Ogden-Weber Technical College has more students on campus this fall than at any point in its fifty-year history. According to first quarter data released by the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE), overall OTECH enrollment has grown 11.68% to 4,035 students, making it the largest technical college in the state. The school also saw a 25% increase in early college high school student enrollment.
This growth, especially after such a challenging year, is a credit to the tenacity of OTECH students and staff. Instructors have adapted their programs to allow for hybrid learning options, while maintaining close contact with local industry partners to ensure the curriculum meets employer needs,
said OTECH President James Taggart.
Generous donors and state scholarship funds have allowed many new students to attend the college tuition-free. Every day, OTECH alum are sharing their experiences and inviting others to find out what makes tech college programs so beneficial. OTECH is not only growing, it is leading the way by increasing access to all members of our community,
said Vice President for Student Services Monica Schwenk. With 33% of the student body coming from underrepresented populations, OTECH is one of the most diverse colleges in the Utah System of Higher Education.
For OTECH, 2021 marks 50 years of providing hands-on technical education to thousands of students in over 34 programs. This year’s enrollment increases will help the college fulfill its mission of building a prosperous community by creating a technically-skilled workforce one student at a time.