Rowan University and Union Plus announced a major national partnership designed to expand access to affordable, flexible higher education opportunities for approximately 15 million union members and their families across the United States.
The official agreement connects Union Plus participants with Rowan Online’s catalog of more than 65 degree, certificate, and professional development programs. By creating new academic pathways tailored for working adults, the initiative allows labor union members to advance their education while balancing professional and family commitments.
During a ceremonial signing attended by Rowan and Union Plus representatives alongside state and national leaders, lawmakers and labor advocates praised the initiative as a transformative model for the nation’s workforce.
U.S. Representative Donald Norcross (NJ-01), a longtime advocate for organized labor, emphasized the crucial role of skilled trades and adaptable skill sets in an increasingly automated economy.
“Traditional white-collar jobs are changing, and we know the challenges posed by AI,” Norcross said. “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.”
Founded by the AFL-CIO in 1986, Union Plus serves as the official consumer benefits organization for union families. This collaboration represents Rowan’s largest labor-affiliated agreement to date, broadening the university’s reach to dozens of national labor organizations.
“This partnership signals where higher education is headed: education is flexible, lifelong and built around the people it serves,” Michael Roark, chief transformation officer and CEO for Rowan Online, said. “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.”
Flexible pathways for working families
Under the agreement, eligible union members and their families can enroll in online undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs. Program offerings cover a wide range of industries, including:
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Construction Management: Featuring a Bachelor of Arts in Construction Management and stackable certificates.
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High-Demand Disciplines: Offerings across engineering, business, education, healthcare, technology, and organizational leadership.
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Prior Learning Recognition: Pathways that translate registered apprenticeship training and professional workforce experience into academic college credits.
“Union members have always invested in their futures through training, education and lifelong skill development,” Mitch Stevens, president of Union Plus, said. “Our partnership with Rowan University expands access to flexible online learning opportunities that fit the realities of working families’ lives.”
Rowan Chancellor Tony Lowman noted that modern educational models must accommodate non-traditional paths. “For today’s students, it’s not a matter of choosing a trade or college. Programs like this make both possible,” Lowman said. “At Rowan, we believe education should fit the needs of your life and give students the opportunity to thrive on their own terms.”
Building sustainable talent pipelines
State officials also highlighted how higher education and labor collaborations address broader economic goals. Yolanda Allen, assistant commissioner of workforce development at the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development, underscored the need for long-term career support.
“Our goal must be more than just filling today’s job openings,” Allen noted. “We need sustainable talent pipelines that adapt to changing economic conditions and support workers throughout their careers.”
The partnership follows a recent national agreement between Rowan and the International Training Institute to expand degree pathways for members of the SMART union. Highlighting Rowan’s growing role in labor education, Tom Kriger, director of education and research at North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), remarked: “I think Rowan is making a serious run to be the national labor college today.”
