The United Association is the largest and longest trade union training partner of Washtenaw Community College.
This summer, five different unions called the WCC campus home for their train-the-trainer programs, contributing an estimated $23 million to the Washtenaw County economy, according to a study by Destination Ann Arbor.
When the United Association came to town for a week in early August, more than 3,000 members filled classrooms across the WCC campus, and then spent time and money at local hotels, restaurants and retail shops.
Union trainers come to campus for a week and receive hands-on instruction to stay ahead of the curve in cutting-edge skills and technological developments in their industry.
After visiting Ann Arbor for five summers, the union members complete the UA Instructor Training Program. Others also take online WCC classes year-round in pursuit of a WCC associate degree.
Since partnering on the distance learning program in 2013, a total of 1,133 union members have earned a WCC associate degree.
Let’s meet three of WCC’s most recent alumni who received their degrees during an August 14 United Association completion ceremony:
Noel Jucaban
AGE: 45
DEGREE: Industrial Training
JUCABAN SAYS: “Everyone I’ve dealt with at Washtenaw comes across as motivating and inspirational. They really pushed me in the right direction. Earning a degree is something I’ve always wanted to do, primarily so I’m prepared if I get hurt and need to move to another career.”
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Joe Mitsch
AGE: 40
DEGREE: Industrial Training
MITSCH SAYS: “As a guy who grew up in the trades and isn’t a college graduate, this feels like a big achievement for me. I put a lot of work into it. It’s been a long journey. My wife and I were just joking that this will be the first weekend I don’t have homework in a long time.”
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Bruce Garrett
AGE: 42
DEGREE: Industrial Training
GARRETT SAYS: “I wanted to show my kids you can get a degree at any age. It was a little challenging to fit the classwork in with my full-time work and being a father, but I feel like it was worth the extra effort.”
Tags: Class of 2025, Graduation, On The Record, September 2025, United Association