Skip to main content

SLCC, Cummins Partner on Technician Apprentice Program at Westpointe

Representatives from Cummins and SLCC cut a ribbon inside the diesel lab at Westpointe.
Representatives from Cummins and SLCC cut a ribbon inside the diesel lab at Westpointe.

Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) and Cummins Inc. announce they have teamed up to train workers to become service technicians and earn an associate of applied science degrees through Cummins’ Technician Apprentice Program (TAP) at SLCC’s Westpointe Workforce Training & Education Center.

TAP is a collaboration between industry and higher education to help Cummins’ apprenticeship students gain valuable training and advance in their careers. The two-year program provides training across a variety of diesel platforms and technologies, full-time employment during the program, free tuition and course credits that transfer to four-year degrees. SLCC is one of three institutions in the United States that host the TAP program and provide critical job training to Cummins’ employees.

“Salt Lake Community College is thrilled to enter into this very important partnership with Cummins International,” said Dr. Eric Heiser, SLCC Dean of the School of Applied Technology & Professional Development. “This is just one more way we can help to address the nationwide shortage of diesel mechanics while partnering with one of the most well-known and respected brands in the diesel industry.  We are grateful for the confidence that Cummins has shown in us to be able to deliver quality diesel technician training to their apprentices.”

Students in the TAP program pose with Cummins executives.

To date, Cummins Inc. has sponsored 30 apprentice students by paying for their education and program expenses at SLCC. While in the program, students participate in an intense United States Department of Labor Technician Apprenticeship, where they will earn their associate degree from SLCC and be Cummins-certified in engines.

“Throughout our 100 years, we have spent time and energy investing in our people, and those people are the lifeblood of our company and the lifeblood of our business,” said Jenny Bush, executive director of North America Distribution for Cummins. “Without employees like our technicians here, we would not be where we are standing a hundred years later. As I think about our legacy and our heritage, everything we stand for sits in this room. I’m thrilled we’re able to continue that legacy as we get into our next hundred years.”

Jenny Bush, Cummins Inc. executive director for North America Distribution, gives the keynote address.

Popular posts from this blog

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...

The Center for Prior Learning Receives an Honorable Mention

Today, SLCC's Credit for Prior Learning department received an Honorable Mention from the  Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL ) and the  Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education  for its intentional approach and for expanding student options to receive credit for prior learning.  Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)  allows students to obtain college credit for knowledge and skills acquired outside of the traditional academic environment. This is exceptionally beneficial for adult learners, who, according to CAEL, have a 17% higher chance of graduating compared to those adults who don’t earn credits through prior learning programs. The CPL department at SLCC was created in 2020 and since then the volume of students served has grown as the department continues to expand. To be eligible for CPL, students must be working towards a degree, certificate, or apprenticeship. Director of Credit for Prior Learning at SLCC, Andrea Tipton, mentioned fee...

Board of Higher Ed names Gregory F. Peterson 9th SLCC President

The Utah Board of Higher Education unanimously selected Gregory F. Peterson, Ed.D., as the ninth president of Salt Lake Community College today, following an extensive national search. Peterson will assume the position on July 1, 2024, and succeeds Deneece G. Huftalin, who served as president from 2014-2024.   “I’m humbled by the opportunity to serve as Salt Lake Community College’s next president, and I look forward to reinforcing SLCC’s commitment to providing educational pathways for transfer and workforce that improve the lives of every member of our community,” Peterson said. “SLCC has an amazing future ahead, and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of that journey.”   As part of its delegated duties and responsibilities, the SLCC Board of Trustees named an  11-member committee  in December 2023 to conduct a national search for the next president of SLCC. The committee is composed of representatives from the Utah Board of Higher Education and SLCC trustees, facul...