Big Bend, Yakima Valley colleges collaborate on class

Unmanned aerial systems class provides distance learning opportunity

MOSES LAKE — Technology has allowed students at two community colleges to collaborate on classes in unmanned aerial systems (drone) operation.

Big Bend Community College communications coordinator Tiffany Fondren said BBCC and Yakima Valley Community College started the program at the beginning of fall quarter. “Through the partnership YVC students enroll for the Big Bend UAS courses through their college, and participate remotely,” Fondren wrote.

“Students have the option of taking classes just to prepare for federal drone licensure or to fulfill a UAS remote pilot certificate.” Big Bend instructors do the teaching.

Big Bend has been offering unmanned aerial system classes since 2016.

Unmanned systems operations coordinator Byron Noel said BBCC received a U.S. Department of Education grant that allowed the school to “expand these classes beyond our campus. With the increasing use of drones in so many fields, it made a lot of sense for us to partner up with regional schools who want to offer drone classes but don’t have the expertise.”

Big Bend has a long tradition of aviation training, Noel said, and “with our new Geographic Information Systems (GIS) classes, we are able to provide a level of expertise that is hard to match. Our students also benefit from the partnership, with them now being in a digital classroom with students from across the state and in multiple disciplines.”

Big Bend offers a remote pilot certification class, covering “all aspects of UAS law, safety and operations, and was designed with the working professional in mind. The certificate is offered through hybrid instruction, with a mix of online and in-person classes,” Fondren wrote.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.