Salt Lake Community College outlines apprenticeship growth, concurrent enrollment expansion and prison-education work

Salt Lake Community College briefed the Higher Education Appropriation Subcommittee on Jan. 26, describing an institutional strategy focused on enrollment, timely completion and post‑completion workforce outcomes.

President Greg Peterson said SLCC has adopted a strategic “vision matrix” that prioritizes enrollment and “first credential” completion metrics. He outlined near‑term growth in concurrent enrollment (nearly 20% growth reported), an expansion of youth apprenticeships (advanced manufacturing partnerships such as Strather Rail) and a continued emphasis on health‑sciences programs. “We are graduating 360 nurses a year,” Peterson said, and noted high placement rates in allied health fields.

Peterson described a range of legislative priorities: investment in student-contact and notification software to improve retention and outreach; scholarships to support concurrent‑enrollment students; OIT infrastructure; seed money for the vision matrix; and an aviation maintenance building at SLCC’s West Point campus as the college adjusts airport arrangements.

He also highlighted programs intended to reduce student costs, including open educational resources (OER) in general education and growing AI literacy and embedded AI tools. Peterson noted SLCC’s prison education work and efforts to support reintegration and post‑completion employment.

Committee members questioned SLCC about a compliance matter at the South City campus and next steps; Peterson said the college would transition the space to a general student activity and study lounge called the Bruin PAWS activity and study lounge to preserve student gathering space while addressing compliance concerns.

What’s next: SLCC’s technology and scholarship requests will be reviewed by appropriation staff as the subcommittee evaluates funding priorities for the session.