Two major labor movement summer schools will be held at SLU in summer 2026 — one as a new permanent program and the other as a cyclical hosting event.
From June 21–26, SLU will host the Strategic Corporate Research (SCR) Summer School, a longstanding program of Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) and the AFL-CIO. The 2026 session marks the permanent transfer of the program to SLU.
One month later, from July 20–24, SLU will host the United Association for Labor Education (UALE) Summer School for Women. The program rotates annually among host schools in the Northeast (Cornell, UMass Amherst, Rutgers, Penn State and CUNY SLU). SLU’s turn this summer is the school’s 49th edition.
Stephanie Luce, chair of SLU’s Labor Studies department, will serve as director of the new SCR program. “The summer school offers an intensive week of training by top-notch union researchers,” Luce said.
The weeklong program will enroll approximately 60 students who are selected through a competitive application process. Applications will be available via a link on the SLU website in January, Luce said.
The SCR Summer School has been led for many years by Kate Bronfenbrenner, director of Labor Education Research at Cornell’s ILR School, who is retiring. “It’s an honor to be selected to take over the legacy of the school,” Luce said.
The UALE summer school is being organized by Maureen LaMar, SLU’s director of institutional and academic partnerships, alongside SLU librarian Aliqae Geraci, who is the elected secretary of UALE.
“New York City is the biggest draw among UALE locations,” LaMar said, adding that approximately 150 women are expected to attend. Participants are sponsored by their unions.
“Women+ gather to learn the skills and knowledge needed to play leadership or active roles in their unions and organizations. One of the most important aspects of the experience is getting to network with others from around the region,” she said.
For both summer schools, participants will have the option to stay in City College dormitories in Hamilton Heights.