Marcos Ruiz Rojas and Michelle Miranda | August 28, 2024

The UCLA Labor Summer Research Program (LSRP) 2024 continues its pioneering exploration of the complex relationship between education and employment. The program has become a vital platform for understanding how individuals navigate the demanding task of balancing work with academic responsibilities.

The program reached a milestone with the LSRP final presentations held August 21, marking the completion of an intensive six-week research period organized by UCLA’s Labor Studies program. During this time, students investigated the real-world challenges faced by “workers and learners”—students who manage employment alongside their academic pursuits.

Lucero Herrera, lecturer of this year’s cohort, emphasized the rigorous nature of the program: “My role was to guide students through a process that usually takes months—sometimes years—and compress it into just six weeks.” 

Herrera shared that the intensive curriculum, which she co-designed with a team of teaching assistants, “challenges students to master research methodologies, sharpen their data analysis, and hone their presentation skills.” 

The research conducted this year focused on key areas including the dynamics of balancing work and school, financial challenges and the impact of labor unions and workers’ rights. The scope of the program is extensive, with over 139 survey participants and 27 in-depth interviews providing a rich dataset from which students could draw significant insights.

The findings revealed that 43% of workers and learners reported that their job and financial aid did not cover all their expenses, while 42% were unable to set aside money for savings. These statistics highlight the financial strain many students face while juggling jobs and academic responsibilities.

Diana Torres, teaching assistant of LSRP, highlighted the transformative nature of turning data into impactful stories. 

“In my role, I guide students in turning data into compelling narratives,” she said. “It’s one thing to present numbers, but crafting a story that captivates and resonates with an audience is a different challenge.”

Torres underscored that the program’s mission extends beyond academic inquiry, aiming to equip students with the tools to drive social and policy change.

Building on this approach, the LSRP 2024 cohort developed recommendations aimed at reimagining the traditional classroom to better accommodate students with external responsibilities. Proposals included flexible attendance policies, adaptive tuition payment plans, the creation of a gap coverage fund and the expansion of income thresholds for financial aid.

Herrera thinks the program prepares students to approach research in a unique way. 

“The Labor Summer Research Program bridges classroom theory with practical research, immersing students in the labor movement through the lens of workers and learners. This hands-on approach deepens their academic insights, equips them for meaningful impact and aligns with the Labor Studies’ goals to empower students and advance social justice.”

The full Workers and Learners research report will be released in early 2025 on the UCLA Labor Center Website.

UCLA Labor Studies is the first major of its kind at the University of California. Renowned for its commitment to engaged student learning in community worker settings, rigorous hands-on research and courses that explore some of the most pressing labor and social justice issues, the program became a major in 2019 after being established as a minor in 2014.