Middle Georgia State University Receives Special Accreditation For Advanced Flight Degree

Author: News Bureau
Posted: Wednesday, October 9, 2019 12:00 AM
Categories: School of Aviation | Faculty/Staff | Pressroom

Macon, GA

L-R: MGA’s Dr. Jon Anderson, Adam Holloway, Ed Weathersbee, and Dr. Mary Wearn; Lance Toland, of Lance Tōland Associates Ltd., the donor who provided the funding so the School of Aviation could pursue AABI accreditation; Dr. Christopher Blake, MGA president; MGA’s Adon Clark; state Sen. John Kennedy, Sen. Jack Hill, Rep. Dale Washburn; Dr. Tommy Hopkins of the Board of Regents; and Kelvin Mason of Delta Air Lines.

Middle Georgia State University’s Bachelor of Science in Aviation Science and Management - Advanced Flight degree is now accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International. Middle Georgia State (MGA) is the first public institution in the state of Georgia to receive an AABI accreditation.

“This is the culmination of several years’ hard work on the part of everyone at the School of Aviation,” said Adon Clark, dean of MGA’s School of Aviation. “We’re proud to know that our dedication and commitment to quality has been recognized by AABI, and that our students will continue to reap the benefits of this accreditation wherever their careers take them, here in Georgia or around the world.”

The Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI) is responsible for reviewing and accrediting aviation programs throughout the world. The accreditation process involves a detailed, comprehensive review of curriculum, operations, safety, and all other aspects of an aviation program. Middle Georgia State – the only public institution in Georgia with a School of Aviation and a four-year degree in flight - received the accreditation after a two-year review process.

To achieve accreditation, aviation programs must satisfy the expectations of a wide range of quality criteria relating to strategic management of resources, interactions of faculty and students in the educational process, and achievement of degree learning goals, according to the AABI website. An AABI team of academic and industry members visits the institution seeking accreditation to evaluate the programs against accreditation standards and criteria.

AABI was created in 1988 at the initiative of 100 colleges and universities with aviation programs who recognized the need to establish standards and submit themselves to the review of their peers and the industry. Its purpose is to serve as the official accrediting body for all collegiate aviation.

MGA celebrated receiving accreditation for the degree's flight track at a reception held Monday, October 7, on the Eastman Campus, the hub for the aviation programs. Among the guests was Lance Toland of Lance Tōland Associates Ltd., the donor who provided the funding so the School of Aviation could pursue AABI accreditation.

“As aerospace continues to grow as an economic force in Georgia, we are proud to see that our state’s only public four-year school of Aviation has earned this international recognition,” said Dr. Steve Wrigley, University System of Georgia chancellor. “Accreditation by a worldwide accrediting board like AABI puts a global stamp on what industry leaders have long recognized as a top-level program, and helps ensure that MGA graduates continue to be recognized as professional aviators and potential leaders in the field.”

MGA’s Bachelor of Science in Aviation Science and Management (advanced flight track) educates students for careers as professional pilots. The program provides highly advanced training in a learning environment that prepares students for the demands of the aviation industry. Outside of Eastman, the School of Aviation offers flight training and degree programs in Macon and Adel.

More information about all of MGA’s aviation programs is at mga.edu/aviation.