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Hampton University Partners With Delta To Become The Airline's First HBCU Propel College

Hampton University Partners With Delta To Become The Airline's First HBCU Propel College

They’re actively building the future!

Hampton University recently partnered with Delta Air Lines, becoming its first HBCU Propel College, Delta reports. 

Hampton’s Department of Aviation in the School of Engineering & Technology was created in 1985, one of only 40 programs accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI). The Department of Aviation focuses on preparing students for a variety of careers in the sector, centered on preparing students for research projects and connecting them with aviation professionals. Now, Hampton has partnered with Delta to become the first historically Black university to join the Propel college program. 

In 2018, Delta launched its Propel Collegiate Pilot Career Path Program, aimed at cultivating the next generation of pilots. The partnership with Hampton is the first of its kind, aiming at increasing diversity and building pipelines for students from underrepresented backgrounds to have a career in aviation. Students at Hampton will now have the opportunity to join Delta’s Propel program and receive direct job offers to become Delta pilots if they meet the airline’s requirements. 

The partnership is an extension of Delta’s larger recruitment strategy, which includes connecting with HBCUs. In 2020, Delta CEO Ed Bastian vowed to advance racial justice and diversity within Delta and this partnership with Hampton allows them to do just that. 

First Officer Monique Grayson, a Propel program interviewer, spoke about the significance of the partnership, saying, “Adding Hampton University as a Delta Air Lines Propel partner evokes a myriad of thoughts and emotions. 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 HBCUs 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.” 

To learn more about the Propel College program at Hampton, click here

Photo Courtesy of HU Air Pirates/Hampton University