TRINITY ECONOMIST’S EDUCATION PLAN SOARS
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March 2001 - A Trinity University economist has developed an innovative partnership among public and private agencies to train high school students in the greater San Antonio area for jobs in the burgeoning aviation industry. Richard Butler, professor of economics, says the new Aerospace Academy will serve as a model for other communities and industries to prepare young people for the work force. Under the prototype that will open in August, the academy will combine resources of 15 or more public school districts, the Alamo Community College District, the city of San Antonio, the Greater Kelly Development Authority, and at least eight private aviation companies. Students will attend their neighborhood school in the morning to complete basic courses in English, math, and history and board buses in the afternoon for one of two academy campuses to receive technical training. Courses will focus on airframe and power plant mechanics. Paid summer internships will be available as an incentive to remain in the program. “The goal is to expand a student’s skills and create opportunities to meet the need,” Professor Butler says. “The industry says it can employ 600 to 700 graduates a year.” From an economist’s point of view, Professor Butler says the partnership gives the agencies more of what each wants. For example, none of the school districts had a budget for such an academy, but each could contribute a smaller amount to cover books and transportation from the neighborhood school. From
an educator’s point of view, Professor Butler says the academy offers
a taste of higher education to high school students. Graduates
will earn 15 hours of college credit hours and be roughly one-fourth of
the way toward an associate’s degree. “We hope that some will
learn about the mechanics of airplanes and want to design them.
They can go on to a four-year college like Trinity and earn an
engineering degree,” he says. To
learn more about Professor Butler’s work, contact Susie
P. Gonzalez at |
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Last updated on March 8, 2001 by the Office of Public Relations |