SLCC president testifies in DC about CTE funding

Salt Lake Community College President Deneece G. Huftalin testified in October in front of the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education for the meeting “Improving Career and Technical Education to Help Students Succeed in the Workforce.”

SLCC President Deneece G. Huftalin is sworn in before testifying. Photo: House Education and the Workforce Committee

House members were considering reauthorization of funding for the 1984 Perkins Act, established to improve the quality of technical education as a means of helping the economy. Lawmakers invited Huftalin and others to talk about the impact Perkins funds have had on CTE programs at their institutions. For fiscal year 2016, SLCC received approximately $1.25 million in Perkins money.

“Over the last several years as the recession weakened state investment in higher education, Perkins funding was crucial to our ability to maintain and grow key CTE programs for our students at a time when our enrollment was rapidly increasing,” Huftalin told legislators. “Acquiring modern equipment is imperative for state-of-the-art CTE programs. These programs are costly to maintain and often require significant financial resources to ensure we have the latest technologies and equipment to train our students to enter today’s ever-advancing and technical workplace.”

SLCC President Deneece G. Huftalin testifies in favor of continued Perkins funding. Photo: House Education and the Workforce Committee

Huftalin said Perkins funds have also been used to improve training in SLCC’s Aviation Maintenance Avionics “to meet industry demand and maintain high-quality training” in the college’s Automotive, Diesel Training and Building construction programs, all serving “critical industries that contribute to a healthy economy.” She told representatives how Perkins dollars help strengthen student support services that help increase completion rates. SLCC’s president highlighted how the college works collaboratively with The Boeing Company to train students in CTE areas like machining, fabrication and composites within SLCC’s aerospace manufacturing program, which relies on Perkins funds.

“Career and technical education has always been, and will continue to be, at the very core of our mission at Salt Lake Community College,” Huftalin concluded before taking questions from committee members. “We appreciate your past support of the Perkins program and encourage your continued support as this worthwhile program is considered for reauthorization.”

Comments

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o...

SLCC Alumnus and U.S. Diplomat to Speak at 2025 Commencement

Salt Lake Community College’s 2025 Commencement speaker Branigan Knowlton will share his perspectives drawn from a 12-year career as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. In serving his country, Knowlton has honed his foreign relations and diplomacy skills in Hong Kong, Mexico, Colombia and Italy. Knowlton is also a proud Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) alumnus (2002). Knowlton currently serves at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. Before reporting to the embassy, he was detailed to the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport as part of the Transatlantic Diplomatic Fellowship program. In Bogotá, Knowlton worked for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, and in Hermosillo, Mexico, he worked for the Bureau of Consular Affairs. His first assignment abroad was in Hong Kong, where he worked for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. "I've actively sought opportunities that push me into the unfamiliar, even when ...

Recognizing SLCC's 2025 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering

The Distinguished Faculty Lecturer is a recognition of quality work by one of Salt Lake Community College’s full-time faculty and a charge to develop that work over an academic year into a public presentation. A committee chosen by the Associate Provost for Learning Advancement selects the faculty lecturer each year. The lecture takes place in the spring. Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering Dr. Andrew Vogt’s teaching philosophy is guided by two principles, curiosity and efficiency. “Curiosity leads us to study a topic and allows us to really understand the ins and outs of research, while efficiency is all about sustainability,” he says. Andrew describes curiosity as a pure, open-minded impulse to explore, such as the ease with which children learn new concepts with virtually no instruction. Efficiency adds maturity to that childlike impulse, creating structures and pathways for accomplishment. Andrew’s work has alwa...

Official SLCC Blog

Search This Blog