On September 14, 1948, the Salt Lake Vocational School (SLVS) opened its doors to train and prepare students for employment in different fields, one of those first programs was welding. Additionally, the school offered a welding apprenticeship program for students already working in the field but required additional training.
In order to facilitate the apprentice program, several companies contracted with the College to help their employees furthering their skills. The most significant and consistent company was Kennecott Copper Corporation, which maintained its welding apprenticeship with the College from 1970-1985. The welding apprenticeship program started, discontinued and restarted several times.
In 1973 the welding program became eligible for an Associate of Applied Science from the recently renamed Utah Technical College at Salt Lake. Furthermore, in 1974, the Skills Center started offering non-credit courses in welding.
In 1975 the annual Utah technical college report for 1975-1976 pointed out that seventy-five percent of the courses taught at the College were vocational-technical courses, which included the welding program.
In 2018 the Westpointe Workforce Training and Education Center opened its doors, bringing a new facility to the trades, including a state-of-the-art lab for welding.
“Coming to Salt Lake Community College to study welding was the best decision. I was anxious the night before my first day of class, and now putting my hood down and welding is my zen zone” says Katelynn (Katie) Poulsen about her welding experience.
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