National Labor College

National Labor College was a private college that focused on the needs of AFL-CIO members and other trade union leaders, offering programs in labor studies, industrial relations, and related fields, with notable alumni including Richard Trumka, John Sweeney, and Linda Chavez-Thompson. The college was established in 1969, with support from the AFL-CIO, the United Auto Workers, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and other major labor unions, such as the Service Employees International Union and the United Steelworkers. The college's mission was to provide educational opportunities for working-class students, with a focus on social justice, workers' rights, and community organizing, similar to the New York City Labor Council and the California Labor Federation. The college's programs were designed to prepare students for leadership roles in the labor movement, with courses taught by faculty members from institutions such as Harvard University, University of California, Berkeley, and Cornell University.

● History

The college's history dates back to the late 1960s, when the AFL-CIO recognized the need for a college that would serve the educational needs of labor union members and leaders, with input from George Meany, Walter Reuther, and other prominent labor leaders, such as Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. The college was established in 1969, with an initial class of students from the United Mine Workers of America, the International Union of Electrical Workers, and other labor unions, including the National Education Association and the American Nurses Association. Over the years, the college expanded its programs to include courses in labor history, collective bargaining, and workers' compensation, with guest lectures from experts such as Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, and Barbara Ehrenreich. The college also established partnerships with other institutions, such as the University of Michigan, University of Illinois, and Rutgers University, to offer joint degree programs and research opportunities, including collaborations with the Economic Policy Institute and the Center for American Progress.

● Campus

The college's campus was located in Silver Spring, Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C., with facilities that included a library, a student union, and a number of academic buildings, similar to those found at Georgetown University and American University. The campus was also home to the George Meany Center for Labor Studies, which housed a number of research centers and institutes focused on labor issues, including the Institute for Labor and Employment and the Center for Labor Research and Education. The college's campus was designed to be accessible to working-class students, with a range of support services and resources available, including the AFL-CIO's Center for Working-Class Studies and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The college also offered a number of student organizations and activities, including the Labor Student Association and the Workers' Rights Club, which were affiliated with the Student Labor Action Project and the United Students Against Sweatshops.

● Academics

The college offered a range of academic programs, including associate's and bachelor's degrees in labor studies, business administration, and public policy, with courses taught by faculty members from institutions such as Yale University, University of Chicago, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The college's programs were designed to be flexible and accessible to working-class students, with a range of online and distance learning options available, similar to those offered by Western Governors University and University of Maryland University College. The college also offered a number of certificate programs and professional development courses, including programs in labor law, collective bargaining, and workers' compensation, which were accredited by the American Bar Association and the National Association of Social Workers. The college's academic programs were recognized for their quality and relevance to the labor movement, with accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

● Closure

In 2014, the college announced that it would be closing its doors due to financial difficulties, with a final commencement ceremony held in 2014, attended by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and other labor leaders, including Mary Kay Henry and Lee Saunders. The college's closure was a significant loss for the labor movement, as it had provided a unique and important educational resource for working-class students and labor union leaders, with many alumni going on to work for organizations such as the National Labor Relations Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the Department of Labor. The college's legacy continues to be felt, with many of its programs and initiatives being carried on by other institutions, such as the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the City University of New York, and its alumni continuing to play important roles in the labor movement, including Randi Weingarten, Liz Shuler, and Tefere Gebre. Category:Defunct universities and colleges in the United States