OPEIU is pleased to introduce the newest union benefit for all OPEIU members – the OPEIU Free College Benefit. Just as the name implies, OPEIU members and their families can now earn an associate degree completely free of charge.

With all the expenses working families have to deal with these days, it’s good to know that meeting the costs of rising tuition and textbooks doesn’t have to be one of them. If you have children graduating from high school and planning to attend college or you are looking for a way to advance your own career, the OPEIU Free College Benefit is here to help. Beginning this summer, every member or retired member, as well as spouses, children, grandchildren and dependents of OPEIU members, can earn a two-year degree online for free. You read that right – free college just for being an OPEIU member in good standing.

OPEIU has partnered with Eastern Gateway Community College to provide all members and their families access to their classes online. Eastern Gateway is an accredited, non-profit public institution with campuses serving eastern Ohio. But OPEIU members and their families can enroll in the distance learning program from anywhere in the country and earn a participating online associate degree and certificates with absolutely no out-of-pocket costs for tuition, fees or e-books.

For Fall 2017, students will have the opportunity to enroll in associate degree programs in general studies, healthcare, business management, criminal justice, paralegal and early childhood education. As demand increases, OPEIU will continue to look for additional programs to meet the needs of our members.

Eastern Gateway is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the largest of our country's regional accreditors. That fact should make the transfer of academic credit earned at Gateway to other accredited two-year or four-year institutions fairly straightforward.

The Fall 2017 semester begins August 21, with enrollment ending August 18. Complete information and enrollment details are available at FreeCollege.OPEIU.org or by calling 888-590-9009. This benefit is not currently available in Canada, but OPEIU has made arrangements to cover our Canadian members on a case-by-case basis. Canadian members, please contact Luis Rosa at lrosa@EGCC.edu for more information and to apply. Spaces are limited.

We encourage you to take advantage of this valuable new OPEIU membership benefit. It pays to belong to OPEIU!