Institute for the Study of Labor in Society (ISLS) supports interdisciplinary research and offers technical service on labor policy and strategy issues. Serving as a resource center and clearinghouse on unions and the economic and social context of work, ISLS examines a wide perspective of labor issues, including economic policy, market research, public opinion, and worker education programs.

Labor Education Advisory Committees, established on all DLS campuses, consist of union and community leaders who advise the DLS on credit and noncredit programming needs. A statewide advisory committee consisting of key labor leaders across Indiana assists the DLS in shaping its long-term plans.

The Labor History Map of Indianapolis, produced by the DLS in cooperation with the Central Indiana Labor Council, highlights the contributions, experiences, and struggles of working people in the Indianapolis community.

Labor in the Schools teaches elementary and high school students the importance of labor unions. Funded by donations and coordinated on the South Bend campus, the program sends volunteer speakers across northern Indiana to address the historical and current struggles to achieve justice for working people.

The Labor Law Conference is a statewide, daylong event held annually in autumn in Indianapolis. In addition to featuring nationally known keynote speakers, workshops address the everyday practical needs to defend workers' rights on the job.

The Midwest School for Women Workers gathers women from five Midwestern states for a weeklong conference. This event is sponsored by the United Association for Labor Education, the AFL-CIO, and the Coalition for Labor Union Women. It is held in a different location in the Midwest each summer.

The Organize Indiana Project (OIP) provides education, support services, and resources for unions to achieve increased success in organizing drives, first contract campaigns, and other areas related to union organizing. The OIP website, www.organizeindiana.org, was developed by the DLS and rank-and-file organizers and is the "go-to" site for organizing needs.

Paid Education Leave (PEL) provides members of the United Automobile Workers in Indiana and Kentucky with an intensive, weeklong labor studies program focused on the dynamic auto industry. This General Motors/UAW-sponsored school is held 19 weeks a year.

Swingshift College provides shift workers and nontraditional students with flexible course schedules and extensive student support services, which include videotaped courses and tutoring. Initiated in 1993 in response to the educational benefits provided to steelworkers, Swingshift College is offered through the DLS at IU Northwest in Gary in cooperation with the Institute for Career Development. It has expanded to include all students who need a student-centered program that combines academic excellence with life lessons.

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