2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

As the aviation industry grows, the national workforce shortage for pilots and aviation management personnels are increasing. Collegiate aviation programs in the U.S. play a pivotal role in providing flight and management professionals to the industry. This research paper aims to compare a newly established collegiate aviation program with a well-established aviation program, both of which are located within minority-serving institutions (MSIs). The study focuses on key areas, including program enrollment, curriculum development, faculty recruitment, future development, program assessment, and the current and future challenges faced by each program. A mixed-methods approach that incorporates both quantitative enrollment data, faculty recruitment, and qualitative interviews with faculty and students, and the program assessment plan. This research aims to evaluate how these programs address the unique needs of minority and first-generation students and align their skills with the demands of the aviation industry. Preliminary findings suggest notable disparities in enrollment figures, with the new program showing significant growth potential but facing initial hurdles in student and faculty recruitment, curriculum development, faculty, and resource allocation. On the other hand, while the established program boasts robust and consistent student enrollment growth, it shows the challenges of a lack of resources and faculty to sustain the increasing number of student enrollments. This study also compares and discusses the challenges and lessons learned regarding student recruitment and retention, as well as the experiences of first-generation college students and the third-party accreditation of these institutions. The findings of this study may be useful to collegiate aviation programs in constituting an effective program assessment strategy or address potential challenges in MSIs.