The partnership between the Federal Aviation Administration and Metro State's Electrical Engineering Technology Department is official.

At a dedication ceremony on Jan. 25 in Saint Cajetan's Center, Metro's Interim President Ray Kieft and Edward Moy, director of technical operations for the western service area of the FAA, signed a letter of understanding and a student intern working agreement. The agreement certifies that Metro is now an official FAA Airway Facilities Collegiate Training Initiative (AF-CTI) school, the only higher education institute in Colorado so designated.

The agreement initiates a program that will provide Metro students with paid internships, flexible schedules and the possibility of future FAA employment. "A third to a half of our work force will be eligible to retire in the next three years," said Moy. "So we'll definitely be looking to recruit new staff. … This institution is exactly what we're looking for."

Joseph Clark, EET program coordinator who received a plaque from Moy, added, "The FAA team (during its evaluation of Metro) told us something we already know, 'You folks have great students.'"

Several FAA officials attended the event, as did current and former EET faculty and students.

The FAA will hold student internship briefings at 3:30 and 6 p.m. on Feb. 2 in the EET Department.

To read more about the program, go to
http://www.mscd.edu/%7Ecollcom/@metro/tw@metro_vol2/eet_twv2011205.htm