications for enrollment in the program. Additional MBA programs with other concentrations are being developed for future enrollment.

Appointments

The Waubonsee Community College Board of Trustees appointed Lourdes “Lulu” Blacksmith to the position of Director of Federal and Cultural Relations.

Terri L. Friel has been appointed dean of Roosevelt University’s Walter E. Heller College of Business Administration and was named the Walter E. Heller and Alyce DeCosta Professor of Management, effective July 1, 2008. Since 2000, Friel has been where she currently is associate dean of administration and associate professor of Operations Management at the Butler University College of Business Administration in Indianapolis.