'Back to School' has a Different Meaning for UTI Students

As summer comes to an end and the weather gradually becomes more brisk, college students embark on a brand new school year with new schedules, courses and instructors. The majority of college students attending universities and/or community colleges are able to relate to each other with their similar daily routines and overall journey through school thus far. But there are many students that cannot relate to the traditional lifestyle of a college student. Director of Operations & Education at the Universal Technical Institute (UTI) Migdalia Vazquez-Valle said, “The unique thing about UTI is that most of our students had a journey before they came here.” For veteran Jose Ruiz, she couldn’t be more correct. At age 34, Ruiz is currently attending UTI in Rancho Cucamonga and is about two weeks away from completing his program and graduating from the Institute. However, before he began making his way toward this educational goal, Ruiz had a background that differs from a traditional college student. After graduating from Sultana High School in 2000, located in the High Desert, he joined the Navy and served for four years, which put him at the front lines of the 9/11 tragedy and making him a proud post-9/11 veteran. When Ruiz returned home from serving his country, he worked at a few different jobs but mentioned that he was having difficulty with finding a steady, permanent job. “I made a call after watching a commercial (for UTI), and a few weeks later I was already starting school,” he explained. “The process was so fast.” Since his first class starts at 5:30 a.m., Ruiz kicks off his weekdays at 4:30 a.m. in order to drive to the UTI campus in Rancho Cucamonga. His school day ends at about noon, but he doesn’t go home right after. He works right on campus through VA work-study. His job, overall, is to offer different forms of guidance to fellow veterans that were in the same position he was before he attended UTI. There are three core programs and directions that one can take at UT: automotive, diesel & industrial, and the combination of the two, offering training on both sides. Ruiz is in the automotive program and voluntarily added an exclusive elective course that offers advanced training. It’s called the Ford FACT (Ford Accelerated Credential Training) elective. According to UTI’s fact sheet, Ford FACT is a 15-week program that teaches students about the equipment and procedures used in Ford and Lincoln service departments around the nation. Although the program highlights Ford specifically, Vazquez-Valle shared that the knowledge that comes from this training applies to much more than just Ford; it opens the door to many more opportunities with that credential under Ruiz's belt. Ruiz said that as he becomes closer to graduating, he is starting to get a myriad of emails from companies that show interest in hiring him as they constantly urge him to apply. “There are many companies that want that electrical background. That’s why I signed up for Ford FACT,” he said. “I want to do something where I know that my hard work will pay off.” Many of these emails are coming from places out-of-state that would be pleased to have him on their staff; however, since he has two young daughters Nyssa, 12, and Alyssa, 11, his primary goal is to start his career locally so he can stay close to them. Based on the credentials he is currently earning, fulfilling that goal doesn’t seem far out of reach. Kelly Koehler, spokeswoman for UTI, mentioned, “Jose will have people knocking on his door about a job before he even has the time to go them.” Ruiz added, “You’re really embraced by the whole staff here…they really want you to succeed.” Recently, four UTI campuses were given an extremely prestigious award as they were named Schools of Excellence by Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). According to a UTI press release, “the School of Excellence Award recognizes ACCSC-accredited schools for their commitment to the expectations and rigors of ACCSC accreditation, as well as the efforts made by the institution to maintain strong student outcomes." Chairman and chief executive office at UTI Kim McWaters was quoted in the press release, “This recognition reinforces our commitment to producing consistently strong outcomes for our students. Our manufacturer partnerships, expert instructors and state-of-the-industry facilities provide our graduates with the training they need to succeed in today’s high-tech transportation industry.”