The University of Arizona is a proud affiliate of the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC), an independent labor rights monitoring organization dedicated to upholding the rights and dignity of workers across global supply chains. Founded in 2000 by labor experts, students, and universities, the WRC investigates working conditions in factories producing apparel and merchandise for major brands, including those licensed by colleges and universities. The WRC plays a critical role in supporting universities that have adopted binding labor standards for their branded goods, offering oversight, reporting, and tools to ensure that licensees operate responsibly and ethically.
As a member of the WRC, the university supports a comprehensive Code of Conduct that protects the rights of workers producing licensed products bearing our name or logos. This includes commitments to fair wages, safe working conditions, no use of child or forced labor, non-discrimination, and freedom of association. The WRC conducts worker-centered investigations and collaborates with civil society organizations across the globe to expose labor rights violations and support systemic change. Through our affiliation, the University of Arizona contributes to broader efforts to reform global supply chains and set a high standard for accountability, transparency, and human rights in higher education licensing programs.
By participating in the WRC, we join more than 145 colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada who are advancing worker protections through binding standards, independent oversight, and global collaboration. This commitment not only reflects our values of integrity and compassion but also ensures that our merchandise supply chains align with our broader mission of social responsibility and ethical leadership.