Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

Issue date: 3/2/04 Section: Campus News

The aviation department at San Jose State University is the only public school that offers a bachelor's of science degree in aviation west of the Mississippi, said an aviation freshman, who preferred to remain anonymous.

He asked that his name not be mentioned because he was talking about perceived problems the department has been going through recently, and he said he "does not want to suffer the consequences."

"As it stands now, the department does not have a future," said the anonymous student, who transferred to SJSU last fall. "Classes are being canceled, the whole curriculum has been changed, and I am afraid the whole department will be closed down."

Patricia Backer, the department chair, denies all speculations about the possible closing of the department.

"Every couple of months the rumor gets put around by the students or faculty," Backer said. "I don't know how many times I have to say the aviation degree is not closing."

The SJSU aviation program began in the mid-1930s, according to a greeting letter every new aviation student receives. It operates at the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport and on the SJSU campus.

One of the department's graduates was Jason M. Dahl, who piloted United Airlines Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001.

Currently the department offers degrees in aviation operations, management, avionics and maintenance management, but maintenance management is on its way out, according to Ian E. Abbott, an aviation operations/maintenance management major.

Abbott thinks the leadership of the department should show more interest toward the future of the aviation program.

"I would prefer the department's leadership to be aggressively enthusiastic about the subject," Abbott said. "But I have not seen that kind of attitude."

Abbott is going to be among the last graduates of the maintenance management program. This semester is his only chance to get a degree, he said.

"If anything goes wrong and I will have to miss a semester, I'll be unable to complete the program," Abbott said. "It is a constant source of stress."

Backer was appointed the chair of the aviation department in 2001, according to her resume posted online. She has degrees in psychology, education, mathematics, school administration and chemical engineering.

"I was selected as chair from the industrial technology side of the family," Backer said.

According to the anonymous student, the new chair is the major cause of problems in the department.

"The professors that teach the courses are great, and the problem deals with Patricia Backer, the chair," the anonymous student said. "Professor Backer has no knowledge or past experience with aviation and is more into the technical studies."

On July 1, 2002, the SJSU departments of aviation and technology under the College of Engineering merged, according to the department Web site.

Last fall, the curriculum at the aviation department was changed, Backer said, and it now includes more business-oriented classes.

"The industry people - representatives from aviation companies, airlines and airports - are very happy about the new curriculum," Backer said.

For the anonymous student, who was studying under the old curriculum, the new schedule has become a source of frustration.

"Classes have been dropped under me," he said. "I am going to be delayed a good two semesters of my degree."

Scott Yelich, assistant professor in the department of aviation and technology, said there would be no delays or additions of units to the old program. Yelich has been teaching in the department for more than 20 years.

"New courses are replacing the courses that are being phased out," Yelich said. "There is a translation sheet at our Web page that shows what new course will substitute the old course."

Backer said 90 percent of students in aviation used to take "at least three" business classes as part of their electives.

"We picked certain business classes that the advisory board has told us would be good for people going into airport management or avionics," Backer said.

According to the greeting letter, the aviation department has "a rich tradition of close student-facility relations and one of the most expensive laboratories in the country."

Now access to the labs is restricted, said senior aviation major Gregory Custus.

Future flight engineers use a non-operational Boeing 747 with the SJSU mascot on the tail located at the aviation center, Custus said, but access to the plane has been extremely limited.

The chair herself is also not accessible, Custus said.

The anonymous student agreed.

"You can't even make an appointment with her anymore," the anonymous student said. "One can communicate with her only by e-mail."

Backer shrugged her shoulders.

"I have two offices in two different departments," she said. "I spend half of my office hours in the aviation department, and no one comes to see me."

Abbott, who hopes to graduate in May, said he would like to see tensions eased.

"Somebody needs to step in or step up to change things in the department," Abbott said. "Otherwise, half a century of reputation in aviation is about to disappear."

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