Rowan University partners with Union Plus to expand higher education access for millions of families

Rowan University and Union Plus have formed a national partnership that expands access to affordable, flexible higher education opportunities for approximately 15 million union members and their families across the United States.

The agreement, signed by Rowan and Union Plus representatives alongside New Jersey leaders, connects Union Plus participants with Rowan Online’s more than 65 degree, certificate and professional development programs and creates new pathways for working adults to advance their education while balancing work and family responsibilities. 

Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01), a longtime labor champion, called the partnership a model for the rest of the country and underscored the growing importance of skilled trades in an era of artificial intelligence. 

“Traditional white-collar jobs are changing, and we know the challenges posed by AI,” said Norcross. “But two groups are going to be able to make it in the next generation: unconventional problem solvers and skilled tradespeople. We want our kids to have educational opportunities right here that prepare them for those in-demand skills.”

Union Plus is the official consumer benefits organization founded by the AFL-CIO in 1986. The partnership represents Rowan’s largest labor-affiliated partnership to date, extending the University’s reach beyond individual union partnerships and reinforcing its commitment to making higher education more accessible for working families.

“This partnership signals where higher education is headed: education is flexible, lifelong and built around the people it serves,” said Michael J. Roark, chief transformation officer and chief executive officer for Rowan Online. “Together with Union Plus, we are connecting skilled work and academic advancement and proving that the most durable credentials are those that honor experience as much as coursework.”

The agreement extends to members of dozens of national labor organizations affiliated with Union Plus, creating educational pathways for workers across a wide range of industries and professions. Participants can pursue online undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs, including a Bachelor of Arts in Construction Management, stackable construction management certificates and programs in engineering, business, education, healthcare, technology and organizational leadership. 

“Union members have always invested in their futures through training, education and lifelong skill development,” said Mitch Stevens, president of Union Plus. “Our partnership with Rowan University expands access to flexible online learning opportunities that fit the realities of working families’ lives.”

This partnership builds on Rowan’s growing relationships across organized labor. Just a couple weeks earlier, Rowan announced a national agreement with the International Training Institute, expanding degree pathways for members of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) union. Through these partnerships, Rowan has developed pathways that recognize apprenticeship and workforce training for academic credit, helping skilled workers translate professional experience into progress toward a college credential. 

“For today’s students, it’s not a matter of choosing a trade or college. Programs like this make both possible,” said Rowan Chancellor Tony Lowman. “At Rowan, we believe education should fit the needs of your life and give students the opportunity to thrive on their own terms.”

Yolanda Allen, assistant commissioner of workforce development at the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development, highlighted the value of partnerships between higher education and labor organizations. 

“Our goal must be more than just filling today’s job openings,” said Allen. “We need sustainable talent pipelines that adapt to changing economic conditions and support workers throughout their careers.”

Closing the ceremony was Tom Kriger, director of education and research at North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), whose remarks drew enthusiastic applause from the audience.

“I think Rowan is making a serious run to be the national labor college today,” said Kriger. 

For more information about Rowan Online, visit www.rowan.edu/online. 

About Rowan Online

Rowan Online empowers learners throughout the region with high-quality, accessible and affordable online education backed by the innovation and forward-thinking of Rowan University. Rowan’s flexible online programs seamlessly connect students to award-winning faculty and industry leaders, comprehensive student support services and academic resources—no matter where they are.

In collaboration with Rowan’s nationally ranked colleges and schools, Rowan Online delivers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in high-demand, future-focused fields. Guided by employer insight and industry-driven curriculum, Rowan Online prepares students to excel in a rapidly evolving workforce and lead in their professions and communities.

About Union Plus

Union Plus, founded by the AFL-CIO in 1986, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Over the last four decades, Union Plus has used the collective buying power of America’s nearly 15 million union members to deliver top-quality benefits and services at competitive prices to working families. Programs include financial services, hardship help, and money-saving benefits, including exclusive everyday discounts on wireless service, travel, and more. 

Education programs include the Union Plus College Program, the Union Plus Scholarship Program, and the Union Plus Student Debt Navigator. The College Program offers exclusive tuition discounts, financial aid, and grants, providing union members and their families with the opportunity to earn affordable, online degrees and certificates. The Scholarship Program awards scholarships to students from union families based on outstanding academic achievement, personal character, financial need, and commitment to the values of organized labor.  The Student Debt Navigator is a tool that can help student loan borrowers lower monthly payments and navigate loan forgiveness programs.

Visit unionplus.org to explore Union Plus’s 30-plus benefits.