The Glendale Heights campus of Universal Technical Institute (UTI) welcomed Illinois State Representative Deborah Conroy (D-Villa Park) recently for a tour and conversation about the importance of educating students for careers so they are workforce ready.
“I have always believed that access to quality education, linked to career readiness, is key to giving our students a chance to succeed,” said Rep. Conroy. “This requires an all-options strategy, and it was informative to tour UTI’s campus and learn more about its partnerships within the automotive and diesel industry.”
Conroy has been an advocate for education and how it plays a vital role in healthy economic development. Prior to her election to the Illinois State House, Conroy served a term on the Board of Education of Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205.
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“Despite sluggish projections for the economy as a whole, there remains steady demand in the industry for trained and skilled technicians,” said Julie Mueller, campus president of UTI-Glendale Heights. “We’re proud that our school can play a positive role in providing career training to the region, and will continue to work with our elected leaders and industry partners to help individuals enter the workforce with the skills and training to succeed.”
UTI is a leading provider of post-secondary education for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians. Across its 11 campuses throughout the nation, UTI has teamed with more than 30 top brands to create curricula tailored to its students. More than 19,000 individuals have graduated from the Glendale Heights campus, since it opened in 1988.
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“I serve on the Economic Development committee in the House, and I know that having skilled and qualified workers is the key to a growing economy,” concluded Rep. Conroy. “Over the past 25 years, the Glendale Heights campus of UTI has been an active supplier of qualified and skilled workers, not just for DuPage County, but for the state and entire Midwest. The school is a great resource to have as we continue to work to create jobs, grow the economy and improve the quality of life for our region and state.”
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. Workers seeking these jobs are likely to pursue a combination of on-the-job training and a two-year degree or certificate.
To learn more about Universal Technical Institute, visit us at www.uti.edu.
