LISLE, Ill., March 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 250 local business, civic, educational, elected officials and industry executives celebrated the grand opening of Universal Technical Institute's (NYSE: UTI) new, state-of-the-industry campus in Lisle during a festive evening ceremony, which included tours of the 187,000-square-foot facility. UTI is the nation's leading provider of post-secondary education for individuals seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians.
The event featured remarks from elected officials, a student alumnus, an industry partner and company executives. All speakers highlighted the strong and growing demand for jobs in the industry. They also emphasized UTI's unparalleled ability to prepare individuals to master the technical skills required to succeed in these jobs.
"We work hard to be the industry's choice and it means a lot to us that so many employer and manufacturer partners joined us to celebrate the opening of our new Midwest campus," said Julie Mueller, campus president of UTI-Lisle. "Our industry customers continue to express a strong demand for skilled workers and we will provide them access to an ongoing pipeline of qualified technicians for years to come."
"UTI is fulfilling a critical function for our county, state and Midwest regional economy because individual economic success is linked to quality career education," said Joe Broda, Mayor of the Village of Lisle. "The automotive and diesel industries are stable, growing sectors of our regional and national economy. This new campus is a testament to UTI's commitment to continually invest in its curriculum and develop unique industry partnerships that enhance the quality of education. We are thrilled they've made this investment in our county."
Across its national 11-campus network, UTI has partnered with more than 30 top brands in the transportation industry to create curricula tailored to manufacturers' standards and equip its campuses with the latest vehicles, equipment, tools and training aids. After completing a core program, students can choose to enroll in one of the manufacturer specific advanced training (MSAT) programs offered at Lisle or other UTI campuses.
The Lisle campus offers four of these MSAT programs, including: FORD Accelerated Credential Training (FACT), Honda Professional Automotive Career Training (PACT), International Technician Education Program (ITEP) and Toyota Professional Automotive Technician Training Program (TPAT).
"No other institution has more graduates working in the field than UTI and that is because we are continually adapting to the needs of our industry customers," notes Mueller. "Our new Lisle home will help us continue to provide the highest quality educational experience that helps students attain the skills to be successful in their careers."
The Lisle campus is designed to accommodate approximately 2,000 students and up to 150 faculty and staff. The facility replaces UTI's Glendale Heights campus, where it had operated for the past 25 years and produced more than 19,000 graduates. The new campus opened its doors for classes on Monday, Nov. 11, 2013.
About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.:
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) is the leading provider of post-secondary education for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians. With more than 170,000 graduates in its 48-year history, UTI offers undergraduate degree, diploma and certificate programs at 11 campuses across the United States, as well as manufacturer-specific training programs at dedicated training centers. Through its campus-based school system, UTI provides specialized post-secondary education programs under the banner of several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech).
For more information about the UTI-Lisle campus, go to http://www.uti.edu/campus-locations/lisle.
Check out www.uti.edu and "Like" UTI on www.facebook.com/UTI or follow UTI on Twitter @UTITweet, @MMITweet, and @NASCARTechUTI.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140306/LA78369
SOURCE Universal Technical Institute, Inc.
