By Titus Hubbard, Director of Education, MIAT College of Technology Houston Campus

Working full-time or part-time while pursuing any certificate or degree program is extremely challenging.  Adding the realities of family commitments, financial responsibilities, home and vehicle maintenance, and all-important self-care to maintaining a clear focus on working and studying can be extremely stressful.  

Faculty and staff members of MIAT’s Houston campus understand exactly how difficult and overwhelming this can be for any student and even more so for students enrolled in FAA-directed aviation maintenance programs.  Our faculty and staff members have traveled this same path at various points in our life and career. That’s why we are so passionate about supporting all students in completing their stringent course requirements and graduating from MIAT.

I was asked recently by an aviation industry magazine editor if MIAT has a hard time attracting students to enroll in our aviation maintenance programs. Here is my candid response:

Attracting students is easier than retaining them for the duration of the  20- or 24-month program, given their current part-time or full-time work requirements and family commitments.  On average, about 40 percent of students who start their aviation maintenance programs with our Houston campus, graduate.  The strict time component set by the FAA can often discourage students who must make up time due to life circumstances that impact their studies.  

Ideally, students who enroll in MIAT’s aviation maintenance programs should have a long-range view and a serious commitment to completing their program.  Students who put in the effort and the hours to complete their program tend to have a mature mindset and a solid work ethic. This type of “star student” recognizes that he or she is pursuing a prestigious career with huge earning potential that will have a positive impact on him or her as well as all family members for many generations to come.

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By John Willis, MIAT College of Technology Houston Campus

The Roaring 2020s are here, and we are ready for another exciting year! As we begin a new decade it is important to not only reflect on our accomplishments but also set our eyes upon the horizon and what we still need to achieve.  As educators, it is my belief that the choices we make on a daily basis not only impact our current students, but also future generations. Many of our students are first generation college students, and I know their success can be a source of inspiration for a sibling, a spouse or a child.  For 2020, I have challenged my staff with one simple goal – that is to “Be Generational.” I want them to embrace this concept and to remain humble regarding the positive influence that they can have on our students and future generations.  

Those who know me well also know that I am big on goal setting. Here are five key goals for our Houston campus  that I would like to share for 2020:  (more…)

By John Willis, MIAT College of Technology Houston Campus President

With Thanksgiving Day fast-approaching, now is the perfect time to express how thankful, grateful, humbled and honored I am to have the privilege of serving as president of the MIAT College of Technology Houston campus.  I  am honored to have been chosen to lead a career college that is responsible for serving almost 500 day and night students who upon graduation will have a positive impact on many generations of family members.

I appreciate that 50 special guests braved the cold and rainy weather – which was made even more challenging because of heavy traffic conditions —  to join me and MIAT’s board of directors, faculty, staff and students recently for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of our newly expanded facilities. Fortunately, our MIAT team was well-equipped to keep our guests save and dry with the help of a  greeters holding oversized golf umbrellas and a  chauffeured shuttle bus that transported them from overflow parking to our front door. (more…)

By John Willis, MIAT College of Technology Houston Campus President

October is an exciting and action-packed month for me, faculty, staff, and students at our Houston campus. We are busy  moving into our expanded facility this month,  and when everything is all in place, I will be sharing photos for everyone to see. So, stay tuned!

Next and for a cause much bigger than any one of us, I am participating in the Real Men Wear Pink of Houston campaign to benefit the American Cancer Society.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and as part of this campaign, I have agreed to wear pink every day. Not only will I be wearing pink daily (with much appreciated wardrobe support from my wife Traci), I will be posting and sharing photos and messages about my campaign every day. (more…)