Aviation College Programs

Take Advantage of ALPA Pilot Mentor Programs

College students pursuing their pilot’s license in a university program can take advantage of unique opportunities to learn from ALPA pilots. Our Education Committee has formed alliances with leading universities in North America to mentor aspiring aviators and help prepare them to join the piloting ranks.

Currently, we have professional development and/or mentoring programs at 14 university campuses:

• Arizona State University
• Central Washington University
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach, Fla.
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott, Ariz.
• Florida Institute of Technology
• Indiana State University
• Lewis University
• Lynn University
• Louisiana Tech University
• Mount Royal University
• Oklahoma State University
• Parks College of St. Louis University
• Purdue University
• Southern Illinois University
• University of North Dakota
• Western Michigan University

We are also building relationships with more than a dozen other universities across the United States. Several of these universities are interested in formalizing a program with us, and we will continue to expand our outreach to other prestigious institutions.

University Outreach Program Options

Our aviation university outreach program offers two options:

Program Option 1
This option consists of one visit each semester by ALPA pilot volunteers. During these visits, ALPA pilots guest-speak in numerous classes, providing practical workplace examples and emphasizing professionalism. These day-long visits usually culminate in an evening forum, where ALPA pilots provide an industry overview and answer questions related to their segment of the airline industry.

Program Option 2
Option 2 involves establishing an on-campus, student-led Aviation Collegiate Education (ACE) Club, sponsored by ALPA. These clubs meet once or twice a month, over four months, each semester, to discuss a wide range of aviation-related subjects, including crew resource management, training, and preparing for airline pilot job interviews.

Aviation Field Trips for University Students

In addition to on-campus outreach, we organize annual field trips for students to tour airline operations and other aviation-related facilities. These field trips provide aspiring aviators with a behind-the-scenes look at how airlines operate and offer them first-hand experience of what it takes to be a professional airline pilot.

These initiatives, along with the campus visits, help students experience the profession through real-world scenarios, promoting more mature and well-rounded thinking. The programs have been highly successful and well received by both university faculty and students. In fact, Embry-Riddle Prescott encourages all aviation students to join ALPA’s ACE Club and exempts club members from a required professional development class. The ACE Club has also been recognized by the university for its positive impact on students and the campus community.

University Aviation Association

The University Aviation Association (UAA) is a nonprofit organization that represents colleges and universities offering academic degree programs in aviation at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

The UAA's Collegiate Aviation Guide is a directory of departments in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, and abroad that offer academic degrees and/or majors in aviation.

Download the UAA Guide