Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
(formerly known as the College of Aeronautics,
previously the Academy of Aeronautics and
founded as the Casey Jones School of Aeronautics)
is a private specialized aviation and engineering
college located adjacent to LaGuardia Airport
in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York, United
States.
It was founded in Newark, New Jersey in 1932,
and moved to New York City in 1940.
The college's most recent name change, to
honor a founder, was on September 1, 2004.
It provides Associate's degree, Bachelor's
degree and Master's degrees in Engineering,
Technology, Aviation, and Management.
The Aviation Training Institute at Vaughn
offers the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) Airframe and Powerplant maintenance
certificate.
Vaughn is the only college in New York to
offer the engineering program Mechatronics.
Developed at MIT, Mechatronics is a combination
of several engineering types including Mechanical
Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer
Engineering.
The institution is also designated by the
FAA as a Collegiate Training Institute and
offers a non-degree air traffic control program
for those wishing to pursue a career in this
field.
The associate in Applied Science (AAS) in
Avionics, the associate in applied science
(AAS) degree in Aeronautical Engineering Technology
and the bachelor of science (BS) degree in
Electronic Engineering Technology, as well
as the Bachelor of Science (B.S) degree in
Mechanical Engineering Technology are accredited
by the Technology Accreditation Commission
of the Accreditation Board for Engineering
and Technology (ABET).
Vaughn College has strong relations with aerospace
industries like Northrop Grumman, NASA and
Lockheed Martin.
== History ==
In 1929, Charles S. “Casey” Jones, a pioneer
aviator and aviation company executive, foresaw
the need for highly trained technicians to
design, build and service aircraft and engines.
George A. Vaughn Jr. and Lee D. Warrender
joined with Charles S. "Casey" Jones in founding
the Casey Jones School of Aeronautics, the
predecessor of the Academy of Aeronautics,
and after September 1986, the College of Aeronautics.
Effective September 1, 2004, the Board of
Regents of the State of New York approved
the institution changing its name from the
College of Aeronautics to Vaughn College of
Aeronautics and Technology.
=== Founding ===
Mayor Fiorello Henry La Guardia laid the cornerstone
of the Academy building in 1940, shortly after
the opening of LaGuardia Airport.
Mayor LaGuardia wanted an aviation school
to teach and train young people in the Aviation
technologies at his new airport.
At the time, his friend and flying comrade
of World War I, Charles (“Casey”) S. Jones,
was operating the Casey Jones School of Aeronautics
near Newark Airport.
In early 1940, the mayor convinced Casey to
establish a school near LaGuardia airport,
across the Grand Central Parkway.
It was founded by Jones, a well known racing
pilot of the 1920s, George Augustus Vaughn,
Jr., second ranking ace of World War I, and
Lee D. Warrender, an aeronautical engineer.
The Casey Jones School educated and trained
20,000 men and women who supported the nation’s
successful air effort during World War II.
Following World War II, the Casey Jones school
was consolidated with the Academy of Aeronautics,
and returned to the civilian aviation industry.
In the fall of 1964, the Academy of Aeronautics
conferred associate in applied science degrees
for the first time, and, in 1969, the Academy
was accredited by the Middle States Association
of Colleges and Schools.
In 1996, the College completely revised its
curriculum offering, resulting in nine new
academic programs, including for the first
time, the bachelor of science and an associate
degree in flight.
On May 5, 1998, a state-of-the-art 35,000-square-foot
addition to the building complex was completed.
=== Expansion ===
In the fall of 1964, the Academy of Aeronautics
conferred associate in applied science degrees
for the first time.
In 1969, the academy was accredited by the
Middle States Association of Colleges and
Schools.
In 1996, the College completely revised its
curriculum offering, resulting in nine new
academic programs, including for the first
time, the Bachelor of Science and an associate
degree in flight.
On May 5, 1998, a state-of-the-art 35,000-square-foot
(3,300 m2) addition to the building complex
was completed.
It includes a 65-foot (20 m) observation tower
providing views of the runways at LaGuardia
airport.
In 2010 a 126-foot (38 m) mural depicting
early aviation that had been painted by Aline
Rhonie Hofheimer in hangar F at Roosevelt
Field was transferred to Vaughn and will be
displayed following renovations.
== National recognition and ranking ==
=== 
Vaughn College Recognized as #1 in Nation
for Upward Mobility ===
Vaughn was recognized as having the highest
upward mobility rate among 2,137 colleges
in a January 18, 2017 article published in
The New York Times.
Vaughn College is noted as “an institution
doing more to impact social mobility for those
who start from less fortunate means,” and
listed as the top institution for moving students
from the bottom 40 percent to the top 40 percent
in income.
The article stems from a study conducted by
The Equality of Opportunity Project entitled
“Mobility Report Cards: The Role of Colleges
in Intergenerational Mobility.”
The study identifies that social mobility
is an important measure of student success.
=== Among the best baccalaureate colleges
===
Vaughn was ranked among the best Baccalaureate
colleges in the 2017 edition of the US News
& World Report college rankings.
Vaughn was also ranked the most racially diverse
and the most economically diverse in the North.
Vaughn was relisted in the US News & World
Report ranking for 2010.
=== Selection by the FAA to recommend graduates
===
The Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative
(AT-CTI) program is a partnership between
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
and Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
to provide the academic preparation necessary
for students interested in air traffic control
careers.
Vaughn's air traffic control college is one
of 36 aviation colleges in the country selected
by the FAA to participate in this program
that allows the air traffic control college
to recommend its graduates to the FAA for
hire as air traffic controllers.
== Academics ==
Vaughn College has an enrollment of almost
1500 students, and offers bachelor's and associate
degree programs in Engineering, Engineering
Technology, management, and Aviation.
The college offers a master's degree in Airport
Management.
A large new classroom & administration building
was completed in 1998, and the college’s
first residence hall with a capacity of 200
beds, was completed in 2007.
Tuition fees average between $32,000 and $88,000
for a Bachelor's Degree
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
has also received specialized accreditation
for its business programs through the International
Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
(IACBE), located in Olathe, Kansas.
The business programs in the following degrees
are accredited by the IACBE:
Associate of Applied Science in Airport Management
and
Bachelor of Science in Airport Management,
Airline Management and General Management
Prior to obtaining a four-year degree at Vaughn
College in some degree programs, one has to
complete an internship performing the role
for which the student has studied.
Many students land their first post-graduate
job in this manner.
Vaughn has close ties to many airports and
airlines due in part to its close proximity
to the local airports such as John F. Kennedy
International Airport and LGA in Queens, Westchester
and Farmingdale in New York, Teterboro and
Newark, New Jersey, and several nearby airports
in Connecticut.
Vaughn provides learning opportunities inside
and outside the classroom.
From clubs and activities to internships,
site visits and more, students have an opportunity
to build a resume while attending college.
Vaughn's smaller size enables faculty to remain
engaged in the intellectual development of
their students, and its active alumni network
and location in the heart of the New York
metropolitan area provide ample opportunities
for internships and post-graduate employment.
Nearly 93 percent of graduates are employed
within six months of graduation.
=== Library ===
The library is housed in a building separate
from the main campus.
The library has management, flight training
and engineering materials, as well as flight
simulators.
Vaughn began work on the new library in the
spring of 2012.
As of December 2012, the construction was
unfinished.
Numerous, minor fires have caused serious
setbacks to the original renovation schedule.
Several classes are held in the Residence
Hall's lounges due to this construction.
=== Management ===
The management programs at Vaughn College
of Aeronautics and Technology includes general
management, airline management and airport
management.
Graduates of these programs are able to secure
entry-level to mid-level management positions
in small or large corporations and in airports.
The field of airport management is a unique
discipline with its roots in general business,
but driven by the high-tech world of aviation
and transportation.
Students of the airport management degree
program concentrate on subjects as diverse
as wildlife hazards, eco-system management,
airfield safety, and emergency planning and
control.
The Bachelor of Science airport management
degree was developed to provide students proficiency
in all areas of airport operations.
The location of the College, adjacent to LaGuardia
Airport, provides a learning environment unsurpassed
with regard to activities, resources and personnel.
Students are given the ability to investigate
first-hand the areas of airport management,
control of ground vehicles, communication
systems, airport security, fire and rescue
service, terminal planning and management,
and airport maintenance.
=== Engineering and technology ===
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
offers bachelor and associate degree programs
in the field of technology including electronic
engineering technology with an Avionics concentration
and electronic technology with a concentration
in general electronics.
The mechanical engineering technology program
offers concentrations in computer-aided design
and aeronautical options, as well as the associate
in applied science degrees in computerized
design and animated graphics.
A bachelor of science (B.S.) is also offered
in Mechatronics Engineering.
This program has received accreditation by
ABET.
=== Aviation ===
Vaughn College has designed degree programs
for aviation school students interested in
becoming professional pilots and other entry-level
operations careers in the aviation industry,
as well as related government agencies.
All aircraft operations (flight) degree programs
offered by Vaughn College of Aeronautics and
Technology include the academic liberal arts
and sciences, as well as specific courses
in flight that also count as the "ground school"
portion of flight instruction.
In order to complete Vaughn College's degree
programs, students must complete all degree
requirements, as well as pass the Federal
Aviation Administration's (FAA) written pilot
exams.
Students may also choose to complete an AAS
or BS degree in aircraft operations without
completing the flight portion.
These students are also eligible to participate
in the FAA's Air Traffic Control Collegiate
Training Initiative.
Students have the option of pursuing careers
with aviation-related government agencies
such as the FAA or the National Transportation
Safety Board.
FAA ground qualifications also assist students
in a variety of aviation careers, including
ground instructor, flight dispatcher, accident
investigator, aviation administrator and aviation
researcher.
=== ROTC ===
Students may participate in the Air Force
ROTC program headquartered at Manhattan College.
Students may participate in the U.S. Army
ROTC program through NYC Army ROTC, headquartered
at Fordham University.
=== Civil Air Patrol Unit ===
Academy Cadet Squadron, a subordinate unit
of the New York City Group of the Civil Air
Patrol, meets every Friday at the college.
Members of the cadet program often apply to
the college after high school graduation and
remain cadets until 21 years of age.
Cadet membership is available for anyone aged
12 to 18 with the opportunity to remain a
cadet until 21 once they have joined.
Adult members, called "officers" or formerly
"Senior Members", are anywhere from 19 to
21 years of age and serve as staff members
in the squadron.
Cadets are offered free orientation flight
and leadership opportunities.
Cadet officers, Cadet Second Lieutenants or
higher, are eligible to receive college scholarships
on behalf of the Civil Air Patrol's sponsors
in the private and public sectors.
The current squadron commander is Lieutenant
colonel Lynn E. Walker, CAP
