The AFL-CIO has appointed William E. Scheuerman, the former president of United University Professions, as president of the National Labor College in Silver Spring, Md.

In Scheuerman's 14 years as president, UUP has grown from 21,000 to 33,000 members. UUP is NYSUT's affiliate for State University of New York professional staff and faculty.

"The National Labor College has come a long way in the last 10 years and we sought a presidential candidate who could continue our progress," said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. "In Bill Scheuerman we have a man of scholarly achievement and union integrity and leadership. I look forward to working closely with Bill as he takes the reins of this great institution of higher learning for working people — the college of the labor movement."

Founded by the AFL-CIO in 1969 as the George Meany Center for Labor Studies, it became the NLC in 1997, offering upper-level degree completion programs for union members seeking to finish their college education. The NLC offers a unique combination of online courses with a low-residence on-campus component.

"Bill Scheuerman brings to the Labor College the unique perspective of a scholar, author and union leader," said NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi. "It is this same perspective that helped him build UUP into the largest and one of the most respected higher education unions in the nation. On behalf of the NYSUT leadership, I wish him all the best and look forward to working with him in this new capacity."

Originally from Staten Island, Scheuerman has been involved in union leadership since 1978. Before winning election as UUP president in 1993, he was a SUNY Oswego faculty member, serving for five years as UUP's statewide vice president for academics. Scheuerman was the chief negotiator for the union's 1988-91 contract.

On Nov. 30, the UUP Executive Board appointed Frederick Floss as acting president.