WyoTech

WyoTech, formerly known as Wyoming Technical Institute,^[1] is a non-profit and for-profit college system founded in Laramie, Wyoming, in 1966. The institution should not be confused with the website witscience.org, which claims to be the (non-existent) Wyoming Institute of Technology, and publishes comedic fake news articles.

Initially an automotive-themed school, under the new ownership of Zenith Education Group^[2] with the California campuses of Fremont and Long Beach still owned by Corinthian Colleges, Inc.^[3] WyoTech has four campuses offering degree and diploma programs in the fields of automotive, diesel, collision refinishing, motorcycle, marine technology, as well as construction trades. WyoTech also offers advanced training programs in applied service management; light duty diesel; advanced automotive diagnostics; street rod and custom fabrication; motorsports chassis fabrication; high performance power trains; and trim and upholstery technology.

WyoTech schools have some of the highest graduation rates of any two-year schools in the United States. For 2011, WyoTech Blairsville had a graduation rate of 85.1 percent, and WyoTech Laramie a graduation rate of 80.1 percent.^[4]

In 2013, WyoTech schools faced layoffs and site closings as Corinthian Colleges, its parent company, received greater government scrutiny for its business and trading practices.^[5][6]

Tuition is typically 300% to 400% more expensive than programs at community colleges.^[7] WyoTech's student loan default rate is approximately 19%.^[8] WyoTech's job placement rate is unknown.

Accreditation

WyoTech is nationally accredited but not regionally accredited. Most public and private universities are regionally accredited and will not accept credits or degrees from WyoTech for transfer.^{[9][10][11][12]}

Campus locations

WyoTech campuses are located in California, Wyoming, Pennsylvania and Florida. The campus in Sacramento was closed in 2013.^[13]

• Laramie, Wyoming—The WyoTech-Laramie campus, located at 4373 North 3rd Street, Laramie, WY 82072, was the first WyoTech campus formed in 1966 with only 22 students. In 1969 WyoTech’s Laramie campus became accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology, formerly known as NATTS, and through the years has received approval from 50 state governing authorities. WyoTech originated in a single 9,000-square-foot (840 m²) building in 1966 and has since expanded to its current size of 370,000 square feet (34,000 m²) of modern shop, classroom and administrative facilities. After the original Automotive Technology program, WyoTech introduced Diesel Technology in 1967, Collision/Refinishing Technology in 1971, Automotive Trim and Upholstery in 1977, Associate of Applied Science degree programs in 1986, and the Street Rod Building and Auto Customizing course in 1992. In 2000 WyoTech expanded the Street Rod course further by offering two separate, more specialized courses: Motorsports Chassis Fabrication and Street Rod & Custom Fabrication. This expansion of curriculum allows students the opportunity to hone their skills within a specialty automotive industry. And in 2001, WyoTech added Advanced Diesel courses, giving students the chance to further their training in the diesel field. On February 3, 2015, Zenith Education Group, a non-profit career college system, purchased the campus.^[14]

• Blairsville, Pennsylvania—The WyoTech-Blairsville campus, located at 500 Innovation Drive, Blairsville PA, 15717, was WyoTech's second campus. A significant milestone was reached when WyoTech opened its doors in the spring of 2002 for training in the automotive and collision/refinishing industries and specialty courses in Street Rod, Motorsports Chassis Fabrication, and Management at a branch campus located in Blairsville, Pennsylvania. The school moved into brand-new, expanded facilities located at 500 Innovation Drive in Blairsville in December 2003. Courses in Diesel Technology began in 2006, and the Blairsville campus added Light Duty Diesel and High Performance Power Trains as advanced courses in 2007. On February 3, 2015, Zenith Education Group, a non-profit career college system, purchased the campus.^[14]

• Daytona, Florida—The [http://www.wyotech.edu/campus/daytona/ WyoTech-Daytona campus, located at 470 Destination Daytona Lane, Ormond Beach, FL 32174, and was established in January 1972 under the name American Motorcycle Institute, or AMI. Classes began in a one-building classroom shop and grew to a 10.5-acre campus. In 2004, the school was purchased by Florida Metropolitan University, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Corinthian Colleges, Inc. In February 2006, the name of the school was changed from AMI to WyoTech. In November 2006, the school moved to its current location. WyoTech presently provides entry-level training in motorcycle and marine mechanic training as well as two Associate in Specialized Technology degrees. On February 3, 2015, Zenith Education Group, a non-profit career college system, purchased the campus.^[14]

• Long Beach, California—The WyoTech-Long Beach campus, located at 2161 Technology Place, Long Beach CA, 90810, and formerly National Institute of Technology, was founded in 1969 as the Rosston School. In 1986 the school was acquired by Educorp, Inc. and renamed Educorp Career College. The school was acquired by Corinthian Colleges, Inc. in Oct 2000. The school name was changed to National Institute of Technology in May 2001 and was renamed WyoTech in July 2007. The School moved to its current location in April 2004. The campus has two buildings totaling 92,435 square feet (8,587.5 m²). The Main Building is 42,712 square feet (3,968.1 m²) with 25 classrooms and labs, administrative offices, a student lounge, restrooms, and a resource center containing reference and reading materials related to the academic programs. The Automotive Building is 49,723 square feet (4,619.4 m²) with eight classrooms, student lounge, toolroom, and the rest is mainly an open area functioning as a large auto/laboratory for instruction.

• Fremont, California—The Wyotech-Fremont campus, located at 200 Whitney Place, Fremont CA, 94539, began operations under the name Sequoia Institute in 1962 with a handful of students in an automotive class located in Sunnyvale, California. Over the past 40 years, the school has grown into a sophisticated training center with approximately 130,000 square feet (12,000 m²) of facilities at its present site in Fremont, California. On August 1, 2003, Corinthian Colleges, Inc. purchased the former Sequoia Institute. On July 1, 2004, Corinthian Colleges, Inc. officially changed Sequoia Institute’s name to WyoTech.

In a pending case, nine former WyoTech students who took heating and air-conditioning classes in Fremont claimed in 2008 that they had taken out student loans for as much as $40,000 each, but their training did not make them employable. Instructors sometimes appeared to be drunk, fell asleep in class and could not answer basic questions, and equipment was outdated, according to their suit.^[15]

Fields of study

WyoTech degrees are completed in twelve months with add-on classes lasting four months each. Not all programs of study are available at every campus.

Core Classes - Diplomas and Certificates are available in the following subjects:

• Automotive-Diesel Combination
• Automotive Technology
• Collision & Refinishing
• Diesel Technology
• Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
• Marine Technology
• Motorcycle Technology
• Plumbing Technology
• Structural Electricity

Electives - Specialty courses offered to students who complete Core Classes:

• Advanced Automotive Diagnostics
• Applied Service Management, or ASM, is the only class offered by WyoTech that results in an Associate's Degree when combined with an eligible core class
• Diesel Advanced Technology Education (DATE) for Mack Trucks and Volvo Trucks
• Chassis Fabrication
• High Performance Powertrain
• Light-Duty Diesel
• Motorsport Chassis Fabrication
• Off-Road Power
• Street Rod & Custom Fabrication
• Trim & Upholstery Technology

Motorcycle & Marine Electives

• Advanced Marine
• Applied Service Management, or ASM, is the only class offered by WyoTech that results in an Associate's Degree when combined with an eligible core class
• Asian Motorcycles
• European Motorcycles
• Harley Davidson Motorcycles
• Off-Road Power

Legal Proceedings

WyoTech's parent company for the California campuses, Corinthian Colleges, is currently being sued by the state of California for "false and predatory advertising, intentional misrepresentations to students, securities fraud and unlawful use of military seals in advertisements." ^[16]

"According to (California Attorney General) Harris’ complaint, CCI’s predatory marketing efforts specifically target vulnerable, low-income job seekers and single parents who have annual incomes near the federal poverty line. In internal company documents obtained by the Department of Justice, CCI describes its target demographic as “isolated,” “impatient,” individuals with “low self-esteem,” who have “few people in their lives who care about them” and who are “stuck” and “unable to see and plan well for future.” It is alleged the schools targeted people meeting these targets through aggressive and persistent internet and telemarketing campaigns and through television ads on daytime shows like Jerry Springer and Maury Povich."[3]

In November 2013, Corinthian Colleges reported that they were under investigation by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.^[17]

In July 2014, Corinthian Colleges has agreed they will close or sell all their schools in the next few months.^[18] The U.S. Department of Education announced former U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, a well known corruption buster, will monitor the sale and closure of for-profit career colleges owned by the failing Corinthian Colleges.^[19]

On February 3, 2015 Corinthian sold 53 of its Everest and WyoTech campuses and online programs to the Zenith Education Group, a new subsidiary of the ECMC Group.^[20]

Notable alumni

• Jessi Combs – Metal Fabricator, TV Personality.^[21]

References

External links

• AG Complaint
• Complaints
• WyoTech Nation
• WyoTech Official Student Website
• WyoTech Facebook Page
• WyoTech Twitter Page
• Wyotech Alumni Association
• WTI Foundation

Colleges and universities in Wyoming Public institutions Casper Central Wyoming Eastern Wyoming College Laramie County CC Northwest College Sheridan Gillette University of Wyoming Western Wyoming CC Private institutions Wind River TC WyoTech Wyoming Catholic Frontier School of the Bible