The mission of the Utah College of Applied Technology (UCAT) is to meet the needs of Utah's employers for technically-skilled workers and to promote local and statewide economic development by providing market-driven technical education to secondary and adult students. Each of the eight UCAT campuses places a strong emphasis on providing programs that prepare students for high-wage, high-demand jobs. This is accomplished through competency-based education and training programs, which may be long-term, short-term, apprenticeship, or custom-designed for individual employer needs. Most of the programs are offered in an open-entry, open-exit format providing flexibility for students and employers. Students are assisted in acquiring the basic skills necessary to succeed in these technical training programs. UCAT prepares students to enter, re-enter, upgrade, or advance in the workplace.
UCAT was established as an institution of the Utah System of Higher Education by the Legislature in a Special Session (June 2001) under House Bill 1003, "Applied Technology Governance" and began operating on September 1, 2001. It consisted of 10 regional Applied Technology College (ATC) campuses that had previously been Applied Technology Centers and Applied Technology Service Regions under State Board of Education governance, and covered the entire state.
In 2003, the Central Applied Technology College was merged with Snow College, and in 2007, the Southeast Applied Technology College was merged with College of Eastern Utah. During the 2009 Legislative Session, UCAT's governance was separated from the Board of Regents and placed with the UCAT Board of Trustees under House Bill 15, "Career and Technical Education Amendments". The bill also transferred the Salt Lake County portion of the Salt Lake/Tooele Applied Technology College to Salt Lake Community College, and established the Tooele County portion as the new Tooele Applied Technology College.
The eight Applied Technology College campuses offer 263 accredited program certificates, and within each program there are many more training opportunities. All UCAT campuses are fully accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE) and many programs hold additional accreditations.
UCAT's flexible schedule is ideal for working adults with limited time and for high school students desiring to supplement their high school schedule. By statute, high school students enroll tuition-free and tuition for adults is low-cost. Students may register at any time during regular business hours and receive instruction in a self-paced format.
During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $77,473,200 from all sources for Utah College of Applied Technology. This is a 6 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources. The total includes $70,355,700 from the General/Education Funds, an increase of 6.6 percent from revised Fiscal Year 2015 estimates.
In addition to statewide compensation and internal service fund cost increases, the following appropriation adjustments were made during the 2015 General Session:
This link provides UCAT's annual reports from 2009 through 2014.
The following are performance measures tracked within this organization.
- Headcount Enrollment: Bridgerland ATC
- Membership Hours: Bridgerland ATC
- Certificates Awarded: Bridgerland ATC
- Headcount Enrollment: Ogden-Weber ATC
- Membership Hours: Ogden-Weber ATC
- Certificates Awarded: Ogden-Weber ATC
- Headcount Enrollment: Uintah Basin ATC
- Membership Hours: Uintah Basin ATC
- Certificates Awarded: Uintah Basin ATC
- Headcount Enrollment: Mountainland ATC
- Membership Hours: Mountainland ATC
- Certificates Awarded: Mountainland ATC
The Utah College of Applied Technology (UCAT) is the parent organization for Utah's eight regional applied technology colleges (ATCs). Established by the State of Utah, UCAT provides market-driven technical education through eight ATCs meeting the needs of Utah's employers for skilled workers.
The ATCs prepare both adult and high school students to enter or advance in the workplace. Customized training is also provided to employers for their workforce through UCAT's Custom Fit program. The eight ATCs are Bridgerland, Davis, Dixie, Mountainland, Ogden/Weber, Southwest, Tooele, and Uintah Basin.
UCAT funding is comprised of General Fund, Education Fund, and Dedicated Credits.
COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.