Labor Studies Program
Web site: www.iun.edu/~labornw
Telephone: (219) 980-6825
Administrative Officers
Ruth Needleman, Faculty Chair, Coordinator and Professor of Labor Studies
M. Thandabantu Iverson, Coordinator and AssistantProfessor of Labor Studies
Union Education Program
The Union Education Program (UEP) offers credit- free university-level programs for workers as members of and leaders in employee organizations throughout the state. IU Northwest's Division of Labor Studies develops programs with the assistance of the advisory committees.
Using resources at IU Northwest, as well as other public and private institutions in Lake and Porter Counties, the UEP is available on both an open and contracted basis.
The UEP offers a four-course sequence of classes that may be completed in one year for a special Union Achievement Certificate. These classes are recommended to union members who wish to pursue leadership roles in their unions.
Each person who successfully completes 150 classroom hours in the credit-free UEP will be awarded a Certificate of Recognition by Indiana University. Upon completion of 300 classroom hours in the UEP, the participant will be awarded a Certificate of Recognition and a plaque. Successfully completed courses can be repeated, but will count only once toward the Certificate of Recognition. There are no entrance requirements, exams, or grades.
Information concerning these programs can be obtained by contacting the Labor Studies Program on the campus of IU Northwest, 3400 Broadway, Gary, IN 46408, telephone: (219) 980-6825.
Among the noncredit programs offered are the following:
Collective Bargaining Grievance Handling Effective Leadership Labor Law
Preparation for Grievance Arbitration
Labor and Politics Workplace Health and Safety Workplace Discrimination
Specialized courses and conferences on topics such as labor and the economy, civil rights issues, workers' compensation, labor's legislative programs, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act are also available.
Labor Studies Certificate, Minor, and Degree Programs
Modern labor unions operate in an increasingly complex environment. Indiana University is among the first of the major universities to offer degree programs designed to meet the need for union leadership education as well as the need for a better understanding of the roles and mission of organized labor in contemporary society.
The Labor Studies Program provides three degree options: a Certificate in Labor Studies, an Associate of Science in Labor Studies, and a Bachelor of Science in Labor Studies. The curriculum is broadly interdisciplinary in nature. Special courses have been developed to provide background for more effective leadership at various levels of the labor movement. In addition, students are required to select courses from each of the three major areas of learning and are allowed to pursue numerous elective areas.
Currently, Labor Studies also offers a minor as well as graduate courses leading to a Postbaccalaureate Certificate in Labor Studies.
The Certificate in Labor Studies program is designed to provide an understanding of the role and mission of organized labor in contemporary society and to prepare individuals, if they are union members, to participate effectively in the affairs of their unions and to assume leadership roles within their unions. The Associate of Science in Labor Studies expands on the Certificate in Labor Studies program to provide a broader understanding and appreciation of economic, social, and political conditions in the labor movement and American society. The Bachelor of Science in Labor Studies expands still further the educational opportunities of both the certificate and associate degree programs. The bachelor's program provides traditional depth and breadth both in the area of labor studies and in the liberal arts. The Postbaccalaureate Certificate provides professional expertise and will count toward other graduate programs.
To facilitate degree completion, Labor Studies works in collaboration with the Swingshift College Program. Most required courses for the degrees can be taken through this customized program. Please see the information on the Swingshift College Program in this section.
Admission Requirements
The labor studies degree programs are open to all qualified high school graduates or individuals with the General Education Development (GED) certificate. In the absence of a high school diploma or the GED certificate, adults over 21 years of age may be given "provisional admission." After they have demonstrated their ability to pursue college-level course work by successfully completing 12 credit hours, they may apply for admission as regular students.
Admission Procedures
Students interested in applying for admission to any of the labor studies programs should submit the following information or documents:
- All applicants must complete the application form for admission to the Labor Studies Program.
- A $25.00 nonrefundable application fee must be paid to Indiana University if the applicant has not previously been admitted to Indiana University
- All applicants must submit a copy of their high school transcripts, if they have not been previously admitted to Indiana University. Students without a high school diploma must submit evidence of having the GED certificate. Applicants without a high school diploma or the GED certificate must submit a letter explaining how their previous experiences have prepared them to pursue a college-level degree program.
- Students who have previously attended college should direct the college or university to forward transcript(s) to the Labor Studies Program at IU Northwest. The student's transcripts will be evaluated to determine which courses are acceptable for the degree program in labor studies. A credit transfer report will be prepared by the IU Northwest admissions office and given to the student and the student's advisor. This report will be used in the development of the student's plan of study.
Courses completed at another college may be accepted for credit toward the degree programs in labor studies, provided that the course work was taken at an accredited institution and the grade received in the course was C or higher.
Students who have previously attended Indiana University should also ask the Indiana University registrar to forward their transcripts to the Labor Studies Program.
Academic Policies
Plan of Study
Each student who is accepted into the Labor Studies Program is assigned an advisor / counselor to assist in the development of a formal plan of study.
Students, in consultation with the advisor, are responsible for building a course of study leading to their degree objectives. The Labor Studies Program must approve changes in the student's plan of study.
Probation
Students who were given "provisional admission" to the Labor Studies Program are required to complete 12 credit hours of appropriate course work with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) to be eligible for admission as a regular student in good standing.
Enrolled students whose cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0 will be placed on probation until the cumulative grade point average is 2.0 or higher. If the student is unable to raise the cumulative grade point average above 2.0 after a probationary period of one year, the student's academic record will be reviewed by the Labor Studies Program to determine whether the student is eligible to continue in the degree program.
Graduation Requirements
To be eligible for graduation, students must complete the course work specified in their plans of study with an overall grade point average of 2.0 or higher. Students must receive a grade of C or higher in all courses used to fulfill course requirements in labor studies, as well as the three major areas of learning. Any course in which a student receives a grade of D+, D, or D— may only count as a general elective to fulfill elective hours required. Grades of F do not count toward any of the programs.
Counseling and Educational Assistance
Students who have been away from school for several years may want to seek special counseling and instruction to improve their reading, writing, and study skills. The Labor Studies Program and/or other counseling units on campus can refer those persons to appropriate programs designed to help students achieve maximum success in their efforts.
Financial Assistance
Several types of financial assistance are available to students in the Labor Studies Program:
- Eligible veterans can receive GI Bill assistance and
- should contact the Office of Veterans Affairs at IU
- Northwest for information on subsistence and
- tuition payments to which they may be entitled.
- Several unions have committed themselves to the continued education of their members and have established tuition refund or assistance programs. Union members should contact their representatives for more information.
- All labor studies students may be eligible for a variety of general and special scholarship and loan programs available to IU Northwest students. Information is available from the IU Northwest Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Labor studies majors may be eligible for limited financial aid through the 6787 Memorial Scholarship Fund. Information is available from the campus Labor Studies Program.
Other Methods for Seeking Credit Toward Labor Studies Degrees
Credit by Examination
A student may receive credit for certain courses by successful performance in College Board Achievement Tests, College Board Advanced Placement Tests, College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) examinations, or through academic departments. Contact the Continuing Studies office for additional information and appropriate referral.
Credit for Self-Acquired Competencies
The Labor Studies Program recognizes that individuals are involved in learning situations throughout their lives. Knowledge gained through on-the-job training programs, short courses in military or private industry, the Union Education Program, or other learning activities may be as important to the individual as the knowledge gained through formal classes on college campuses. As a part of the Labor Studies Degree Program, provisions exist to allow the awarding of academic credit for competencies acquired before the individual began an academic program. A maximum of 15 credit hours for self- acquired competencies may be approved for the Associate of Science degree program. A student must complete at least four (4) credit hours in labor studies courses and be a labor studies major before applying for credit for self-acquired competencies. A maximum of 30 credit hours of self-acquired competencies may be approved for the Bachelor of Science degree program. These maximums would not include credit earned by any of the credit-by-examination procedures.
Students who are interested in pursuing the self- acquired competencies credit option should discuss their background with the labor studies advisor. The advisor will explain the option and try to determine if the student has a legitimate basis for pursuing credit for self-acquired competencies.
Students who elect to apply for credit for their self- acquired competencies will be asked to submit a detailed narrative describing the competency or knowledge that they have acquired. This narrative would include any and all documentation necessary to support the student's request. The labor studies advisor would assist the student in preparing the narrative and developing the supporting documentation. Guide sheets for preparing the narrative and documentation will be made available through the Labor Studies Program.
After the narrative has been prepared, a faculty committee at IU Northwest or the Division of Labor Studies, depending on the subject matter, will review it. The committee will evaluate the information submitted and make a recommendation on the amount and type of credit to be awarded. The Self- Acquired Competencies Coordinating Committee will review the committee's recommendation.
When a final decision has been made concerning the amount and type of credit awarded for self-acquired competencies, the student will pay the prevailing percredit-hour tuition fee for self-acquired competency credits in-state or out-of-state students at any of the Indiana University campuses. The credit will be recorded on the student's transcript as self-acquired competency credit with a grade of S. Credit received in this manner cannot duplicate credit earned or granted in any other way.
Academic Requirements
Certificate in Labor Studies
The requirements for the Certificate in Labor Studies are as follows:
A minimum of 3 credit hours in two of the
required areas of learning and a minimum
of 6 credit hours in the third major area.............. 12 cr.
Required: one economics course or LSTU
L230 Labor and the Economy.
Recommended: one course in computer
science, taken through any academic
division, including Labor Studies.
Arts and humanities (3 cr.)
Social and behavioral sciences (3 cr.)
Science and mathematics (3 cr.)
Elective in any of the above areas (3 cr.)
A total of 18 credit hours from the labor studies course list; five must be core courses 18 cr.
Total credit hours required for the Certificate
in Labor Studies program......................................... 30 cr.
Minor in Labor Studies
For a minor in Labor Studies, a student must take 15 credits in the discipline. At least 6 credits must be taken in 300-400 level courses.
Associate of Science with a Major in Labor Studies
The requirements for the Associate of Science degree program with a major in labor studies are as follows:
Social and behavioral science......................................... 9 cr.
Arts and humanities........................................................ 12 cr.
Required: ENG W131 and one additional
writing course.
Science and mathematics............................................... 6 cr.
Required: one economics course or LSTU L230
Labor and the Economy. Recommended: one
course in computer science, taken through any
academic division, including Labor Studies.
Total credit hours required in the major areas
of learning....................................................................... 27 cr.
The credit hours required in each area must be
distributed over at least two subject fields
in each area. A minimum of 27 credit hours from the list of labor studies courses; five
must be core courses.
100- and 200-level courses are considered "core." LSTU L290, however, is not............................ 27 cr.
Electives in any area including labor studies 6 cr.
Total credit hours required for the degree
program...................................................... 60 cr.
Other requirements and limitations:
- A minimum of 12 credit hours of the required 60 credit hours must be taken within the Indiana University system.
- A minimum of 10 credit hours of course work accepted for the A.S. degree must be taken after the student has been admitted to Indiana University.
- No more than 15 credit hours can be taken within a single subject other than labor studies.
Bachelor of Science with a Major in Labor Studies
The requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree program with a major in labor studies are as follows:
Social and behavioral sciences....................................... 12 cr.
Arts and humanities......................................................... 12 cr.
Required: ENG W131 and one additional
writing course
Science and mathematics............................................... 15 cr.
Computer competency...................................................... 3 cr.
Economics............................................................................ 3 cr.
(LSTU L230 or any economics course.)
A minimum of 12 credit hours in one of the
above areas................................................................... 12 cr.
Total credit hours required in the major areas
of learning..................................................................... 39 cr.
The credit hours required in each of the above areas must be distributed over at least two of the subject fields in each area.
A minimum of 42 credit hours in labor studies
courses; five must be core courses.......................... 42 cr.
Electives, including additional labor studies
courses.......................................................................... 27 cr.
Total credit hours required for the degree
program................................................... 120 cr.
Other requirements and limitations:
- A minimum of 24 credit hours of the required 120 credit hours must be taken within the Indiana University system.
- A minimum of 20 credit hours of course work accepted for the B.S. degree must be taken after the student has been admitted to Indiana University.
- A minimum of 30 credit hours of the required 120 credit hours must be in 300-400 level courses, at least 12 of the 30 in labor studies.
- A maximum of 21 credit hours toward a major or
- concentration (other than the concentration in
- labor studies) will be accepted toward the B.S.
Swingshift College
Administrative Staff
Ruth Needleman, Chair
Charles Brooks, Instructional Coordinator Michael Olszanski, Administrative Assistant
Swingshift College is a program designed in cooperation with IU Northwest, the Division of Labor Studies, and the Institute for Career Development (ICD). The program specifically meets the needs of shift workers and adult learners by offering each course once a week and twice a day so students can attend whichever section suits their own work schedules. Classes are offered both off campus and on campus for added convenience and are videotaped or streamed for students who work double shifts or 12- hour shifts. Swingshift College offers students the opportunity to take an active role in their education by serving on committees, helping with the newsletter, and meeting with instructors.
Students taking Swingshift College courses can earn a certificate or an Associate Degree of Labor Studies or of General Studies and can complete many basic requirements for other major fields, including the bachelor's degree in labor studies or general studies.
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