Ennovar Technology Solutions at Wichita State University is working with Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, to provide applied learning opportunities in information technology for WSU students while increasing productivity and resources for Textron Aviation.
“We saw a great opportunity for WSU students and a need in the industry for level one technical support that will provide real-world experiences for the students, as well as a future pipeline of talent for industry,” said Matt Forney, Ennovar executive director. “Our core goal is to provide well-rounded, industry-knowledgeable students when they graduate.”
The students are providing level one desktop support onsite at Textron Aviation in their new “Help Hangar,” which provides walk-up technical support to Textron Aviation employees. Once onsite at the Help Hangar, students get additional in-depth training that is geared toward specific hardware and applications. Ennovar also provides a full-time onsite supervisor for the students.
“It’s a huge benefit for the students to be onsite and learn everyday scenarios,” said Tom Rose, Ennovar senior technical manager and student supervisor. “There are opportunities for personal interaction, and the students can experience the culture of a corporate environment.”
Currently 10 computer science students provide walk-in and phone support for traditional IT troubleshooting issues involving printers, password resets, software application support, hardware and mobile device support and security provisioning.
“The opportunity to work with industry-leading companies is priceless,” said Trevor Rietcheck, a WSU student majoring in Computer Science. “It’s different from an internship. It gave me an opportunity to combine my school knowledge with the applied learning model from Ennovar.”
“Textron Aviation’s IT organization launched the Help Hangar to improve customer experiences and satisfaction with IT services,” said Kim Mackenroth, Textron Aviation vice president and chief information officer. “We partnered with Ennovar, which provides WSU students the opportunity to develop skills needed in a corporate IT environment.”
Ennovar Technology Solutions emphasizes education, emerging technology, experiential learning, evolutionary research, exploration and engagement. Ennovar is a derivative of the Spanish word “innovar,” which means “to innovate.”
The mission of Wichita State University is to be an essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas and the greater public good. Wichita State is a doctoral research university enrolling nearly 15,000 students and offering 59 undergraduate degree programs in more than 150 areas of study in seven undergraduate colleges. The Graduate School offers 45 master's and 12 doctoral degrees that offer study in more than 100 areas. Wichita State's Innovation Campus is an interconnected community of partnership buildings, laboratories and mixed-use areas where students, faculty, staff, entrepreneurs and businesses have access to the university's vast resources and technology. For more information, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/wichitastate and Facebook at www.facebook.com/wichita.state.