Official SLCC Blog

SLCC recently joined the Association for the  Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (ASHEE) . As an Institution of Higher Education, SLCC is entrusted with educating the next generation of professionals and physical environments on SLCC campuses can impact student's learning and experiences. Joining ASHEE will provide SLCC with additional resources to implement and strengthen sustainable efforts to create more ecologically healthy campuses.  “AASHE counts on the support of progressive institutions like Salt Lake Community College to fulfill its mission to inspire and catalyze higher education to lead the global sustainability transformation,” says AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser, in a Press Release welcoming SLCC to AASHE. As SLCC continues to shift in a more environmentally sustainable direction, the college and AASHE encourage all members—students, staff, and faculty—to access resources. Chris McCarty, author of SLCC’s Sustainability Plan and Enviro...

Local artist David LeCheminant creates meticulously constructed abstract sculptures from wood that crackle and dance with frenetic energy. Spending his day covered in sawdust, trying to figure out how to make geometrical pieces of wood fit together, literally and conceptually, is often what keeps local artist David LeCheminant up at night, more times than he wants to admit. “At the end of the day, as I lie on my couch thinking about my day, I wonder if my work succeeds at expressing my ideas.” In a new art gallery exhibition at South City campus, “What Keeps Me Up at Night,” are twenty-five wooden sculptures created by David, from 2017 to the present, showcasing a varied body of work including wall pieces and free-standing sculptures. Deep reds, purples and natural finishes of wood are put together in intricate and unique patterns. “From afar, the forms are elegant and modern, finished beautifully in vibrant colors. But look closer at the intricate, multifaceted surfaces and something ...

  1968 Chrysler In 1948 the Salt Lake Area Vocational School (SLAV) opened its doors to students for the first time, offering a handful of programs, including automobile mechanics. The classrooms at SLAV were designed to simulate the industrial shops at the time in Salt Lake Valley to meet industry standards. The automobile mechanics program was designed as a two-year pre-apprentice program to meet passenger cars and small trucks' essential maintenance and repair principles. Project cars were introduced to the auto mechanic program in 1955, providing students in the various auto mechanic areas with hands-on experience working on a car. The project car consisted of the school purchasing a car that was declared a total loss, and students worked to restore it to the car close to its original condition mechanically possible to do. The project car was discontinued at the end of the 1973-74 school year due to inflation and the increased cost of auto parts. By the 20th anniversary of the ...

  Kimani Griffin competing at the 2018 Winter Olympics Name: Kimani Griffin Pronouns : he/him Residence: West Jordan, UT Major: Computer Science Academic goals: Complete my undergraduate degree and finish my academic journey with a Masters in Computer Science.  Dream job: Haven’t decided but perhaps a career in cyber security.  Plan B: Any software engineering job with a focus on developing something surrounding minority groups.  Why higher education: After retiring from Olympic sport, I needed a new goal. I decided to revisit college and rekindle my dream of being a college graduate. I believe our work here is never done and higher education gives me another outlet to continue to grow. Why SLCC: SLCC gives me an opportunity to go back to college at a more affordable rate. It also has the same curriculum in the field of computer science as the University of Utah, which I plan on transferring to upon graduating.  What motivates you or inspires you at school o...

Creating a Service Center at Salt Lake Community College started in 1993 as several people assembled to make the idea a reality. In 1994 the Service Center was founded as part of the Alumni Association. In the Fall of 1995, the center separated from the Alumni Association, becoming the Thayne Community Service Center, named writer and poet Emma Lou Thayne, where students, staff, and faculty could obtain community engagement opportunities.  In its initial form, the Thayne Center focused on promoting student civic engagement and service-learning opportunities and providing staff and faculty with volunteer opportunities. The Thayne Center has played an integral part in connecting members of Salt Lake Community College to the community. However, in recent years, the center has undergone some changes to better serve SLCC’s student population. In 2020, Thayne Center for Service & Learning and Student Life & Leadership combined resources, unifying under the title “Thayne Center.” As a...

    Johnson Controls Community College Partnership Program supports career growth in Utah through financial support, equipment and mentoring.   This week, Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) received a grant valued at $100,000 per year, for up to four years from Johnson Controls to train students for jobs in the building automation sector, including HVAC, fire and security industries. The demand for skilled workers in this industry are high with an estimated 10,000 trade professionals projected to leave or retire from the workforce each year over the next decade. “We look forward to putting this grant to good use and truly appreciate the support from Johnson Controls in helping our students successfully prepare for meaningful and worthwhile jobs in these fast-growing industries, especially in Utah which is one of the fastest growing states,” said SLCC President Deneece G. Huftalin.   Since 2021, the Johnson Controls Community College Partnership Program has awarded f...

Drop-In Yoga Employees' safety, health and wellbeing has always been a top priority for SLCC. One of the many ways we support our employees in being the best they can be is through our wellness programs. Many studies show that properly executed employee wellness programs improve  morale, retention and engagement , as well as improve workers' overall health outcomes. Specifically for employers,  according to Harvard researchers , a good employee wellness program can save $3.27 in health care costs and $2.23 in absenteeism costs for every dollar spent.  The College recognizes that each wellness journey is unique based on individual circumstances. As such, SLCC's Wellness Team serves up a broad range of learning programs that focus on various physical, mental, and financial health topics. With June being National Employee Wellness Month, here's a look at the wellness programs available to all SLCC employees.  SLCC Employee Wellness Learning Programs First Aid and CPR Ce...

Presidents for Latino Student Success Network   Excelencia in Education  recently announced that Salt Lake Community College President Deneece G. Huftalin has joined their  Presidents for Latino Student Success network . The network includes college and university presidents and chancellors who pledge to create learning environments that promote the success of Latino students while continuing to serve all students.    Sarita Brown, co-founder and President of Excelencia believes that higher education leaders with skills and vision are crucial to the country's strong recovery. “Those prepared to engage and intentionally serve Latino students, while serving all their students, will lead the way,” she said.   Through the network, President Huftalin will collaborate with Excelencia to leverage collective expertise and resources, foster partnerships and amplify current efforts at the national level.    "SLCC is committed to pursuing the  HSI desig...

  Heather Nielsen Heather Nielsen grew up in Brigham City, Utah where, upon graduating from a small Catholic high school, she started attending the University of Utah. During her time as a freshman at the U, Heather became overwhelmed with the size of her classes —many of which were held in auditoriums. In efforts to obtain a more personalized education Heather transferred to Salt Lake Community College where she was not only able to obtain the personalized education she wanted but was introduced to a world outside of SLCC. Heather’s memories of SLCC are mainly from the Taylorsville Redwood campus where she met Professor Françoise Hibbs, French language professor, who introduced and encourage her to go on the study abroad program. Creating a connection and a community enriched her experience as a student on campus. When asked to share a piece of advice to her fellow Bruins, Heather’s mindset reinforces the wisdom she obtained throughout the years. “Build relationships with classmat...