Oregon AFSCME Local 3669 member Marissa Franklin finished her Associate’s Degree in Business Management earlier this year—for free.
Franklin achieved this via the AFSCME Free College Benefit, an online program that is sadly no longer available as of December 2024. This program allowed union members and their family members to study remotely for their certificate, associate’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree at no cost.
High tuition and fees put college out of reach for Franklin after high school, which is the case for many people nationwide. Instead, Franklin began in a corporate sales job, transitioned to social services and then to Northwest Senior and Disability Services which Oregon AFSCME represents.
“I realized that I felt most fulfilled when helping others, not just the seniors and people with disabilities that we serve, but also workers,” said Franklin, choosing to focus her degree path on Human Resource Management.
Earning an associate’s degree meant that she could further her career and use that power to help others – particularly through fair hiring practices. Before she had a union job, she saw first-hand how marginalized people can lose opportunities—an insight that is inspiring her to also pursue becoming a steward in her workplace with Local 3669.
“Employers need to do a better job giving everyone equal opportunity for good employment and ensure that their hiring and retention policies and practices don’t leave people out,” she says.
Franklin has a young son at home, so like many parents, during the pandemic she had to juggle her child's education and the difficulties of Covid with her own during the pandemic lockdown. The fact that her college classes were 100% online helped make it possible. She admits she thought about quitting, but kept it up. Her union believed in her enough to provide college for free and she believed in herself.
Franklin’s journey was not without hesitation, “Can I just wait? Can I put this off for a bit? And then I would realize -- I’m almost there, I can do this.”
Due to work obligations, Franklin’s partner spent most of his time on the road and away from the family, leaving Franklin with a majority of household responsibilities, including caring for her son full-time at home.
“Knowing that this was going to change my son’s future kept me going through all the difficulties of 2020.”
She kept at it and didn’t quit. AFSCME’s Free College program was also a chance to build a better future for three generations of her family—not only has Marissa graduated, but her mother and sister are enrolled in free college courses through this union benefit.
“AFSCME’s Free College program offers a chance to expand in my career, increase my financial stability, become more well-rounded, and grow as a person,” says Franklin. “If I can do it, you can do it. It’s easier than you think and it is 100% free. Do it”said Franklin.
