Through this partnership with the Dallas-based Historically Black College and University, the carrier continues to champion educational attainment for all

Southwest Airlines recently announced a partnership with Paul Quinn College to become the College’s official airline and a member of the school’s celebrated Urban Work College Program. Southwest Airlines^® has long believed educated communities are empowered communities, and continues to invest in workforce development programs that introduce students to the diverse set of career opportunities in the aviation industry.

Paul Quinn is the first Urban Work College and only minority-serving, federally-recognized work college in America. The program, which started in 2015, provides students with the opportunity to gain real world work experience while limiting their reliance on student loans.

Southwest Airlines, in becoming the official airline of Paul Quinn College and first airline in the school’s Corporate Work Program, is investing in the school to promote diverse academic pathways, ultimately inspiring future generations to pursue careers within aviation. This strategic partnership comes at a time when there is a heightened imperative for the airline industry to attract and hire more diverse talent in their workforce.

The Company is committed to building resilient communities through partnerships that drive economic, social, and environmental impact. The partnership between Southwest Airlines and the Paul Quinn Corporate Work Program will include dedicated, paid internships specifically for students at the college along with ongoing educational opportunities. The students selected for a Southwest internship will have the opportunity to work in vital areas of the business such as the airline’s world-class Network Operations Control Center that functions as the nerve center of the airline’s daily operations as well as the Finance Department that oversees budgeting and forecasting for the company.