Starting your college career is an exciting time in taking the first step toward your future. At Vaughn, you will receive the tools, support and opportunities you need from day one to not only enhance your experience during college, but also ensure that you’re positioned for success after college. We spoke with Elaine T. White, assistant vice president of student affairs and dean of students at Vaughn, who shared her best tips for how new students can start off strong.
Tip #1—Get involved early
White explained there are several ways students can get off to a strong start during their freshman year. Vaughn offers a wide range of options to make everyone feel welcome. Plus, it’s a great way to meet new friends!
Here are “first semester” tips to follow:
- Attend orientation—Yes, attending orientation is mandatory for you and all new students. It is a great way to become acclimated to the campus, meet fellow classmates and gain access to student-only systems and terminology.
- Attend the welcome assembly and clubs/activities fair—These events will help you get an overview of the College and all available extracurricular and recreational activities available.
- Attend one-time social activities, industry speaker and career-focused events—There’s always an industry speaker to see, a yoga class to attend or a study group to join. Don’t hesitate to start participating in these opportunities early.
- Join clubs and student chapters of professional organizations—Join several club meetings to determine which is right for you! It never hurts to try a few.
- Participate in intramural sports—Check out Vaughn’s intramural athletics program which can be joined at any time. You have the choice of soccer, basketball, baseball, cross-country and tennis.
- Take advantage of common hour—Common hour is on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon when classes are not in session. Take this time to attend club meetings, study, connect with a professor or attend an event.
- Become a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS)—This honor society is the largest in the nation and has over 800 chapters, including Vaughn! Since the College has a partnership with American Airlines, inducted students enjoy a lifetime membership with access to resources and support for personal and academic growth.
Tip #2—Take advantage of support services and resources
Vaughn is proud to provide students with a variety of academic and student support resources which include:
- Academic Success Center (ASC)—A welcoming environment where students will find resources such as academic advisement, disability services, testing center, tutoring services and writing/math center. White said tutoring is one service everyone can benefit from. “Tutoring is not only for when a student is struggling or failing. It can help them organize themselves to turn that ‘B’ into an ‘A.’ The key to tutoring is to start early!”
- Career services department—Led by Chaundra Daniels, this department offers employer engagement days, career fairs, career newsletters and other activities throughout the year.
- Counseling and wellness—Led by Dr. Stacey Dutil, this department offers free counseling services, health/wellness events, workshops and more.
- Veteran services—Vaughn offers several support services for veterans including peer mentoring, counseling, academic advising and more.
- Scholarship Universe—Free portal offered to all students where they can find scholarship opportunities available to them and apply.
Tip #3—Balance academics, social life and finances
Balancing your new life in college can be difficult and stressful – between your classes, homework, extracurricular activities and job responsibilities, it’s a lot. We get it. White said it can be easy to fall behind trying to manage it all and recommends these tips to keep it all together:
- Time management—Attend class and budget enough time for homework and asking for help when needed.
- Self-care—Make time to recharge to avoid burnout. This can include listening to your favorite music, taking an exercise class or playing games with friends.
- Keep a close eye on your finances—Educate yourself on the financial aid process and how to manage your money. Understand that loans are a great way to finance your degree and your future. Also, seek out internships and work-study opportunities.
- Live on campus—Residential life is like “home away from home.” It cuts down on commuting and provides an excellent support system. Students who live on campus are more likely to graduate—and graduate on time.
- Build relationships with faculty and staff—Take advantage of office hours and engage in conversations to discuss career paths, as well as outline opportunities and goals.
A final message from Elaine White
“We understand that adulting is a challenge. At Vaughn, students not only earn a degree that leads to a futureproof career; they receive all the resources they need to be successful. We love our students and want to get to know them on a personal level. By hearing their interests and career goals, we can help them make the right choices that will lead to a successful future.”
Are you interested in coming to Vaughn? Check out our degree programs that can give you a direct path to an in-demand career. Apply today!
With the fall semester around the corner, now is the time—if you haven’t already—to gear up for a successful and strong start to the year. We know you have a lot to do, so we’ve compiled a checklist of helpful tips to make sure your semester gets off to a fantastic start.
Administrative preparation
Administrative tasks are essential to ensure your first day of classes goes well. Here are a few things to make sure you do before the semester begins:
- Complete registration and other important requirements before the deadline—Ensure that all paperwork and deadlines have been met for registration, financial aid, vaccinations, housing, health insurance (if required) and orientation.
- Plan transportation—Figuring out how to get to and from campus is an important step in the college preparation process. Being punctual is key. If you are driving to campus, be sure to include time for traffic and if you’re taking public transportation, familiarize yourself with the bus, train and/or subway schedules.
- Explore campus resources—Research campus resources ahead of time, such as academic advising, career services, counseling and libraries so you can easily access support when you need it.
- College email account—Make sure you get your college email address set up and functioning properly when you arrive on campus.
Academic preparation
Now that you have checked off the administrative tasks on your list, it is time to prepare for the reason you are there, which is to attend classes and earn your degree. Here are some key tasks to complete to seamlessly begin your first week of college.
- Review your course schedule—Familiarize yourself with the location and times of your classes.
- Purchase, rent or borrow textbooks—Be sure to acquire the necessary textbooks in advance so that you won’t fall behind later on. If available, digital versions can save you money and space. Check out this list of resources for finding affordable textbooks without compromising quality.
- Create a study plan and routine—Use your time effectively by designating specific study hours and locations for each subject.
- Set up a calendar—Whether you use a digital or physical planner, tracking important dates, deadlines and timelines will help keep you on time and on track.
- Financial planning—Set a realistic budget to manage your finances, including tuition, books, supplies, food, entertainment and other incidentals. It’s important to set aside a small emergency fund for unexpected expenses. Familiarize yourself with any financial aid package you may have, such as scholarships, grants or loans. And don’t forget about taking advantage of student discounts!
- Gather essential tech gear and supplies—Don’t wait until the last minute to check if your laptop, tablet or other tech gadgets are working! Be sure to have all the necessary chargers, headphones and software, as well as notebooks, highlighters, binders and all other supplies you may need.
- Organize your living space—Whether you’re living at home or on campus, it’s important to organize your space so that it is functional and decluttered of any unnecessary items. If you are living on-campus, purchase essentials such as bedding, toiletries, cleaning and kitchen supplies and small appliances early so you’ll be ready to set up your space.
Personal well-being
Succeeding at college is more than just earning good grades. Having a healthy and positive mindset means all the difference—especially during challenging times. Practice these self-care tips to prepare for the best college experience:
- Connect with classmates and professors—Making connections early-on with peers, roommates and professors helps establish relationships that can be invaluable during this and future semesters. Joining clubs and attending social events are also a great way to meet new people!
- Establish academic and personal goals—Setting GPA goals and developing new skills are great ways to stay motivated and focused.
- Self-care—Mentally prepare for college by cultivating a positive outlook. Have strategies in place to manage stress. Incorporating healthy habits like exercise, eating healthy and getting sufficient sleep collectively play a big role. And remember that it’s okay to seek help if you need it.
We hope you have a great year at college!
In episode 15 of Vaughn’s Futureproof Focus, Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo, president and chief executive officer of Vaughn College and host of the podcast, sat down with PSA Airlines executives Richard Ugarte, vice president of maintenance and engineering and Robert Bridges, maintenance supervisor, for an engaging conversation about helping Vaughn students to develop skills to compete at the MRO Americas Conference—and possibly land a job with the airline.
What is the MRO Americas Conference?
The MRO Americas Conference is the world’s largest aviation maintenance conference. Thousands of aviation maintenance professionals, students and even prospective job candidates gather for industry workshops, a job fair and the aerospace maintenance competition. This past April marked the 29th annual MRO conference, where PSA had a significant presence which included a team of Vaughn students. “The team was amazing this year,” said Ugarte. “Robbie and I worked with the Vaughn team to develop their skill sets and challenge them to be ready to compete against top-notch teams from across the country,” he continued. “We are proud to say they did very well. We even hired one of the students!”
So, for Ugarte and Bridges, where does their passion to help students become the best they can be in the aviation industry stem from? Dr. DeVivo summed it up best: “You have to see it to be it.” Read on to hear how paying it forward is paying off for Vaughn students in a big way.
Experience at every level
Although Ugarte and Bridges come from different backgrounds, both share not only a love for aviation but service to our country as United States Air Force veterans.
“My love for aviation began from childhood,” Ugarte said. “We lived in the approach path of LaGuardia Airport. I loved planes from the start.” After graduating from Aviation High School in Long Island City, he joined the United States Air Force, where he worked on C-141 aircraft. At the time of his discharge, Ugarte said the airlines were not hiring so he teamed up with FedEx, where he worked for the next 33 years. “I started as an aircraft maintenance technician at Washington Dulles Airport and worked my way up the ranks from a lead, district manager, senior manager and ultimately managing director,” he said. “My area of responsibility spanned 63 cities in 36 countries.” He loved every minute of it—until an opportunity came along one day. Ugarte said he was offered the position of vice president of PSA Airlines. “As a man of faith, I prayed about it. I’m not one to make rash decisions.” Two years later, his journey with PSA continues. One of the best parts, he said, is mentoring and recruiting students for our airline.
Bridges’ story begins in a small town. “I didn’t know anything about airplanes before joining the Air Force,” he said. “In fact, my first plane ride was flying to basic training.” During his time in the service, he worked several positions that included: crew chief on F-16s, phase inspections on Thunderbirds, section chief (where he was responsible for 90 airmen) and production supervisor (where he oversaw flight schedules and maintenance). After retiring from the Air Force in 2013, he joined Mesa Airlines in Charlotte, N.C., where he worked for two years. Then, 10 years ago, he joined PSA.
How the military contributed to their careers
Quoting author John Maxwell, Ugarte says: “Teamwork makes the dream work.” He continued: “The Air Force influenced the leadership bug in me. I felt like I was being called to a leadership role. Teamwork is essential to leading anyone or any group of people.” The four foundational attributes Ugarte learned from the military that helped him become the leader he is today are teamwork, leadership, responsibility and discipline.
As for Bridges, he said the military was instrumental in his career and how he lives his life. “The Air Force played a huge role in the person I am today,” he humbly stated. “I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for learning the skills the military taught me. It’s had a major impact on my life.” The most influential skills and attributes that Bridges learned in the military are critical thinking skills and compassion for others.
How paying it forward is a win-win
By partnering with Vaughn and sponsoring the College’s aerospace maintenance team, PSA not only supports students in the MRO competition but is paying forward its collective experience to groom the best workforce in the industry. In addition to its partnership with Vaughn, PSA works closely with Aviation High School to introduce students to aviation maintenance at an earlier age. By grooming students at the high school level and sponsoring teams—similar to the one at Vaughn—PSA is in a great position to recruit and hire students to fill maintenance roles during this critical aviation workforce shortage.
How PSA is meeting the demand
Ugarte said filling maintenance roles is one of the company’s biggest challenges. “Everyone is competing for the same resources. There’s a tremendous amount of competition out there. We are all hiring,” he stated. “We are looking for talent—like everyone else.” He said the best ways that PSA is setting itself apart from competitors includes:
- Emphasizing good pay
- Practicing a positive work culture
- Working with driven, reliable and caring people
- Offering opportunities for advancement
- Providing the best training programs
“Our employees move up quickly compared to those who work for larger carriers,” said Ugarte. “By offering our employees good pay, training, advancement opportunities and a good work culture, we are positioning ourselves to stay ahead of the competition.”
Why diversity matters
When it comes to diversity in hiring, Ugarte stated: “It’s very important. Diversity provides diverse ideas, thinking and experiences that are valuable across the board.” Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Spanish Harlem, he knows what it’s like to grow up from humble beginnings. “I was from an underrepresented group,” he explained. “Although that was my upbringing, I never let it get me down. I always challenged myself to be the best student I could be. Now that I’m older, it’s all about giving back and offering the underprivileged the opportunities to live their best lives.” Ugarte said that partnerships—like those with Vaughn and Aviation High School—are helping to fill the gap. “One of our missions is to entice more women into aviation careers. Queens is one of the most diverse areas in the country. We actually had one of the first women on the maintenance team this year!”
The Future of PSA and artificial intelligence
Both Ugarte and Bridges agree that there are tremendous opportunities via artificial intelligence (AI) in aircraft maintenance. Here are some ways that PSA is applying emerging technologies and AI in its aircraft maintenance planning area:
- Last year, PSA began an initiative using AI and machine learning through the Microsoft Azure platform. Ugarte explained how they loaded an enormous amount of reliability data and delay data into machine learning program with American Airlines—with a reliability accuracy of 97 percent. This automated process would have required a massive manual effort.
- Using video technology to produce how-to video clips for maintenance tasks. An example of this is the embedding of short videos and technical tips into manuals that show technicians how to perform certain tasks.
Are you interested in a career in aviation maintenance? With industry demand soaring, Vaughn’s Aviation Training Institute can give you the knowledge and practical hands-on skills you need to work in this exciting field. Apply today!
