School for Workers is the original university-based labor education program in the United States. Starting in 1925 as one of the first operational components of the Wisconsin Idea, the school has a long tradition of evolving alongside the current needs of working people, labor organizations, and community partners. Today, the tradition continues, as School for Workers carries our mission forward throughout Wisconsin and beyond.
Spring institutes
Registration now open!
Spring 2025 institutes
Time Study
Mar 03 – 07 | Register by: Feb 2
Leadership for Impact
Mar 17 – 19 | Register by: Feb 16
Grievance Arbitration
Apr 14 – 18 | Register by: Mar 13
Labor and Employment Law
Apr 06 – 26 | Register by: Mar 31
Help us celebrate 100 years!
Share your stories, experiences, and memories with us
As we approach our 100th anniversary, we’re reflecting on a century of impact, growth, and transformations. To honor this incredible milestone, we invite you to share your stories, experiences, and memories with us. Whether you’ve been a part of our organization as a student, partner, or supporter, your reflections will help us capture the essence of what has made School for Workers special for the past 100 years.
How to contribute
Upload your stories, photos, and any other materials by clicking the button below. Thank you for being part of our legacy. We can’t wait to celebrate 100 years with you!
Labor Forward
Jan 15, 2025 @ 12:00 p.m. (CT)
with guest Dr. Carolina S. Sarmiento
Join us on the third Wednesday of every month at noon (CT) for the Labor Forward forum. At the forum, School for Workers faculty interview advocates of the labor/worker movement to highlight their important work, celebrate their progress, and learn from their unique experiences. This month, Professor Armando Ibarra will speak with Dr. Carolina S. Sarmiento, Associate Professor of Civil Society & Community Studies and School for Workers affiliate faculty member, about Latinx Labor and Action Research. The forum is free and pre-registration is required to receive the webinar link.
School for Workers news
Our news
Registration now open for spring 2025 institutes
School for Workers institutes are high-quality, noncredit courses taught by university faculty in Madison or online. The spring 2025 institute offerings has something for everyone, with residential and online learning opportunities. Registration for the institutes …
December 30, 2024Professor Childers named Faculty in Residence for UW in Florence program
Professor Michael Childers was recently selected for the prestigious Faculty in Residence position with the University of Wisconsin in Florence program. This program, offered by the UW–Madison International Academic Program, focuses on European and Italian …
November 26, 2024Dr. Loustaunau guest lecturer for lunchtime series Nov 19
Join us for Assistant Professor Loustaunau‘s lecture examining the ongoing connection between productive and reproductive labor, as well as how vulnerable migrant workers are organizing against poverty and precarity. November 19, 2024 @ 11:45 am …
November 13, 2024- More School for Workers news
In the news
As we move to 2025, let’s look at the numbers
70: The estimated percentage of the labor on Wisconsin dairy farms performed by undocumented workers, according to a 2023 survey by the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School for Workers. Some sources say it could be as …
January 2, 2025Trump’s mass deportation would hurt everyone, not just undocumented workers, Prof says
“What you have here is almost an open secret that everybody knows,” he said, “including industry owners, that they have large percentages of undocumented workers.”
December 20, 2024- More articles and interviews
National Labor College Legacy Institute
School for Workers is proud to be recognized as a National Labor College (NLC) Legacy Institute. As a Legacy Institute, the Board of Trustees of NLC recommends School for Workers to all members of the labor movement as an institute where they can access high-quality labor education offerings.