Courtesy of Hampton University
Delta Airlines is proud to announce that Hampton University has joined the Propel Collegiate Pilot Career Path Program, the airline’s first such partnership with a historically Black university. This partnership is a part of the airline’s work to better reflect the diversity of the world it serves. It helps broaden diversity and builds upon the significant legacy people of color have contributed to aviation.
Hampton University is proud to partner with Delta for this collaborative effort designed to grow and develop aviation students into future first officers with Delta through the Propel, Pilot Career Path Program,” said Dr. William R. Harvey, President of Hampton University. “The Propel program shares Hampton University’s Department of Aviation’s mission to prepare our students for meaningful aviation careers and instill in them a strong sense of social awareness and responsibility.”
Delta’s Propel program launched in 2018 to identify, select and develop the next generation of pilots. Students at Hampton are now eligible to join the program and receive a job offer to become a Delta pilot if they meet the airline’s rigorous standards.
“Adding Hampton University as a Delta Air Lines Propel partner evokes a myriad of thoughts and emotions,” said First Officer Monique Grayson, an interviewer for the Propel program. “Delta says connecting the world requires that we first respect the world through seeking diversity, promoting inclusion, creating equity and driving accountability towards these goals. Considering the history of HBCU’s and that of Delta, I am proud to see the company doing just that. I am grateful to the individuals who have worked behind the scenes to provide opportunities to a group that has been underrepresented in this field for far too long.”
This critical partnership aligns with Delta’s broader goals to reimagine its recruitment strategy, which includes strengthening partnerships with HBCUs. In an August 2020 memo, Delta CEO Ed Bastian committed to advancing racial justice and diversity within its business. Partnering with Hampton University aligns with its commitment to reimagining our talent strategy while maintaining the high standards of a Delta pilot.
Hampton University’s Department of Aviation offers bachelor’s programs in Air Traffic Control, Aviation Management, Airport Administration, and Flight Education as well as a minor in Aviation Management.
The Department of Aviation in the School of Engineering and Technology provides students with preparation for a variety of careers in aviation. Combined with a strong liberal arts background, the aviation program prepares students to participate in building the future of the aviation industry. The Department also prepares its students to be professionals by demonstrating the value of life-long learning through research projects and the value of service to the University, aviation profession, and community. Hampton University’s Department of Aviation is the only one of the 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in America with a Federal Aviation Administration-approved ATCI program.
The Department of Aviation is committed to providing a high-quality aviation education for all of its students. Faculty are actively involved in advancing the aviation community as a whole. They strive to prepare students for meaningful aviation careers within government and the aerospace industry and to instill a strong sense of social awareness and responsibility to the public. The Department of Aviation has established itself as a high-quality Bachelor of Science degree program with a national reputation for outstanding graduates.Â
In 2021, the Hampton University Department of Aviation announced new partnerships with United Airlines and JetBlue to identify and recruit top talent from the department. Last summer, a team of six aviation students finished in the top 3 of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Smart Airport Challenge. The students developed a concept that could change the way runway inspections are carried out at airports across the nation.
