Skip to main content
A community college sponsored by Niagara County

© 2019 SUNY Niagara | All rights reserved.

Drone operator

August 19, 2020

Today SUNY Niagara announced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had selected its Drone Operator Training Program for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems-Collegiate Training Program or the UAS-CTI.

“Offering coveted FAA-accredited drone operator training represents a significant step forward in our campus workforce training initiatives. Through this new partnership, the program will be taken to new heights as participants graduate with industry-recognized credentialing embodying the gold-standard in unmanned aviation of tomorrow.” Karen Kwandrans, Ed.D. AVP, Workforce Development.

The FAA’s UAS-CTI program recognizes institutions that prepare students for careers in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones. To qualify for the initiative, schools must offer a bachelor’s or associate degree in UAS or a degree with a minor, concentration, or certificate in UAS. Schools must provide curriculum covering various aspects of UAS training, including hands-on flight practice, maintenance, uses, applications, privacy concerns, safety, and federal policies concerning UAS.

“Partnering with FAA in Unmanned Aircraft Systems represents the latest in an ongoing effort to position the College at the forefront in aerospace education. We are pleased to be a sole center of excellence in providing this credential for nearly the entire northeastern United States.” – William Murabito, Ph.D. President, SUNY Niagara.

SUNY Niagara, founded in 1962, is a two-year institution of higher education accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is the only public institution of post-secondary education in Niagara County. SUNY Niagara seeks to provide the people of Niagara County and the surrounding area with high quality, affordable education in diverse areas of the curriculum. The institution’s 50 degree and certificate programs are designed to enable its graduates to transfer to four-year degree programs or enter the workforce with skills that will enhance their career opportunities and contribute to the growth of the local economy. The current overall student enrollment at SUNY Niagara is 4,981 students.


Media Contact Information

Barbara DeSimone
Director of Public Relations and Event Management
Phone: 716-614-5904
Email: desimone@niagaracc.suny.edu