May 09, 2022

Alliance Facilitates Partnership with Labor Movement, SUNY to Help Students with Family, Financial Obligations

Building on a mentorship program that the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) established with Aviation High School in Long Island City, New York, the Alliance has helped bring together the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and IAMAW in a partnership with the State University of New York (SUNY) that provides pre-enrollment credits toward a college degree for high school students. The credits are for extra classes taken in a high school aviation program.

The partnership will credit graduates from Aviation High School who earn their Federal Aviation Administration airframe or powerplant license with 28 to 29 college credits — roughly the equivalent of one year of college — toward a bachelor’s degree in transportation management or labor studies before they enroll in courses at SUNY Empire State College.

IAMAW officials have been working on the program with Aviation High School for two decades, and the Alliance facilitated discussions between AFT, UFT and SUNY officials to set a goal and execute a plan. The work culminated in Aviation High School and SUNY Empire State College representatives formally signing the new agreement on April 27.

“The Alliance is engaging with young people as well as seniors. The program helps students who have to take care of parents, grandparents or other family members during high school, so they are not left behind due to their caregiving responsibilities. It also helps students who have financial or other family obligations and may need to work,” said Robert Roach, Jr., President of the Alliance. “UFT members, who are affiliated with AFT, were key to obtaining this agreement. Their dedication and expertise led to this successful outcome. This is a program that could go nationwide if the results are what we believe we can achieve.”

More photos from the signing event can be viewed here. Visit the SUNY Empire State College website to learn more about this new and exciting program.