Universal Technical Institute, the nation’s leading provider of post-secondary education for individuals seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians, has opened its new, state-of-the-industry, 187,000 square foot campus in Lisle. The new facility replaces its Glendale Heights campus, where it had operated for the past 25 years and produced more than 19,000 graduates. The Lisle facility is designed to accommodate approximately 2,000 students and up to 150 faculty and staff.
As a regional campus, nearly half of its students are from 100 miles or more away. It was important for UTI to remain in the Chicago region, allowing the campus to continue training future technicians and serving employers throughout the Midwest. “We are the market leader because we act upon the needs of our industry customers, who express a high demand for qualified technicians across the Midwest,” said Julie Mueller, campus president of UTI-Lisle. “As such, the campus and curriculum reflect changes within the industry and in the way we educate our students. For instance, we dramatically increased the self-directed computer learning lab space to reflect the ongoing nature of how students best learn and study.”
Across its 11-campus network, UTI has partnered with more than 30 top brands to create curricula tailored to manufacturers’ standards and equip its campuses with the latest vehicles, equipment, tools and training aids.
Once students finish a core program, they can enroll in one of UTI’s manufacturer-specific advanced training (MSAT) programs to obtain additional industry certifications. They can enroll in an MSAT program offered at Lisle or at another campus. The MSAT programs available in Lisle are the Ford Accelerated Credential Training (FACT), Honda Professional Automotive Career Training (PACT), International Technician Education Program (ITEP) and Toyota Professional Automotive Training (TPAT) program.
“The layout of the Lisle facility will help us demonstrate to students in our core programs the value and quality of our manufacturer-specific training,” says Brian Gallagher, education director of UTI-Lisle. “Every day, students will see their peers earning sought-after industry credentials in our manufacturer labs. The layout and design of the campus reinforces the importance of mastering the technical skills needed for our students to be ready to work upon graduation.”
Gallagher believes student interest is driven by results and UTI has a strong record of success with its manufacturer-specific programs. For instance, the Glendale Heights campus graduated more than 600 individuals through its Toyota Professional Automotive Training program since its launch in 2005. Demand has never been stronger and from October 2012, this program has provided more Certified Toyota Technicians for the Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealership employer network than any other program in the country.
Local officials who solicited UTI to relocate to Lisle are excited the new campus is complete and open for business.
“On behalf of the Village of Lisle, I want to thank UTI for bringing this excellent career training center to our community and for helping advance our local economy,” said Lisle Mayor Joe Broda, who is a proud alumnus of a technical school. “UTI has a great reputation within the industry and helps individuals start their careers as entry-level professional technicians. The village is thrilled UTI’s future is here in Lisle.”
A formal community grand opening with area employers and community leaders is planned for March 2014.
