National Labor College
Encyclopedia
The National Labor College is the only accredited higher education institution in the United States devoted exclusively to educating union members, leaders and staff. It was established as a training center by the AFL-CIO
in 1969 to strengthen union member education and organizing skills. The NLC became a degree-granting college in 1997 and in March 2004 gained accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Since its founding, more than 200,000 union officers and members have taken one or more of its courses; over 1,100 BA degrees in labor studies have been granted.
originally existed as an independent organization to promote labor colleges and other worker trainings. The organization later became part of the AFL as the Education Department. In turn, the George Meany
Center for Labor Studies replaced the Education Department in 1969, with an undergraduate program initially sponsored in conjunction with Antioch College
.
On November 6, 1974, AFL-CIO President George Meany dedicated the current facility located on the former campus of Xaverian College. The property was purchased from the Xaverian Brothers
by the AFL-CIO for $2.5 million in 1971. At the dedication, Mr. Meany remarked that the purpose of the institution was to help union officials "make a better contribution to our people and to our nation." The program became an independent undergraduate institution and was named the National Labor College in 1999, and by 2004 had become fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
, and the Meany Center officially renamed the National Labor College (George Meany Campus).
In the fall of 2006 the new Lane Kirkland
Center opened on the National Labor College campus, to provide upgraded facilities, and to greatly expand the College's hosting capabilities. The College hopes to promote the Kirkland Center as "America's union hall".
The National Labor College published Labor's Heritage
, a scholarly journal of labor history, until 2002.
In 2009, the College entered into a partnership with Penn Foster Education, a career college subsidiary of the Princeton Review. in order to develop a distance education program. The program was ended by the college in November, 2011, because of the slow growth of the program and the financial difficulties of the Princeton Review. The college intends to use the facilities developed under this program to build its own program of distance education.
.
The Bachelor of Arts in Labor Studies programs are conducted in partnership with many individual unions, many of which – particularly in the building trades – have their own apprenticeship
programs which are recognized as conferring the equivalent of an Associate's degree. The National Labor College is also home to several HAZMAT
and related training programs sponsored by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
(NIEHS).
The National Labor College also offers three completely online degree programs: a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, a Bachelor of Arts in Construction Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Readiness and Response Management. These three programs are offered through the National Labor College's School of Professional Studies.
in the 1880s, the archives of numerous union and federation publications, and the records of the departments of the AFL-CIO. The Archives contains voluminous correspondence relating to past AFL-CIO international activities the Cold War
which remain classified
by most national governments.
” erected on campus to honor the memory of workers killed or fatally injured on the job, or in service to the labor movement.
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
in 1969 to strengthen union member education and organizing skills. The NLC became a degree-granting college in 1997 and in March 2004 gained accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Since its founding, more than 200,000 union officers and members have taken one or more of its courses; over 1,100 BA degrees in labor studies have been granted.
History
The Workers' Education Bureau of AmericaWorkers' Education Bureau of America
Workers' Education Bureau of America was an organization established to assist labor colleges and other worker training centers involved in the American labor movement....
originally existed as an independent organization to promote labor colleges and other worker trainings. The organization later became part of the AFL as the Education Department. In turn, the George Meany
George Meany
William George Meany led labor union federations in the United States. As an officer of the American Federation of Labor, he represented the AFL on the National War Labor Board during World War II....
Center for Labor Studies replaced the Education Department in 1969, with an undergraduate program initially sponsored in conjunction with Antioch College
Antioch College
Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...
.
On November 6, 1974, AFL-CIO President George Meany dedicated the current facility located on the former campus of Xaverian College. The property was purchased from the Xaverian Brothers
Xaverian Brothers
The Xaverian Brothers or Congregation of St. Francis Xavier are a religious order founded by Theodore James Ryken in Bruges, Belgium in 1839 and named after Saint Francis Xavier...
by the AFL-CIO for $2.5 million in 1971. At the dedication, Mr. Meany remarked that the purpose of the institution was to help union officials "make a better contribution to our people and to our nation." The program became an independent undergraduate institution and was named the National Labor College in 1999, and by 2004 had become fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools is a voluntary, peer-based, non-profit association dedicated to educational excellence and improvement through peer evaluation and accreditation...
, and the Meany Center officially renamed the National Labor College (George Meany Campus).
In the fall of 2006 the new Lane Kirkland
Lane Kirkland
Joseph Lane Kirkland was a US labor union leader who served as President of the AFL-CIO for over sixteen years.-Biography:...
Center opened on the National Labor College campus, to provide upgraded facilities, and to greatly expand the College's hosting capabilities. The College hopes to promote the Kirkland Center as "America's union hall".
The National Labor College published Labor's Heritage
Labor's Heritage
Labor's Heritage was a journal which published articles regarding the history of the labor movement in the United States.The journal published articles which are scholarly in quality but written for more of a mass audience...
, a scholarly journal of labor history, until 2002.
In 2009, the College entered into a partnership with Penn Foster Education, a career college subsidiary of the Princeton Review. in order to develop a distance education program. The program was ended by the college in November, 2011, because of the slow growth of the program and the financial difficulties of the Princeton Review. The college intends to use the facilities developed under this program to build its own program of distance education.
Programs
The undergraduate programs of the National Labor College are designed to serve as finishing programs, primarily for those who have already had two years or more of college, or the equivalent of an Associate's degreeAssociate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
.
The Bachelor of Arts in Labor Studies programs are conducted in partnership with many individual unions, many of which – particularly in the building trades – have their own apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
programs which are recognized as conferring the equivalent of an Associate's degree. The National Labor College is also home to several HAZMAT
Hazmat
Hazmat, HazMat and similar terms can refer to:* Hazardous materials and items—see Dangerous goods** Hazchem—a system of hazardous chemical classification and firefighting modes** A hazmat suit is a type of protective clothing...
and related training programs sponsored by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. It was created by Congress of the United States under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed by President Richard M. Nixon, on December 29, 1970...
(OSHA) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is a part of the National Institutes of Health , which is in turn a part of the Department of Health and Human Services ....
(NIEHS).
The National Labor College also offers three completely online degree programs: a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, a Bachelor of Arts in Construction Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Readiness and Response Management. These three programs are offered through the National Labor College's School of Professional Studies.
Facilities
With a 47 acres (190,202.4 m²) campus located in Silver Spring, Maryland, a new 72000 square feet (6,689 m²) state- of-the-art academic and conference center, and hotel quality residence halls, the College provides classroom, meeting spaces and dining services.George Meany Memorial Archives
The college is home to the George Meany Memorial Archives, the official and acting archives of the AFL-CIO, established in 1987 and also housing the AFL-CIO Library since 1993. The Archives include the papers of numerous labor leaders, the official records of all AFL-CIO proceedings since the founding of the AFLAmerican Federation of Labor
The American Federation of Labor was one of the first federations of labor unions in the United States. It was founded in 1886 by an alliance of craft unions disaffected from the Knights of Labor, a national labor association. Samuel Gompers was elected president of the Federation at its...
in the 1880s, the archives of numerous union and federation publications, and the records of the departments of the AFL-CIO. The Archives contains voluminous correspondence relating to past AFL-CIO international activities the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
which remain classified
Classified information
Classified information is sensitive information to which access is restricted by law or regulation to particular groups of persons. A formal security clearance is required to handle classified documents or access classified data. The clearance process requires a satisfactory background investigation...
by most national governments.
National Workers memorial
The NLC is the home of the ”National Workers MemorialNational Workers Memorial
The National Workers Memorial is erected on the campus of the National Labor College to honor the memory of workers killed or fatally injured on the job, or in service to the labor movement.The memorial was dedicated on April 28, 2010....
” erected on campus to honor the memory of workers killed or fatally injured on the job, or in service to the labor movement.