Universal Technical Institute, Inc. CEO Jerome Grant Testifies Before House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity

Rhea-AI Summary

Universal Technical Institute (NYSE:UTI) CEO Jerome Grant testified before the U.S. House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity on Dec. 2, 2025, urging passage of HR 1458, the VETS Opportunity Act. He said the bill would modernize the GI Bill to allow veterans to use benefits for accredited hybrid and flexible certificate and diploma programs.

The company highlighted education of more than 3,300 veterans and military-affiliated students across its UTI and Concorde Career Colleges divisions and cited partnerships with DoD SkillBridge, USO, and Hiring Our Heroes.

Insights

Policy & Education Strategy Analyst

UTI's advocacy for HR 1458 seeks to expand GI Bill access to hybrid certificate programs, which could increase veteran enrollment and program demand.

Universal Technical Institute, Inc. positions itself to benefit if HR 1458, the VETS Opportunity Act, modernizes the GI Bill to cover accredited hybrid and flexible certificate and diploma programs. The company already serves more than 3,300 veterans and military‑affiliated students across its two divisions and operates Department of Defense SkillBridge programs on base at Fort Bliss, Fort Bragg and Camp Pendleton.

The outcome depends squarely on congressional action to pass the bill and on implementation details if enacted; those are the key dependencies and risks. Watch for legislative movement on HR 1458 and any Department of Veterans Affairs rules that define eligible program types and accreditation; these items will determine near‑term enrollment effects and partnership opportunities within the next congressional cycle.

Mr. Grant urged passage of Veterans Education and Technology Skills (VETS) Opportunity Act.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Technical Institute, Inc. CEO Jerome Grant today delivered expert testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. Mr. Grant urged passage of HR 1458, the Veterans Education and Technology Skills (VETS) Opportunity Act, which would modernize the GI Bill to allow veterans to use their benefits for accredited hybrid and flexible certificate and diploma programs.

"Universal Technical Institute, Inc. is privileged to serve those who have served our nation, and we stand ready to work with Congress to expand opportunity and strengthen outcomes for America's veterans. The VETS Opportunity Act would expand opportunities in fields where demand is high, wages are strong and veterans thrive. It would reduce underemployment, strengthen our workforce and allow more veterans to pursue careers in the skilled trades and healthcare—sectors where shortages are persistent and nationally significant," said Mr. Grant.

Universal Technical Institute, Inc. has a long history of helping those who've served the U.S. with their transition to civilian life. Across the company's two divisions—Universal Technical Institute (UTI), which offers transportation, skilled trades, electrical and energy education programs; and Concorde Career Colleges, which specializes in the dental, nursing, diagnostic and allied health professions—the company educates more than 3,300 veterans and military-affiliated students and supports them with military scholarships, Salute to Service tuition reductions, dedicated admissions and financial aid counselors, career coaching and recognition ceremonies.

In addition, the company is a proud partner with the Department of Defense's SkillBridge program, through which the UTI division operates on-base programs for service members and their families at Fort Bliss, Fort Bragg and Camp Pendleton. The company also works with the United Service Organizations (USO) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Hiring Our Heroes initiative to offer transition workshops, career coaching and direct connections with employers.

"At a moment when many white-collar entry-level markets are tightening, the skilled trades and healthcare fields are wide open. Veterans deserve to walk through those open doors," said Mr. Grant. "Passing the VETS Opportunity Act is one of the most important steps Congress can take to ensure veterans have access to the jobs of today and the careers of tomorrow."

"America cannot remain competitive without a strong technical workforce. Our company is ready to grow, innovate and partner even more aggressively to address America's skilled labor shortage and ensure employers have the talent they need to power the next century of American manufacturing."

Mr. Grant's full testimony is available here. For more information about Universal Technical Institute, Inc., visit investor.uti.edu.

About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.
Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) was founded in 1965 and is a leading workforce solutions provider serving students, partners and communities nationwide. The company offers high-quality education and support services for in-demand careers via its two divisions: UTI and Concorde Career Colleges. The UTI division operates 15 campuses located in nine states, with more announced, and offers a wide range of transportation, skilled trades, electrical and energy training programs. Concorde operates across 17 campuses in eight states and online, with more announced, offering programs in the allied health, dental, nursing, patient care and diagnostic fields. For more information, visit www.uti.edu or www.concorde.edu; LinkedIn at @UniversalTechnicalInstitute and @Concorde Career Colleges; or X at @news_UTI and @ConcordeCareer.

Media Contact:
Susan Aspey
saspey@uti.edu

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SOURCE Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

FAQ

What did UTI CEO Jerome Grant tell Congress on Dec. 2, 2025 about HR 1458?

He urged passage of HR 1458 (VETS Opportunity Act) to allow veterans to use GI Bill benefits for accredited hybrid and flexible certificate and diploma programs.

How many veterans does Universal Technical Institute (UTI) educate as of Dec. 2, 2025?

The company educates more than 3,300 veterans and military-affiliated students across its UTI and Concorde Career Colleges divisions.

What workforce programs did UTI mention in Jerome Grant's Dec. 2, 2025 testimony?

UTI highlighted partnerships with DoD SkillBridge (on-base programs at Fort Bliss, Fort Bragg, Camp Pendleton), the USO, and Hiring Our Heroes for transition workshops and employer connections.

What industries did UTI say would benefit from the VETS Opportunity Act in the Dec. 2, 2025 testimony?

The testimony cited skilled trades, transportation, electrical and energy programs and healthcare professions as fields where veterans could pursue careers.

Where can investors find Jerome Grant's full testimony and more information about UTI?

The company noted Jerome Grant's full testimony is available online and directed readers to the investor.uti.edu website for more information.