UBTech is expanding their Welding and Nursing Assistant programs in the fall of 2022

 By Stephanie Carter

Due to student demand and industry need for summer and evening program offerings, Uintah Basin Technical College has secured funding to begin the expansion of their Nursing Assistant and Welding programs.

“Thanks to recently secured legislative funding we’ll be able to produce additional workforce ready graduates in the fields of welding and nursing, beginning this fall,” said UBTech President Aaron Weight.

“Students who take the summer off have a low rate of continuing their training in the fall,” said Vice President of Instructional Services, Mark Dockins. “Continuing offerings for the summer will increase the completion rate for our students.”

Students interested in becoming a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) will have an opportunity to enroll in UBTech’s Nursing Assistant program at the Roosevelt campus during the summer. An additional evening option will be offered, in the fall, at the Vernal campus.

“We continually have students, especially secondary students, wanting a summer and evening option for nursing assistant,” said Vice President of Public Affairs and Student Advancement, Stephanie Carter.

In September, UBTech will expand their welding program offerings, both in the daytime and evening hours, to 12 months a year at both UBTech campuses.

“Previously, we’ve had limited summer and evening options available to students,” said Executive Advisor of Instruction to the President, Tammy Wilkerson. “By expanding our daytime and evening hours, we will give students more time in the UBTech Training Centers sponsored by Norco Inc. & Miller Electric to be able to finish a certificate in the summer.”

The purpose of the program expansions is twofold. It will make educational career opportunities easier to access at UBTech and effectively answer the urgent call to add new employees to the Uintah Basin’s workforce.

“We hear from our occupational advisory committee members often and they say they need employees,” said Dockins.

According to data from the Department of Workforce Services, the tri-county area is at a 3.5 percent.

“People generally think of oil and gas as the only industry needing welders, but welding is a broad field,” said Wilkerson. “Across the state there are welder shortages. And anything in the medical field will always have job security.”

“As demands increase from potential students and industry, we work on securing funds to provide expansions or offer new programs,” Weight said.

Future course expansion plans include automotive, civil technology, CDL, and more, he said.

The UBTech Master Plan includes plans for additional buildings to support future programs brought to the Uintah Basin.

For more information about the master plan visit www.ubtech.edu/masterplan.

Welding at the UBTech Training Centers sponsored by Norco Inc. & Miller Electric, will be expanded to year-round daytime and evening times starting fall of 2022.

Students interested in becoming a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) will have an opportunity to enroll in UBTech’s Nursing Assistant program at the Roosevelt campus during the summer in 2023. An additional evening option will be offered, in the fall, at the Vernal campus.

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