College of Aviation

Raymond Thompson
Dean

Thomas Grossman
Executive Director of Flight Operations

Jason DeGeorge, Chair

Jennifer Halseth
Business Manager

Sharon VanDyken
Director of Academic Advising

Tom Thinnes
Manager of Recruitment and Outreach

Willem Homan
William Rantz

Academic Advising

Students should contact an advisor as early as possible. Advisors are available to assist in the individual program planning, recommend electives appropriate to a student’s educational objectives, discuss employment opportunities and help solve academic problems. Substitutions and special transfer credit must be approved by the advising Director, the curriculum committee or the Faculty Chair. Academic advising is available; phone (269) 387-0347. Because of the prerequisites and the limited offering times, students must consult an academic advisor if there are questions about proper course sequence.

Advising:
237 North Helmer Road
Battle Creek, MI 49037-7917
Telephone: (269) 387-6395

Career Advising

Full career advising services are offered on main campus and students should contact the Career and Student Employment Services (wmich.edu/career/students) for these services. There are a number of internships available. For opportunities, students should contact the Manager of Recruitment and Outreach at (269) 964-6473. Internships are very competitive and students are encouraged to apply well before the appropriate deadline.

Academic Performance

Candidates for the Bachelor of Science degree must satisfy the following requirements and University requirements stated elsewhere in this catalog:

Students in the College of Aviation must achieve a minimum grade of “C” in all AVS courses required for graduation.
No more than two grades of “D” or “DC” in courses, other than AVS courses, presented for graduation may be counted for graduation.

Approved Electives

Electives must be approved by a department academic advisor. While choice of electives is intended to provide flexibility for students, they must be selected to provide a thrust and add strength to the individual’s program. Non-related courses will not normally be approved.

Transfer Credit

Transfer credit for FAA certification may be accepted providing the courses were taken at another accredited collegiate institution. Although these transfer courses may be approved for AVS credit, the use of these courses for AVS course substitution may not necessarily be approved. However, please note carefully the following paragraph.

New FAA First Officer Qualification rules now require an Air Transport Pilot License (ATPL) for pilot employment in Part 121 operations. However, the FAA will allow students completing an aviation degree to qualify for a reduced hours FAA ATPL; 500 hours credit are granted toward the 1500 flight hours normally required for the ATPL. In order to qualify for this reduction, students must complete all of their flying aside from the Private Pilot Certificate with the College of Aviation and complete at least 60 credit hours of the FAA approved AVS courses. Students who only complete 30 to 59 credit hours of FAA approved courses at WMU will only be granted 250 hours of credit. Students completing less than 30 hours of FAA approved courses at WMU or not completing all of their flying aside from the Private Pilot Certification at WMU will be granted no credit.

Additional Costs

Special lab fees are in effect for all flight courses to cover the cost of flight instruction and aircraft operations. The fee is subject to change without notice due to fluctuations in operating costs. Flight fees are based on the average flight time required to complete the course. Students may require additional or less instruction. Refund of flight fees is subject to departmental refund policy, depending on whether a student completes a course of instruction or withdraws. Flight fees are due at the beginning of the semester. Students using Post 9/11 VA benefits for flight course fees will have a portion of the lab fee submitted to the VA for payment consideration. Additional information concerning the amount of the lab fee submitted to the VA can be found at wmich.edu/aviation/academics/afs.

Students are required to have their own hand tools for courses required for the Aviation Technical Operations (ATO) program. Contact the Aviation Technical Operations advisor for a list of required tools.

Class-related charges are assigned for laboratory courses.

Class related charges are also assigned to classes requiring special licensing purchases for simulation software, external testing fees or class related field trip expenses.

All aviation students will also be assessed an $8.00 per semester fee for the transportation shuttle between main campus and the college facility at the Battle Creek airport.