College of DuPage has been awarded $4 million in federal funding to expand and support its aviation and drone programs.
The U.S. Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education Special Projects “provides grants to institutions of higher education to support innovative projects concerning one or more areas of national need identified by the Secretary of Education,” according to a joint news release from U.S. Rep. Sean Casten and U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth.
“College of DuPage is lucky to secure this federal grant,” COD President Muddassir Siddiqi said. “The purpose of this grant is to address the national shortage of workforce in aviation, operation, dispatch, airport management and (unmanned aerial systems) technical personnel.”
The school’s aviation program was launched in fall 2023 and now has more than 140 students, according to school spokeswoman Jennifer Duda.
“Aviation is a very successful program,” Siddiqi said. “We are running a full load and in partnership with different organizations, including DuPage Airport. This is one of the most successful programs at the college.”
Currently COD offers an associate degree in Aviation Management and is developing an associate degree in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to address “growing regional and national workforce needs,” Duda said.
Unmanned aerial vehicles or systems, more commonly known as drones, are increasingly being deployed in a number of fields.
“Drones are gaining momentum in our economy,” Siddiqi said. “I see the purpose of preparing people for drone technology and aviation … to prepare them for entry-level jobs in aviation industry, in logistic industry, retail, airports, airlines and also companies that are engaged in defense contracts. It’s a wide market for our graduates.”
Over the next four years, the grant money will help the college develop its program offerings, including short-term, portable credentials, which will allow students enrolled in programs like aviation management to find work more easily or to transfer their credits to a four-year university program.
“We are very deliberate in terms of the design of our curriculum such that students in these occupations — occupation meaning aviation and drone technology — they have multiple entry and exit points,” Siddiqi said.
Grant money also will be used to enhance lab technology. In particular, the school wants to add simulated learning devices to create scenarios students might find themselves in when pursuing work in both fields, he said.
Funding also will be earmarked to hire more technical personnel from the airline and drone industries to help develop more offerings.
“We want to further enhance membership,” Siddiqi said. “We will probably invite American Airlines, other companies involved in aircraft manufacturing to join our advisory (program) and help us develop the curriculum, which is aligned with local and regional labor market needs in aviation and drone (technology).”
Federal funding also will allow the college to expand its programs to more people.
“The initiative has the potential to triple the College of DuPage’s aviation workforce output annually by the end of the grant term,” Duda said.
One group the college wants to reach are high school students who may be interested in enrolling in dual credit courses for the school’s aviation program, which is currently unavailable to high school students, Siddiqi said. They’d also like to reach groups that are underrepresented in the aviation industry, such as women, he said.
“Our agenda is, ‘How can we provide equitable opportunity … for all students, irrespective of their socioeconomic status or background to participate in this vibrant, good-paying jobs industry?'” he said.
The grant’s effect will have a wide-reaching impact, lawmakers said.
“College of DuPage serves more than 26,000 students and offers over 170 programs of study. This grant will strengthen academic programming and help students meet the evolving needs of the workforce,” Casten said in the news release. “I’m happy to see this grant awarded to such a deserving institution.”
cstein@chicagotribune.com
