Rowan University and North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) have deepened their collaboration to provide greater educational and career advancement opportunities for union tradespeople across the U.S. and Canada.
The partnership, formally established yesterday during a signing ceremony at Rowan’s Glassboro campus, designates the university as the new home of NABTU’s Building Trades Academy (BTA). The initiative offers union members access to professional development courses, certificates, and degree programs through Rowan Online, the university’s web-based education platform.
Through this collaboration, NABTU members can take non-credit professional development courses, earn stackable Certificates of Undergraduate Studies (CUGS), and pursue full degrees. Rowan is offering a special tuition rate for union-affiliated students and a range of educational programs tailored to the building trades, including:
- Three stackable undergraduate construction certificates
- Two graduate certificates in engineering management
- A Bachelor of Arts in Construction Management
- A Master of Engineering Management (MEM)
The stackable structure allows students to build upon completed coursework, applying earned credits toward higher-level programs.
Expanding Access to Education
Rowan Provost Tony Lowman emphasized that the partnership aligns with the university’s commitment to providing accessible, high-quality education while strengthening the workforce.
“We are providing more options,” Lowman said. “No longer will high school graduates have to choose between a college degree or a trade. You can have both.”
Associate Provost Lorraine Ricchezza noted that as the new headquarters for the BTA, Rowan will serve up to 3,000 union members annually. Additionally, grants of up to $7,200 are available for workers returning to school through the TradesFutures program.
NABTU President Sean McGarvey highlighted the long-term benefits of the initiative.
“This exciting partnership between Rowan University and NABTU will continue expanding career opportunities for hardworking unionized building trades members,” McGarvey said. “By providing access to professional development courses and education credits, we’ll keep empowering construction professionals to strengthen their skills, advance their careers, and achieve their academic goals—all while ensuring affordability and accessibility.”
A Legacy of Workforce Development
The Building Trades Academy, originally founded by the AFL-CIO at the now-closed National Labor College near Washington, D.C., has long served the professional development needs of organized labor. Rowan’s partnership with NABTU dates to 2014, when the university launched its BA in Construction Management in collaboration with the union.
The agreement builds on Rowan’s growing efforts to support trades professionals. Last year, the university signed education agreements with IBEW Local 102 in Parsippany and IBEW Local 98 in Philadelphia and further cementing its role as a key education partner for the building trades.
With this expanded initiative, Rowan and NABTU are providing tradespeople with the tools they need to enhance their skills, boost earning potential, and open doors to new career opportunities in an evolving industry.
