Document text
Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 28, 2005 Aeronautical university to open campus in Medford By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune An aeronautical university with headquarters in Daytona, Fla., is gearing up to open a satellite campus in Medford by fall 2006. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, with 130 educational sites worldwide, hopes to set up a partnership with Rogue Community College to offer undergraduate and graduate degrees for pilots in military and commercial aviation. RCC would offer general education courses, while the university would provide more advanced instruction. The Medford airport could also be used as the base for hands-on flying time. "There is enough critical mass there," said Alan Bender, associate professor at Embry, citing the population levels, the community college, the airport and military reserves in the area. "This is almost the second-biggest airport in the state," he said, referring to Medford airport. Embry has two extension campuses in the Portland area. Advertisement Bender, a nationally known aviation expert, travels from school to school offering classes in professional aeronautics. "I’m sort of a flying professor," he said. Jerry Bean, director of operations for Embry’s Oregon campuses, said the Medford extension is in the preliminary stages of discussion. He plans on making a trip to the Rogue Valley in September to discuss the proposal with the airport advisory committee and officials at RCC. Margaret Bradford, RCC spokesperson, said there has been no formal proposal from Embry yet, but added, "We would certainly be interested in any opportunity to work with partners." Bean said he didn’t know how many people would be interested in taking aeronautic courses locally, but said he would need a minimum 10 undergraduate students or eight graduate students. About 60 percent of the students are in the military. He estimated it would cost about $55,000 for a four-year degree. Of that amount, he said there is $42,000 worth of flying time available for private or commercial pilots and training in instrumentation. Bean said Embry could draw on locals who have retired from aviation to provide some of the instruction. While most degrees are geared toward aviation, Embry offers a technical management degree that could be applied to other fields, Embry said. Bean said plans are in the works for similar extension programs in Roseburg and in Central Oregon. Also, he would like to create programs in the area around Portland, Salem and Vancouver, Wash. An Oregonian, Bean said he wants to give the university a stronger presence in his home state. "It is my vision of what we need to do in the state of Oregon for aviation," he said. Embry-Riddle, a private nonprofit, began in 1926 and has two residential campuses in Daytona, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz. The university trains pilots in other countries like Saudi Arabia others in the Middle East. Just after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the university was investigated by FBI agents because one of its students was suspected of being involved in the attacks. It turned out to be case of mistaken identity. The student in question, Waleed A. Al-Shehri, graduated with a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical science in 1997 and was living in Morocco, working for an airline there. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail Aeronautical university to open campus in Medford ">[email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Salvia Divinorum Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Advertisement s