Universal Technical Institute has opened its new, state-of-the-industry, 187,000 sq. ft. campus in Lisle, Ill., a suburb of Chicago.
The new facility replaces its Glendale Heights, Ill. 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, UTI says.
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,” says 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 says it 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.
“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.”
“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 Joe Broda, mayor of Lisle and an 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.”
