The Lisle campus of Universal Technical Institute was awarded the prestigious Excellence in Student Services Award by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) at its annual professional development conference hosted September 21-23, 2016, in San Diego, California. Each year, the organization recognizes one school out of its 685 accredited institutions that best demonstrates its commitment to the overall student experience.

“It is incredibly rewarding to be recognized for our unyielding commitment to student success through hard work, innovation, collaboration with industry employers, and a holistic approach to student services,” said Julie Mueller, UTI-Lisle campus president. “To be recognized by our peers and accreditor is a tremendous honor, and every instructor and staff member is responsible for helping the campus earn this award.”

ACCSC is an institutional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a reliable authority on education quality. As part of the nomination process, ACCSC required institutions to complete a rigorous application that detailed the many ways the school supports its students in their educational and career pursuits.

In selecting UTI-Lisle as this year’s winner, ACCSC took note of the comprehensive nature of the student services program provided by the campus. In particular, ACCSC noted that UTI-Lisle provides many on-campus opportunities for students, including career fairs, company-specific recruiting meetings, lunch-and-learn programs with employers who are actively looking to hire, and opportunities to attend industry or association meetings.

Additionally, ACCSC commended UTI-Lisle for implementing several veteran-specific programs to help these students along their educational transition to civilian life.

“It is clear to ACCSC that UTI-Lisle puts the student experience at the center of every action it takes and is focused on helping students overcome any challenges standing in their way of success,” said Christopher Lambert, associate executive director of ACCSC. “Every staff member, not just student advisors, considers themselves to be on the front lines of student achievement and this culture provides a supportive educational environment.”

UTI has operated an ACCSC-accredited institution in Illinois since 1988 and has graduated more than 20,000 technicians during that time. In November 2013, the school relocated to a state-of-the-industry campus in suburban Lisle.

To fill the growing industry demand for professional automotive and diesel service technicians, the Lisle campus offers Manufacturer-Specific Advanced Training (MSAT) programs with leading automotive brands, including Ford and Toyota, and diesel brands, including International, Freightliner and Peterbilt. Nationally, 4 out of 5 UTI graduates are employed in their fields of study within one year of graduation.

This is not the first time ACCSC has noted UTI-Lisle’s commitment to high operational standards and above average student graduation and employment outcomes. In 2014, UTI-Lisle earned the School of Excellence Award from ACCSC during its accreditation renewal.