Universal Technical Institute Marks Milestone Anniversary

GLENDALE HEIGHTS, Ill., July 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Technical Institute (NYSE: UTI), the nation's leading provider of post-secondary education for individuals seeking careers as diesel and automotive technicians, today celebrated 25 years in Illinois. When the campus in Glendale Heights first opened its doors in 1988, it was the third campus in UTI's national network. Currently, the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based organization boasts 11 campuses across the country and is the industry's choice for entry-level technicians within the transportation industry. UTI's focus on training individuals for in-demand jobs continues with ambitious plans to serve its customers throughout the Midwest.

"As the market leader, we understand and act on the needs of our industry customers, and have kept our focus on providing the education and training that makes our graduates valuable and sought-after employees," said Julie Mueller, president of the UTI-Glendale Heights campus. "A milestone anniversary like this is an opportunity to look back at our key accomplishments, while looking ahead to exciting changes for our staff, students and employers."

Since the Illinois campus opened in July of 1988, more than 19,000 individuals have graduated from its various programs. As the Glendale Heights campus celebrates this anniversary, the students, instructors and staff look forward to the biggest change when it relocates its Glendale Heights campus later this year. The new 187,000 square foot campus is located along the Interstate 88 research and development corporate corridor in Lisle.

The core programs of automotive and diesel technician training offered at the campus are the most sought-after programs nationally and in the Midwest, and many students are electing to enroll in a manufacturer-specific training program before they graduate. Only 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.

As the Illinois campus celebrates its anniversary, demand and interest in these programs continues to grow.

For example, the Illinois campus will soon offer its fifth dedicated manufacturer program, the Daimler Trucks of North America (DTNA) "Finish First" Elective. After completing the 12-week course, a student graduates as a DTNA service technician prepared to work on the Freightliner and Western Star brands at one of the 500 Daimler service locations throughout the country. 

Since 2005, UTI-Glendale Heights has also graduated more than 600 individuals through its Toyota Professional Automotive Training (TPAT) program and has established itself as the leading provider of this training in the Midwest, according to Brian Gallagher, education director of UTI-Glendale Heights.

"Since October of last year we've graduated more Toyota Certified Technicians than any other campus or program in the country, which is a great source of pride on the campus," said Gallagher. "This achievement has been made possible through our great partnership with Toyota, our fantastic faculty, our dedicated students and strong relationships with our employer network." 

The requirements to become a Certified Toyota Technician include: completing an approved training program, such as UTI's TPAT program, attaining two Automotive Service Excellence (ACE) certifications and working at a Toyota dealer for a minimum of eight weeks. Numerous UTI-Glendale Heights TPAT program graduates have found rewarding careers at Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealerships throughout the region, which does not surprise policy makers who are grateful for the school's efforts.

"Elected officials spend an enormous amount of time focused on economic development and job creation, but there is an untold story of the great opportunity for individuals to find career success in the skilled trades and in the economy that powers our region's everyday life," said DuPage County Chairman Dan Cronin. "Having a jobs engine like UTI in the county is a true asset and we've been the beneficiary of their efforts to equip individuals with the skills to succeed and be workforce ready."

Despite the sluggish economy, qualified technicians are in demand. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor reports there will be approximately 1.4 million jobs in the automotive service industry in the United States by the year 2020. 

"When you look at the statistics, four out of five UTI graduates are employed in their field of study within a year of graduation, and that is an amazing success rate when you look at workforce training programs in general," Chairman Cronin added.

While preparing for its 25th anniversary, UTI-Glendale Heights staff and administration were reminded of the impact they've had on so many lives over the years. Success stories have ranged from veterans who were eager to enter the workforce and enrolled at UTI, to dislocated workers who found a second calling during the recession and followed their dreams to work on cars.

"Every school has an alumni network and great stories to tell, but so many of our graduates share stories about how their time at UTI focused their interests, made them ready to succeed and most importantly – helped them step into a career," noted Gallagher.

"On behalf of everyone at UTI, our staff and instructors, I want to thank our employer network for their continued trust and confidence in our graduates," concluded Mueller. "We are ready and excited for the next 25 years." 

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 visit www.uti.edu. Like UTI on www.facebook.com/UTI or follow UTI on Twitter @UTITweet, @MMITweet, and @NASCARTechUTI.

SOURCE Universal Technical Institute, Inc.