The National Labor College celebrated its 16^th annual commencement on Saturday, April 26, and conducted the closing convocation for the College. This was the largest graduating class the College has ever known, with 210 students completing their degrees during the 2013-14 academic year. Almost 100 of these graduates and about 500 of their families and closest friends attended the ceremony in person, and enjoyed a gloriously beautiful day on campus. On April 26, we also had a very moving Workers Memorial Day ceremony where we inducted 16 bricks honoring fallen workers.

The academic program of the College is now closed, and the operations of the College will be winding down during May and June. Further, it is anticipated that the property that the College campus sits on will be sold by the end of July to the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), so the beautiful property will stay in the labor family, which is wonderful. The Workers Memorial will also stay on the property, as ATU has agreed to serve as the host for the memorial, and everyone at the ceremony on April 26 was very pleased that the memorial did not have to be moved. We will all still be able to visit a place that has meant so much to so many over the decades.

Although no longer offering an academic program, National Labor College will remain as a fully accredited college for the next 18 months while approximately 200 students with approved degree plans will be taking courses at other institutions and transferring them back to National Labor College to complete their NLC degrees.

This “chapter” in NCL’s history is called the “teach-out” and most of the students will take online courses at either Empire State College (in Saratoga Springs, New York) or Penn State University, with a few students going to local community colleges.

Registrar Jeff Bria and President Paula Peinovich will be available to students throughout the teach-out to answer questions and assist with any issues that may emerge. During May and June, they are available through the current NLC email channels. Information about how to communicate with them will be placed on the website the end of June.

A copy of the transcript for each and every student will go to the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) where students will be able to request an official transcript in perpetuity. Information about how to order transcripts from MHEC will be placed on the website at the end of June. Until then, students may request transcripts from the College, as usual, by clicking on “Current Students” and then clicking on “Transcript Request” in the drop down box.

Questions about the closing of National Labor College should be directed to Paula Peinovich, 301-431-5400 or [email protected].