CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies: Dedicated to Public Service and Social Justice

The CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies (SLU) is the newest in The City University of New York system and the only one dedicated explicitly to public service and social justice. The school’s mission derives from its core values: access to education, diversity at every level, social justice, and equality for all.

SLU is committed to improving the lives of working New Yorkers and educating students who aspire to careers in public service, social justice movements, and non-profits. They provide leadership development for labor and community activists. They have a long and rich history of association with the labor movement and community organizations in New York City. SLU serves workers, union members, adult learners, and traditional-age students seeking to start, advance, or change careers, improve their economic well-being, and make a difference in their communities.

Conveniently located in the heart of Manhattan, SLU offers a small-college learning environment with the resources of the largest public university in the country. Evening classes allow working adults to pursue their education and small class sizes promote individualized attention. SLU also provides a wide network of personalized student services and generous financial support, including a unique scholarship program focused on building diverse leadership within the labor movement.

SLU’s student body is comprised of passionate individuals, many seeking to learn more about the impact of government policies confronting working-class and disadvantaged populations. The faculty includes both academics and activists: renowned scholars in the social sciences as well as distinguished and experienced professionals from a variety of fields, including labor, government, non-profit and public service.

Offering the only interdisciplinary curriculum in labor and urban studies in the nation, SLU awards undergraduate and graduate degrees and credit-bearing certificates that provide a direct pathway to degree programs. The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of both working adults and traditional-age college students. SLU also collaborates with other CUNY schools to offer a range of college-credit programs that give workers the academic and technical skills they need for professional advancement. In addition, the school provides unique experiential learning opportunities involving the practical application of skills in organizational and community settings.

SLU sponsors academic research, organizes forums and conferences, and publishes a national journal. The school also has a reputation for serving as a community hub for public programs and civic participation, as well as discourse and debate among scholars, policy-makers, organized labor, and allied organizations on a broad range of topics in support of economic and social justice.

With its focus on workers’ rights, social change, and economic justice, SLU is a place where thinkers and doers come together to create change.

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