December 13, 2008

To: Dr. Tracy Pellett, AVP for Undergraduate Studies

From: Dr. Amy Hoover, Chair Department of Aviation

Re: Actions taken based on recommendations from Dr. Joe Dunlap, external program reviewer,

on 9-10 April, 2007

Dear Dr. Pellett,

The following narrative includes the external program reviewer’s recommendations and corresponding actions taken by the Department of Aviation.

II. Faculty: Recommendations

  • Hire two additional tenure-track faculty [one with airline operations and/or maintenance experience]

Action Taken: The department hired one full time non tenure track faculty member fall 2008 to fill a vacancy; that person has extensive airline operations experience.

  • Develop procedures that allow faculty participation in FAR Part 141 stage checks, is considerate of L&I requirements, and is considered part of faculty workloads

Action Taken: CWU Business Services and Contracts worked with the department and developed a memorandum of understanding with Midstate Aviation for faculty to conduct FAR Part 141 stage checks. Beginning fall term, 2008 three faculty members are so doing and have conducted 26 stage checks as of December 13, 2008.

  • Include FAA unique requirements such as stage checks, simulator instruction, and FAA appointed Chief Ground Instructor as part of faculty workloads

Action Taken: FAA simulator instruction and FAA Chief Ground Instructor were already a part of faculty workloads. Flight stage checks were added to faculty workloads fall 2008.

  • Look to the airlines [retiring captains] and graduate schools as a source of applicants for faculty positions. Market strengths to prospective faculty; i.e. low cost of living, high quality of life, great location, and the only four year program in the Pacific Northwest, etc.

Action Taken: This was a part of the department’s strategy when searching the position that was filled fall, 2008

  • Examine salary structure and improve entry-level salary

Action Taken: The salary structure was examined and found inadequate, but was not improved.

III. Facilities: Recommendations

  • CWU has several short and/or long term options available relating to facilities:

Remain in existing facilities and do nothing

Remain in existing facilities and expand them

Construct new facilities at the existing location

Construct new faculties on the leased land located on Bowers Filed.

Relocate the program to main campus

  • That CWU develop a long term strategy consistent with a comprehensive and compelling vision for the program and university master plan
  • Consider moving lower division courses back to main campus

Action Taken: The existing airport building suffered from differential settlement of its foundation, a leaky roof, squeaky floors, periodic flooding, inadequate insulation and soundproofing, temperature control issues, rodent infestations, perennial invasions of wasps (a student was stung in class), sporadic plumbing problems with sewage backups and odors, and mold contamination (faculty and staff suffered from chronic respiratory illnesses) which left it building in a condemned state.

Faculty and staff were relocated to main campus fall term, 2007, on a temporary basis and a new facility was slated to be in place October, 2008. Due to delays in the CWU Facilities Management department the building has not been completed and the revised schedule is for it to be in place by May, 2009.

The flight simulators are also temporarily located in three different buildings on campus. Faculty and staff are moving to another, more permanent, on-campus site in December, 2008.

All courses are now on the main campus and FAA approval has been granted for courses to be taught in two different building.

IV. Program/Curriculum: Recommendations

  • Rename the department to one that represents the more comprehensive nature of the programs and vision for the future

Action Taken: Flight Technology was a program within the Industrial Engineering Department at the time of this review. Since then it has achieved department status (Department of Aviation)

  • Develop a comprehensive and compelling vision for the department and programs based on demographics, industry and student demand, and university goals

Action Taken: Vision and mission statements, along with action strategies, methods of assessment, and goals for fiscal and other resources to support those was developed and is periodically under review (copies of this on request).

  • Offer more internships/cooperative experiences for management students

Action Taken: This is still an area needing improvement. Beginning fall term, 2008, the Department has been working with the new CEPS development officer and the new CWU Foundation Grant writer to explore expanding these possibilities.

  • Develop closer relationships with two year aviation programs, offer 2+2 degree options, and offering more upper division courses through University Centers and ITV to remote location

Action Taken: The Department expanded to offer all four of its degree specializations at MosesLakeCenter in cooperation with Big BendCommunity College. Those programs were approved summer, 2008, and include a transfer agreement for all BBCC students as well as on-site and distance education coursework so that students may complete their degrees at either campus.

  • Establish an aviation advisory committee comprised of governmental, industry, and higher education representatives

Action Taken: This has not yet been done. The CEPS development officer is working with the Department to identify possible personnel for this committee.

  • Eliminate the Airway Science Aircraft Systems Management Specialization. This degree was developed to support employment in the aviation industry and the Federal Aviation Administration and in many respects is redundant with other flight related degrees offered. This option has not been well supported by enrollment and is no longer actively supported by the FAA

Action Taken: The Airway Science Aircraft Systems Management Specialization was eliminated.

  • Focus on program quality rather than growth until adequate facilities and faculty are available to support growth

Action Taken: The Department is in the process of acquiring two new, state-of-the art FAA approved flight simulators, including a CRJ regional jet and a twin-engine aircraft with Glass cockpit technology. Faculty are current revising the curriculum to incorporate airline style training in these aircraft to include systems, operations, and CRM.

V. Students: Recommendations

  • Develop an alumni tracking system

Action Taken: The Department is working with the CEPS Development Officer and is developing an alumni database and tracking system. The Department website also has an area for alumni.

  • Utilize strengths and future market demand to market programs

Action Taken: The Department is developing several venues to meet the needs of various target markets, including general aviation and international opportunities. One example is the current contract with Vietnam Airlines for students in the Aviation Maintenance Management Degree which is being used as a model to market to other airlines and industry.

  • Address facility issues

Action Taken: See number III above.

VI. Equipment and Instructional Media: Recommendations

  • Develop and implement a fee structure that provides develops resources over time to replace aging flight simulators rather than relying on capital project resources or certificates of participation

Action Taken: The Department submitted a new fee structure for simulators and flight training as part of the university package that went for legislative approval this year and should be in place fall term, 2009. The new fee structure will generate appropriate revenue to support maintenance and service contracts for the new equipment and other related instructional needs.

  • Replace and/or upgrade existing fleet of simulators and flight training devices

Action Taken: See number IV above.

  • Improve relationship with Mid-State Aviation. CWU should not consider acquiring a fleet of university owned aircraft. The long term effect of acquisition, maintenance, replacement, operational costs, and managing flight training operations are too costly in fiscal and human resources for CWU to sustain

Action Taken: The current relationship with Midstate Aviation is much improved and is good. Midstate has new management for their flight department and CWU personnel are working closely with those individuals to address issues of student progress, quality of instruction, scheduling, and other issues that arise. This improved relationship is evidenced by the high level of flight training success and substantial improvement over previous year’s performance.

  • Provide a student computer lab to support Flight Technology students

Action Taken: This has not happened to date due to the temporary physical location of the Department. When the Department moves to Black Hall in December, 2008, students will have access to both PC and MacIntosh computer labs in that building. Additionally, computer labs will be integrated into the new flight simulator training facility at the airport that is slated to be in place by May, 2009.

VII. Mid-State Aviation: Recommendations

That CWU:

  • That CWU acquire copies of agreements between other college and universities that utilize vendors to deliver flight training as a basis for comparison. The University Aviation Association may be able to assist:
    University Aviation Association
    3410 Skyway Drive
    Auburn, AL36830-6444
    (334) 844-2434

Action Taken: The Department is in the process of doing this in conjunction with the start of discussions regarding the RFP for the next flight training contract (see below).

  • The existing contract between CWU and Mid-State Aviation will be open for renewal in 2-3 years. Open discussions with Mid-State to remedy this situation and clarify who has responsibility and authority for oversight of curriculum, faculty qualifications, and student progress.CWU must be involved to ensure that curriculum delivered by Mid-State Aviation meets university criteria, that instructors meet university requirements, and student progress must be monitored [faculty involvement in flight stage checks remedy this situation].

Action Taken: The Department has begun a conversation and will be undergoing a series of meetings with CWU Business Services and Contracts, as well as Midstate Aviation owner and chief flight instructors, to ensure the RFP for the new contract will satisfy these and other requirements.

  • Develop an A-6 agreement with Mid-State Aviation in accordance with criteria outlined in Policy A-6 NWCCU.

Action Taken: This was done and an agreement between the University and Midstate Aviation became effective spring term, 2008.

VIII. Library Resources: Recommendations

  • Allocate a library resource budget to the Flight Technology Department

Action Taken: The Department has a library resource budget that is used for texts, periodicals, and other media upon request. Additionally, all CWU library NACO charts, both IFR and VFR, are now archived with the Department upon their expiration date.

  • Assess and determine the need for additional publications relating to aviation psychology and crew performance

Action Taken: This is done on an ongoing basis through faculty review and requests for resources.

IX. Information Literacy: Recommendations

  • Once a decision is made regarding facility disposition a student computer lab be made available for flight technology students at that location.

Action Taken: See number VI above.

  • That flight simulators be replaced or upgraded to reflect state-of-the-art systems with current data bases

Action Taken: See number IV above.

X. Budget: Recommendations

  • That Departmental Goods and Services budget be increased by $5,000

Action Taken: The budget request was made and denied.

Thank you Dr. Pellett for your attention in these matters; if you require supporting documentation or reports for any of the areas specified above please contact me.

Sincerely,

Amy L. Hoover

Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Aviation