Benefits Include Closer Connection In Applied Research And Hiring Opportunities

Riddle Aeronautical University has earned special recognition from Rockwell Collins Inc., signaling an expanding partnership and was shepherded by the Embry-Riddle offices of Corporate Relations & Development and Career Services, will involve increases in high-level funding, joint research projects, campus visits from Rockwell Collins teams, co-op/intern opportunities for current students and full-time hiring of Embry-Riddle graduates.

“We look at many factors as part of this designation, including the number of students who graduate in core disciplines, the diversified student body, and the number of students we hire, as well as retention and quality,” said Martha May, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Rockwell Collins. “We’re eager to see what this new partnership brings to both organizations.”

Nearly 400 Embry-Riddle alumni work for Rockwell Collins, about half of them at the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, headquarters. Over the last five years the company has hired 48 Embry-Riddle graduates, including 33 women and minorities. Embry-Riddle graduates employed at Rockwell Collins hold 362 degrees awarded in the disciplines most critical to the company, such as software and systems engineering. The company foresees a growing need for employees holding Embry-Riddle degrees in such areas as computer and electrical engineering, cyber security, flight planning, human factors, management and meteorology, among others.

“Over the course of more than 25 years, Rockwell Collins and Embry-Riddle have had a proud and productive history together,” said Dr. Richard Heist, Embry-Riddle’s Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research. “Through the years, we have seen substantial contributions from them supporting various engineering projects, programs and student-led organizations tied to research, diversity and securing a pipeline of talent they can be proud of. As a Tier One university, we will grant Rockwell Collins enhanced access to our state-of-the-art facilities, talented faculty and dedicated students. We look forward to partnering on STEM-related initiatives and applied research solutions for the aerospace and aviation industries.”

Rockwell Collins officials took part in the annual Industry/Career Expo at Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach Campus recently and will return to the campus in January for Rockwell’s annual spring visit. An event in April hosted by Rockwell Collins will celebrate the university’s Tier One status.

(Source: Rockwell Collins news release)

FMI: www.rockwellcollins.com