June 28, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
David Pidgeon, or 717-720-4054
Kathryn Morton, or 717-236-7486
With their contract expiring June 30, progress continued during five consecutive days of negotiations between faculties at Pennsylvania’s state-owned universities and Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. By law, the current collective bargaining agreement remains in effect until a new one is ratified.
Interest-based bargaining is slated to continue July 17, 18, 22, and 23 at Dixon University Center in Harrisburg. Following three days of IBB last week, this week’s marathon took place at the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties office in Harrisburg.
The teams have discussed and made progress on several articles, APSCUF President Dr. Kenneth M. Mash said. They did not release specifics about topics covered thus far.
“The collaborative approach we have seen on both sides represents our shared interest in the future success of our System, our universities, and our faculty,” State System Chancellor Dan Greenstein said. “This is as promising as it is productive, and is resulting in thorough and important discussions.”
Mash said he was optimistic about the upcoming sessions.
“We continue to keep the students’ best interests and the future of our universities in mind as we work on a fair contract for the faculty,” Mash said. “We continue to appreciate the presence of the chancellor and Board Chair Cindy Shapira as we engage in constructive conversation.”
The IBB strategy focuses on collaboration instead of traditional exchange of contract proposals.
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education comprises 14 public universities, which combined enroll the largest number of Pennsylvania residents among all four-year colleges and universities in the Commonwealth. With nearly 100,000 degree-seeking students and thousands more enrolled in certificate and other career-development programs, the State System is a vital contributor to the Pennsylvania economy, generating an estimated $6.7 billion of economic activity annually. Collectively, the State System universities offer more than 2,300 degree and certificate programs in more than 530 academic areas. The universities have nearly 800,000 living alumni, the vast majority of whom reside in Pennsylvania.
The State System universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The universities also operate branch campuses in Oil City (Clarion), Freeport and Punxsutawney (IUP), and Clearfield (Lock Haven), and offer classes and programs at several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and in Center City in Philadelphia.
APSCUF represents about 5,500 faculty and coaches at the State System universities.