Rock-Valley-College-and-AAR-Win-National-Award-for-Outstanding-Partnership.php

Rock Valley College and AAR Win National Award for Outstanding Partnership

• Category
• 04/21/2025

Rock Valley College (RVC) has been honored with the prestigious American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Award of Excellence for Outstanding College/Corporate Partnership. The award, announced at the AACC Annual Conference, recognizes exemplary collaborations between colleges and corporate partners that demonstrate multi-year success in advancing the mission of the institutions, the economic prosperity of a community or region, and the learning excellence of students.

Dr. Howard Spearman, President of RVC, expressed his pride in this national recognition. “Being named the winner of the Outstanding College/Corporate Partnership award is a testament to the incredible work happening at Rock Valley College and the strength of our collaboration with AAR,” said Dr. Spearman. “Our partnership is a shining example of how colleges and businesses can work together to create meaningful workforce development opportunities that directly benefit our students and the wider community. I am RVC Proud of this achievement and the impact we are making together.”

This national recognition highlights the impactful and long-standing partnership between RVC and AAR Corp. Their collaboration has become a model for other colleges seeking to enhance workforce development in their communities. The AACC Awards of Excellence bring national visibility to promising practices within the community college sector.

According to Dr. Hansen Stewart, Vice President of Career Technical Education and Workforce Development at RVC, “The pivotal moment in our relationship came when AAR decided to build a new facility where our college's Aviation Maintenance Program is located. This innovative positioning allowed the college to become the organic pipeline of talent to AAR--given the college's reputation as a stellar Airframe and Powerplant educational institution. This alliance has been crucial in helping to address the skills gap within the aviation sphere.”

The partnership between RVC and AAR exemplifies how a cooperative relationship between an educational institution and a corporate entity should operate to achieve significant outcomes in workforce training and development. AAR’s strategic alliance with RVC has laid a solid foundation for other higher education institutions and community colleges to emulate when connecting training and development to the workforce.

The collaboration between Rock Valley College and AAR encompasses various initiatives designed to create a robust talent pipeline for the aviation industry. These include:

EAGLE Fellowship Program: Through AAR’s EAGLE Career Pathway Program, RVC students receive tuition assistance and the opportunity to work at AAR’s Rockford facility while completing their Aviation Maintenance Technology program. AAR sponsors ten annual scholarships to students enrolled in RVC’s Aviation Maintenance Program, ensuring that tuition is not a barrier to entry. Close to one hundred students have benefited from this initiative.

Curriculum Enhancement: AAR played a crucial role in RVC securing a working CRJ-200 aircraft through their connection with SkyWest Airlines and The Workforce Connection. RVC is now the only community college in the country to have a fully operational CRJ 200, which has been integral in redesigning its curriculum. AAR personnel also assist RVC faculty with training and development on this aircraft.

Industry Connections: AAR assisted RVC in expanding its connections within the aviation industry, leading to the establishment of a robust advisory committee with representatives from major aerospace companies. This committee guides curriculum development to align with current industry standards and needs.

Networking and Outreach: AAR collaborates with RVC to host industry-specific job fairs and networking events, facilitating direct interaction between students and potential employers. They also co-organize an annual Aviation Career Expo.

Hiring and Tuition Reimbursement: AAR has hired numerous RVC students on a part-time basis and as full-time technicians, offering tuition reimbursement to those who commit to working for a set period.

The success of this partnership is evident in the soaring enrollment numbers in RVC’s Aviation Maintenance Program and the significant number of RVC graduates hired by AAR. This collaboration leverages the unique strengths and resources of both organizations, creating a comprehensive learning environment that enhances workforce development and aligns educational outcomes with industry needs. The award from AACC underscores the effectiveness and significance of this remarkable college-corporate partnership.