Story ID: 440Collins-Riddle
Collins Bestows Tier One Status On Embry-Riddle
By: Harry Weisberger
Caption: Collins bestows Tier One status on Embry-Riddle
Word Count: 426
Rockwell Collins has elevated Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Booth 3713) to Tier One status, further cementing a relationship established 25 years ago.

Embry-Riddle and Rockwell Collins (Booth C9232) explained that the benefits of the Tier One designation include closer connections between the two organizations in applied research and hiring opportunities for Embry-Riddle students and graduates. During the past five years, Rockwell Collins has hired 48 Embry-Riddle graduates, including 33 women and minorities. And nearly 400 Embry-Riddle alumni currently work for the avionics manufacturer, about half of them at the company’s Cedar Rapids, Iowa headquarters.

The Tier One status has much to do with the number of Embry-Riddle graduates employed by Rockwell Collins as well as with their excellent performance and value to their employer. According to Rockwell Collins, the new Tier One designation involves increases in high-level funding, joint research projects, campus visits from Rockwell Collins teams, cooperative internship 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, Rockwell Collins senior vice president of human resources. “We’re eager to see what this new partnership brings to both organizations.”

Embry-Riddle graduates who have signed on with Rockwell Collins during the past five years hold 362 degrees in disciplines critical to the company, including software and systems engineering. Other areas where Rockwell Collins needs expertise include computer and electrical engineering, cyber security, flight planning, human factors, management and meteorology.

“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 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 and will return there in January for Rockwell’s annual spring visit. An event in April hosted by Rockwell Collins will celebrate the university’s Tier One status.