TIFFIN, Ohio —
Tiffin University's Drone Academy is going on three years of teaching students practical application of the evolving technology.
The university offers a minor for students and non-college credit options for others who want to learn how to fly drones.
The minor encompasses three different hands-on classes, according to academy director Owen Fritz.
"First of all, you learn how to fly," Fritz said. "Then, you get into the photography aspect and then you finally get into advanced applications."
Those advanced applications can include partnerships that the academy has with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Ohio Department of Transportation and other organizations.
Bruce Chambers, the assistant director of the academy, said drone technology can be used in a variety of fields and that police and fire departments are starting to use it more.
Fritz and Chambers are both civil deputies for the Seneca County Sheriff's Office, so they get hands-on experience to bring back to the classroom.
Chambers said he gets asked to help with search and rescue calls from local law enforcement agencies.
Students also have opportunities to use drone technology in fields like agriculture to spray crops, construction projects and to check algae bloom levels.
The main goal of the program is to give students experience, Fritz said.
"It's just giving them the skills, not only academic skills, but physical flying skills of how to fly the drone in different situations," Chambers said.
The hope is for the program to continue growing and evolving, according to Tiffin University President Lillian Schumacher.
"We really want to become known not only locally and regionally for this but really, truly nationally and internationally," Schumacher said.
The academy is hosting a community fly day on June 8 from 1-3 p.m. at Hedges-Boyer Park's Moose Shelter House. People can fly drones and learn more about becoming a remote pilot.