Academic Partnerships

Although NLC is the only institution of higher learning that focuses exclusively on the higher education for labor union leaders and members, a number of other colleges offer outstanding programs in labor studies.  The NLC has formed partnerships with many of these institutions to offer students the option of enrolling in these programs while accumulating credits towards a bachelor's degree from the NLC. 

• California State University, Dominquez Hills
• Cornell University, ILR School - The Worker Institute
• Florida International University
• Harvard Trade Union Program
• Michigan State University
• University of Illinois
• University of Wisconsin - Extension, School for Workers
• Wayne State University

In most cases, students who are jointly enrolled can apply up to 15 credits from these partnership programs toward the requirements in their major for a BA or BS from the NLC.  Students must successfully complete NLC's core curriculum and meet all other requirements to earn their degrees.  A $65 per credit joint enrollment fee is associated with applying partner credits toward the NLC degree.

For more information about joint enrollment in these programs or the addition of other academic partners, please contact Carol Rodgers at crodgers@nlc.edu.

Community College Articulation Agreements

The College has a number of agreements with community colleges in order to facilitate the transfer of credits.  The following is a list of institutions with which the NLC has active articulation agreements:

• City Colleges of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
• College of Menominee Nation (Keshena, WI)
• Community College of Allegheny County (Pittsburgh, PA))
• Community College of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA)
• Community College of Rhode Island (Warwick, RI)
• Ivy Tech Community College (Indianapolis, IN)
• Los Angeles Trade Technical College (Los Angeles, CA)
• Montgomery College (Rockville, MD)
• Owens Community College (Toledo, OH)
• Prince George's Community College (Largo, MD)
• South Seattle Community College (Seattle, WA)
• The Community College of Baltimore County (Baltimore, MD)
• Washtenaw Community College (Ann Arbor, MI)

University of Illinois Partnership

Working within the Institute for Labor and Industrial Relations, at the University of Illinois, the Labor Education Program (LEP) is celebrating its 61st year of service to the state's labor movement.  With offices, faculty, clerical and technical staff, and teaching facilities in Chicago and Urbana-Champaign, LEP is the only state wide labor education program, serving over 2,000 union members annually.  This year's schedule of programs and special events continues the tradition of high quality education that trade union members and working people from around the state have come to expect from our faculty.

Along with continuing the partnership with the NLC, during the 2007-08 program year, LEP will launch two major curriculum initiatives.  This fall semester, LEP has begun the Hispanic Union Workers School to enhance labor education training to Spanish-Language trade unionists. Also, in the spring semester, LEP will, for the first time, offer college-credit courses in labor studies online.  The online credit classes are available to union members who are not currently enrolled at the university.  In addition to reaching previously underserved union populations, these two breakthrough programs will help preserve LEP's well-earned reputation as a first-rate educational partner for Illinois union members.

Click here to go to the University of Illinois website

Union Partners

Many unions have established their own training programs that have been assessed for college credit; by partnering with the NLC, participating members can complete credits toward the requirements in their majors for a bachelor's degree at the NLC.  Students must ensure that union transcripts are sent to the NLC from their union education department.  Students must successfully complete NLC's core curriculum and meet all other requirements to earn their degrees, and a $65 per credit joint enrollment fee is associated with applying partner credits toward the NLC degree.  The following is a list of labor organizations that have had their training programs assessed for credit:

• American Federation of Government Employees
• American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees
• American Federation of Teachers
• Association of Flight Attendants - Communications Workers of America
• California School Employees Association
• Center to Protect Workers' Rights
• Finishing Trades Institute
• International Association of Bridges, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers
• International Association of Fire Fighters
• International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
• International Training Institute
• International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
• Labor Assistance Professionals
• Laborers International Union of North America
• National Air Traffic Controllers Association
• Sheet Metal Workers International Association
• United Auto Workers