SILVER SPRING, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 18, 2007--The National Labor College (NLC) announced today that Aetna (NYSE:AET) has made a $50,000 grant to support scholarships for minority union members and to expand union members' knowledge of the fast-paced healthcare industry.

"Of all benefits negotiated by union members, healthcare is among the most critical," said Susan J. Schurman, NLC president. "We need the labor movement to stay abreast of this vast, complex industry, and with Aetna's support, we will be able to expand access to this kind of information and continue to expand enrollment opportunities to minority workers."

The NLC is instituting several initiatives to both increase understanding of the healthcare industry among unionists and to expand the ranks of the college's minority student recruitment. This spring, the NLC will offer a course in healthcare bargaining and will soon develop a larger series of courses in the healthcare field as part of the College's Bachelor's degree program. The NLC is also targeting recruitment of minority unionists through partnerships with urban community college and apprenticeship programs.

"Aetna is pleased to be able to join together with the National Labor College to increase the labor movement's understanding of the healthcare industry and to expand access to its program for minority students," said Russell R. Dickhart, Chief Operating Officer for Aetna's Government and Labor Division. "The Healthcare Education Program fulfills an important need by helping union leaders design health benefits programs that improve the health of their members."

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 29.8 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans and government-sponsored plans.

About NLC

Established as a training center by AFL-CIO in 1969 to strengthen union member education and organizing skills, the NLC is now the nation's only accredited higher education institution devoted exclusively to educating union leaders, members and activists. The NLC became a degree granting college in 1997. The college is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, an independent, regional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

CONTACT: Aetna
Matt Losak, 301-431-5453

SOURCE: Aetna