Big Plans Announced for Former Shopko Site—Opening 2027

In 2027, Universal Technical Institute (UTI) will open a new campus in West Jordan. This school has been educating students in the trades since 1965. The West Jordan campus will teach Aviation Maintenance Technology, Automotive/Diesel, Electrical & Industrial Maintenance Technology, Electronics & Industrial Technology, Robotics & Automation, HVACR, and Welding.

These classes will prepare students for the careers of the future. "We're proud that we're participating in a larger issue," UTI Division President Tracy Lorenz said. "The United States has a $3 trillion infrastructure gap for skilled tradespeople. All of our industry partners have some sort of skills gap that they're trying to solve for. Specifically for Salt Lake City, in the past year they've created 5,000 construction jobs."

The school will transform the old Shopko on 1553 W. 9000 S. from a big-box store to an educational center. These facilities can be hard to repurpose, but the high ceilings and delivery docks are the perfect spaces for UTI's equipment and hands-on classrooms.

"We bring in large training aids and replicate the environment they're going to be working in when they're out in the field, such as car parts, parts of diesel trucks, planes, HVAC equipment, and welding booths," Lorenz said.

Programs

Programs will be available full-time, part-time, as well as various times of day to fit diverse schedules. AI training is available in most classes to help enhance your skills as a tradesperson, how to be better technicians, to do your job faster, more efficiently.

• Aviation Maintenance Technology
• Automotive/Diesel
• Electrical & Industrial Maintenance Technology
• Electronics & Industrial Technology
• Robotics & Automation
• HVACR
• Welding
• Career Refresher Courses

Finances

Financial aid is available to everyone who qualifies. As an accredited college, students have access to the same Title IV funding loans and/or grants, and external scholarships traditional schools do.

• Financial Aid Advisors
• Work-and-Learn programs - Get a job in your preferred field while you go to school
• Industry funding
• Internal scholarships
• Tuition reimbursement - Packages may be available to students depending on commitments made with potential employers

Women in the Industry

The school has women-focused events, industry partners that seek female employees and specialized career services for women seeking jobs in male-dominated careers.

"We think it's an important thing for our young female population in the United States," Lorenz said. "We're excited about what we're seeing. One particular trend that's happening is 'women in weld' in the United States. There's a lot of social media stars out there and they are taking it by storm."

Student Services

• Enrollment Advisors
• Housing and Transportation Advice
• Support Networks
• Tutors
• Career Service Advisors
• Full Career Service Teams - Bridge employment with students after graduation
• Entrepreneurship Programs
• Empowering Women in Skilled Trades

By Erin Dixon