Beginning in August, Pratt & Whitney employees will be heading to East Hartford to further their academic and professional careers.
The state Department of Higher Education has approved a proposal to allow the Florida-based Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to set up a satellite campus at Pratt & Whitney’s East Hartford location.
Three Degrees Available
The campus will initially offer three degrees — Bachelor of Science degrees in technical management and professional aeronautics and a Masters of Aeronautical Science degree.
Pratt & Whitney reached out to Embry-Riddle after a successful partnership in Columbus, Ga., between the university and Pratt & Whitney’s parent company, United Technologies Corp., according to Embry-Riddle Eastern region marketing director David Weagle.
“This has been in the works for quite some time,” Weagle said. “The campus in Columbus is successful, and that’s how we got together to make the East Hartford campus happen.”
Pratt & Whitney officials referred all questions to Embry-Riddle.
The company has said it wants the campus to expand the scope of aviation and aerospace education for its employees and to provide new services.
The new programs will be open to any UTC employees, and tuition and fees will be discounted from typical rates, Weagle said. Prices have not been set.
“The greatest thing about working with Pratt & Whitney is that they already have existing world-class facilities,” Weagle said.
After the initial steps of hiring a dean and a full-time director of academics, the campus should be ready for students starting in August.
