Mount Aloysius College and Aerium Aviation announced a new partnership Thursday to bring credited drone certification programs to the college this fall.

The courses will be open to all students but will give necessary industry credentials for students studying criminal justice, marketing and cybersecurity/digital forensics, college and Aerium officials said in a joint statement.

The partnership adds two new drone courses — “Safety Level I” and “Commercial Remote Pilot Prep” — to the college’s offerings for the fall 2025 and spring 2026 semesters. Upon completing the courses and passing the Federal Aviation Administration’s commercial drone pilot license test, students will be licensed to fly small, line-of-sight drones commercially in their chosen fields, according to the statement.

College officials said the partnership will also offer a discounted, credited option to school districts and Career and Technology Centers statewide in which students can earn college credit for Unmanned Safety Institute course completion and the FAA’s remote pilot certifications upon matriculation at Mount Aloysius.

Mount Aloysius President John McKeegan said college officials are excited to continue their relationship with Aerium, a regional nonprofit organization focused on education and aviation workforce development.

“This is a major value addition for our criminal justice, cybersecurity and marketing students, as well as any other interested Mountie,” McKeegan said. “Our hope is to expand this offering in the future to directly tie it to other programs.”

Registration for the new drone certifications programs is open now for classes beginning in fall 2025. For more information about the programs or how to apply, visit www.mtaloy.edu.