UMC to Offer Programs in Natural Resources Aviation and Law Enforcement Aviation

The University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) now offers two new areas of emphasis for undergraduate students interested in aviation and natural resources:  Natural Resources Aviation and Law Enforcement Aviation.  Core courses from UMC’s existing degree programs in Natural Resources and Aviation can now be combined in the Natural Resources Aviation emphasis, while the Law Enforcement Aviation emphasis includes existing criminal justice courses, the aviation core, and additional natural resources content.  

Both program emphases have a national--even international--marketability and attraction for students.  No other college or university offers a comparable program.   The wide geographical appeal is increased because the Crookston campus’ national recognition for its quality programs, its technology, and its uniform tuition policy for non-resident students. 

Natural Resources Aviation students will prepare for careers as natural resource pilots and will be employed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, state departments of natural resources, and as wilderness pilots working in remote areas.  

Law Enforcement Aviation students would be employed primarily with federal, state, county, or local agencies such as the United States Border Patrol, U.S. Customs Service, F.A.A. Inspectors, U.S. Sky Marshals, and state, county, and local law enforcement agencies.

The new emphases will be cooperatively managed by the college’s Natural Resources Department and its Aviation Department, but they will be administratively housed in the Aviation Department. 

Rationale for offering program

Emphases in Natural Resources Aviation and Law Enforcement Aviation are logical and cost-effective extensions of the existing Natural Resources Management, Natural Resources Law Enforcement, Agriculture Aviation program areas.  The required personnel, equipment, and curriculum, with the exception of one course, are in place and available. Implementation of these programs primarily involves repackaging of existing programmatic strengths to serve new learner markets and industries. 

Academic content will be provided by UMC and through its current partnerships with the University of North Dakota and Bemidji State University.  Both UMC programs and the partnerships will be strengthened as a result. 

One new course, Natural Resources Aviation Applications, will be developed in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota State Patrol.  The course will be offered first in 2004-2005 and every other year thereafter.  Additional competencies will be added to other existing aviation courses as required.  Other specialized courses, as required, are available at UND Aerospace under the existing partnership.

The new emphasis areas are within UMC’s mission and purposes.  

• The focus is polytechnic with a solid foundation in general education
• Learner outcomes are career-oriented, rich in theory and practical application.  
• The curriculum embraces technology as a learning tool.
• Collaboration between faculty, academic units, institutions, and employers is embedded in development and delivery.
• The emphasis serves a well-defined and highly marketable educational niche, as is necessary to achieve UMC’s objective of growing enrollment by expanding geographical reach.
• Employment in the field, particularly in light of increased attention to regulatory and enforcement activities related to environmental management and homeland security, is expected to grow.
• The emphasis is unique in Minnesota and the U.S.

Educational Objectives

The emphases will:

1. Provide students with a high quality academic experience using proven courses and ensure that they are proficient in the use of aircraft for natural resource and law enforcement application.
2. Provide students with the qualifications required for Commercial Pilot Certification.
3. Provide students with the critical thinking and problem solving skills appropriate to be successful as a natural resources/enforcement pilots.
4. Ensure that graduates have specialized flight skills beyond the Commercial Pilot level.
5. Provide graduates with the background and education for aviation-related careers.
6. Meet the standards of professional associations.

Program Demand

This new emphasis proposal was developed as a result of input from the Natural Resources and Agricultural Aviation Program Improvement Advisory Committees.  Members from the Natural Resources Advisory Committee, representing state natural resource management agencies, indicated the difficulty they were experiencing in hiring professional pilots who had a natural resource background who also had the specialized flight training and experience required by this area of employment. 

It was felt by the committee that UMC was in a unique position to combine strengths in Aviation, Natural Resources, and Law Enforcement to offer unique baccalaureate programs to meet specific and growing employer needs.  A “needs assessment” study was completed by Mr. Jerry Engelbrecht, aviation consultant and retired Chief Pilot for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.  This assessment included interviewing department heads from 15 state natural resource agencies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and one Canadian province.  Results indicated a minimal national hiring demand for 81 pilot positions over the next five years, a moderate increase in hiring over the next 10 to 15 years, and the difficulty in hiring qualified people.

Posted  09/27/2002
Contact: Andrew Svec, 218-281-8435

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