Introduction

Nestled at the base of the rugged Wasatch Mountains, the Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College offers a 39-year history of practical education. Its beautiful main campus and convenient locations in Roy, the Business Depot of Ogden, and LEAN Manufacturing Training Center offer convenient schedules, competency-based learning, and training opportunities in high-demand fields. With over 300 technical-skills courses in 53 employment categories, the OWATC serves over 10,000 students annually.

Three Types of Education:

Technical Education

These areas of study focus on training students for better jobs. OWATC offers over a wide variety of certificate and degree programs, including an Associate of Applied Technology that is fully transferable to Weber State University.

Employer and Community Education

With courses ranging from Spanish to Excel to woodworking, these classes offer easy enrollment and convenient schedules. They are a great way stay sharp, learn a new hobby, or increase job skills. Courses run from 3 to 40 hours in length.

Custom Fit

This innovative program helps businesses be more competitive and increase productivity. Ongoing classes such as forklift certification, marketing and quality management allow businesses to send workers for training as needed. The real strength of Custom Fit is in designing individualized courses focused on specific needs of local businesses. Many companies qualify for government funding to help offset the cost.

Competency-Based Education

The College conducts its education in a way quite different from the traditional manner followed by U.S. high schools, colleges, and universities. In traditional education, high school and university students learn and progress by beginning and completing classes at the same time (e.g., quarters, semesters) and graduate after they have completed all prescribed classes on a grade-to-grade basis. In competency-based education, students are allowed to learn and progress by beginning their courses the day they arrive at the campus. They graduate when they have mastered the skills and competencies of all required courses.

Accreditation

• A Career and Technical Education Institution Accredited by: Council on Occupational Education (COE) The Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education. The Council on Occupational Education can be contacted at (800) 917-2081 or at 41 Perimeter Center East, NE, Suite 640, Atlanta, GA 30346.
• The College was the first technical training institution in the nation to receive the prestigious U.S. Secretary of Education Award for Outstanding Vocational Programs.
• In 2001, the College received approval and authorization to begin developing the Associate of Applied Technology Degrees (AAT).

Strategic Plan

Download the 2009 Strategic Plan here (PDF)

OWATC at a Glance

• Open-entry, open-exit
• Competency-based education
• Over 300 technical skills courses in 53 employment categories
• 10,000 students served annually
• Average daily student body of 2,500
• Daily child care provided for more than 90 families in the Children’s School
• 1,000 new students enrolled monthly
• Over 4,000 student schedule changes monthly
• Internships and on-the-job training with nearly 200 employers
• Custom Fit training for over 200 local employers annually
• Partnerships with 130 community organization

A Brief History

The College opened in April 1971 under the name of Skills Center North. This institution was established essentially to assist adult students in learning new job skills and obtain jobs. Back then, our student body consisted of 100 students.

By 1975, the Utah Board of Regents incorporated Skills Center North as part of Weber State College. Near the end of the 1970’s, our expanding training programs received full state and regional accreditation. These important actions served as the foundation for authorizing local high school students to enroll in our vocational courses while they completed their high school graduation requirements. Our student body soon exceeded 750 full-time and part-time adult learners and high school students.

In 1982, we were moved under the auspices of the Utah State Office of Education, and we were renamed the Ogden-Weber Area Vocational Center. Our student body quickly grew to over 1,200 students who were attending both full-time and part-time.

Legislators authorized the move to our present campus in 1984 to accommodate our need for more classrooms, lab areas, and our steadily increasing student body. In the early 1990’s, our name was changed to the Ogden-Weber Applied Technology Center.

In 2001, we celebrated our 30-year anniversary. At that point, we had a workforce of more than 150 employees, were offering over 300 technical courses, 53 employment categories in 14 major buildings, and at 9 locations. Also in 2001, the Utah State Legislature approved the College to be a Utah College of Applied Technology, which resulted in this institution being designated as a stand-alone campus serving the Ogden-Weber region.

We now serve over 10,000 adult and high school students who are attending full-time and part-time each year. This is including 5,000 employees from local businesses through our Custom Fit Training Program. The success of our students after they are hired by local employers is a continuing force in the growth and economy of northern Utah.

Our Future

As Utah moves into the new century, businesses and employees are faced with two dilemmas:

1. The continuing advance of high technology and computers in the workplace, and
2. A shrinking workforce to fill existing and new jobs.

Technology is evolving at such a rapid rate throughout the U.S. that 65% of Utah’s jobs now require high-tech skills. Most undergraduate degree programs do not fully respond to this demand. Consequently, most adults and high school students planning to work in Utah must acquire their high-tech skills by enrolling in technology education programs linked directly to the requirements of employers.

To secure employment and grow successfully with high-tech employers in the years ahead, adults and high school students will need skills in computer operations, math, reading, teamwork concepts, and interpersonal communications.

During the years ahead, all local employers must be prepared for the highly competitive struggle that is taking place in hiring new employees, as well as in retaining their current employees. To combat the problem of a shrinking workforce, local employers will be increasing their involvement with Utah’s educators (high schools, colleges, and universities) to help students and job applicants learn the technical skills that will lead to employment and long-term careers.

More and more employers will also be supporting and sponsoring skill upgrade training for their employees, maintaining legitimate career paths, and establishing stronger incentives to keep their current workers. Employers state-wide will soon recognize that employees are, indeed, their most valuable resource for moving successfully through the new century.

The changes in Utah’s workforce will strongly influence how the College enrolls its students, conducts its technical education programs, and works more closely with local employers in keeping this community strong and moving forward.

UCAT (Utah College of Applied Technology)

The Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College is a member institution of the Utah College of Applied Technology and operates under the direction of the Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College Board of Directors and the Utah College of Applied Technology Board of Trustees.

The Utah College of Applied Technology can be contacted at:
Board of Regents Building, The Gateway
60 South 400 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84101-1284
1.801.955.2182 

http://www.ucat.edu

School Song – Lest We Forget

We pledge our loyalty to OWATC
Our school of applied technology
People reaching out a helping hand
Freely giving their knowledge Forever and ever,
together we stand.

Red is for courage to do what is right,
Black is for learning by still of the night
White is for truth it carries us through
Silver the dream of tomorrow we sing
Ogden-Weber we love thee…

The dream of a pioneer
Turns the wheels of his mind
Motivating ideas the purpose he serves
A foundation of truth to all that apply
A school of technology for all to try

A promise is kept
Reaching out for the hands
One step at a time the hero demands
A moment, a chance for the children he plans
A school of technology united they’ll stand

Some battles were lost, some battles were won
Tears of sadness, tears of joy, The man did not stop
Determined to win undaunted he purged
To the future he shouted, in motion the plan
A school of technology through out the land

Now holding the firm foundation
Is the corner stone of truth
One man’s dreams come true
Come one come all and follow me….
Ogden Weber Applied Technology

By Mandy Lund