PRESS RELEASE

Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, Orlando Campus, announces a new Aerospace Engineering program and three new specializations

The Aerospace Program will be available by August 2022

Orlando, March 10, 2022. Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, Orlando Campus (PUPR-O) announced the acquisition of $2.9 million from the U.S. Department of Education General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) for students in its proposed Title V Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions project. Again, we received federal funds for a new project titled Expanding Education & Career Pathways in Emerging Engineering Fields.  

The grant money will be used to expanded degree options by creating an Aerospace minor for our B.S. of Mechanical Engineering and three new specializations within this minor: 1) Manned Aircraft Design, 2) Propulsion System Design and 3) Unmanned Aerial Systems Design. The new Aerospace program will count on a state-of-the-art laboratory. 

PUPR-O is proud to offer this new Aerospace Engineering program and three specializations to our community to enable them to enter the competitive field of the aerospace industry in the state of Florida. Florida is the leader in the global aerospace industry. The state of Florida represents the very best in space-related technology, innovation, business venture, and exploration aerospace. Aviation industry leaders continue to make Florida their launchpad for discoveries, business, and technologies, according to Space Florida Organization (2022). 

PUPR-O is part of a well-known and highly accomplished university system, that has the distinction of being one of the country’s leading producers of Hispanic and female engineers, both groups underrepresented in engineering fields (Expanding Educational & Career Pathways in Emerging Engineering Fields, 2020, p.4). 

Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, Orlando (PUPR-O) is a private non-profit institution, specializing in the applied sciences with the main campus in San Juan, and two Florida campuses. “La Poly” was founded in September 1966. PUPR is home to the largest private Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) schools of engineering in America and its territories, featuring seven academic programs in that subject. PUPR is fully authorized by the Puerto Rico Education Council, the state licensing agency, accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) of the U.S.A. and accredited by ABET.