WSU Tech and partners will cover tuition of laid-off Spirit employees

WSU Tech president Sheree Utash announced Friday that the school and its partners would cover tuition for the 2,800 plus workers laid off from Spirit AeroSystems.

WAC was honored to partner with WSU Tech to help support training opportunities for laid-off aerospace workers. WAC’s donation was accepted at the Annual Trophy Gala in January.

The aviation company announced in January that it would reduce more than a fifth of its Wichita staff within a couple months. The layoffs were the result of the Boeing 737 Max being grounded after two deadly crashes. Spirit makes parts for more than 70% of the plane. Predicting layoffs were coming to Wichita, a group representing 16 entities, including the State of Kansas under Governor Laura Kelly and WSU Tech, started the Air Capital Commitment Team.

The goal was to keep workers here able to find jobs, even in the aviation industry.

Boeing president and CEO David Calhoun said he expects the 737 Max to be permitted by regulators to return to service by mid-2020. Since the announcement of the layoffs, Spirit has announced that it would slowly start 737 Max work, with the expectation it would be allowed to fly again. Spirit said restarting production would not affect the workers told they would be laid off.

Classes for the affected employees start in March. The classes will take six to eight weeks and take place “in convenient half-day schedules.”

WSU Tech will try and connect the people federal grant dollars and will cover the rest of the cost. The partners in the Commitment Team, including the Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas, also have dollars available to help with tuition.

People laid off that are interested in the classes should go to wsutech.edu/communityresources. Additional resources are available at aircapitaloftheworld.com/commitment.

Please check the original source of this story, the Wichita Eagle, for updates!