Professors told about benefits of aerospace partnership

CHARLOTTESVILLE - Officials say a partnership between NASA and six universities, including University of Virginia and Virginia Tech, will allow graduate and doctoral students to receive degrees without studying on campus. <br> <br> National Aeronautics and Space Administration officials told engineering professors at the University of Virginia yesterday that the universities stand to reap considerable financial rewards. <br> <br> The universities, which also include Georgia Tech, the University of Maryland, North Carolina State, and North Carolina A&T, were selected in September to take part in the National Institute of Aerospace, a research facility connected with the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton. <br> <br> Charles Harris, NASA&#39;s director of NIA management, said the parthership is an entirely new wave in aeronautic research and development. <br> <br> The industry, he said, is a ``community in crisis,&#39;&#39; having lost many workers to layoffs after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. <br> <br> He said, ``We want you to think of the government as a collaborative partner -- not the source of funds, not the overseer of the work you do. We will be inventing the future of aerospace.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> NASA will give the six universities five million next year in base funding.