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Today, the PASSHE Board of Governors met at its quarterly meeting to consider the 2014-15 budget, increases in tuition and technology fees, and a host of other policy issues that will impact students and faculty. Major policy changes approved included:

• Setting tuition for 2014-15 at $6,830—a three percent or $198 increase over last year.

• Increasing the technology fee by $54 per student.

• Changing the allocation formula which determines the amount of state dollars given to each university. (For an outline of the allocation formula changes, click here.)  Some universities will see increases as a result of the changes, some will see decreases.

• Approving more tuition flexibility pilot programs for East Stroudsburg, Millersville, Mansfield and Cheyney Universities.

• Approving the imposition of additional program-specific fees at Edinboro University for Arts and Nursing programs, including a nursing fee equal to 25 percent of tuition.

• Lifting the 12 credit cap on Lock Haven’s per credit educational services fee.

• Allowing Mansfield to set specific high-cost program fees.

• Creating a new Protection of Minors policy that spells out duties of all employees including faculty when it comes to handling abuse of minors on campus. The policy outlines employee responsibilities in the areas of training for child abuse prevention, interacting with minors, and mandatory reporting of child abuse.

• Changing the Board of Governors by-laws related to voting.

APSCUF President, Kenneth M. Mash addressed the board regarding the continued acceptance of flat funding from the state after a $90 million cut and demanded greater advocacy by the State System to legislators and the public. Without an increase in tuition/fees and further cuts, the State System will be operating with a $58 million deficit with flat funding from the state.

Mash stated that the universities cannot ride out this storm by simply passing the burden of cost onto the students through tuition increases, creating a patchwork of additional fees, and asking Presidents to cut programs, services, and faculty and staff further. Citing the clear return on investment the Commonwealth receives from investing in PASSHE, Mash called for our story to be heard to avoid these pitfalls in the future (flat funding, increasing tuition, and asking universities to cut more.)

An example of the cuts on campus can be found in the list of programs placed in moratorium in just the past six months, which was outlined during this week’s meetings. According to the State System, 33 programs have already been placed into moratorium (with a heavy amount coming from foreign language programs.) If PASSHE is not responsive to the call for greater advocacy, this list will only get bigger. 

To read the entire Board of Governors agenda, please click here. 

By: Ken Mash, APSCUF President

As our attention has been focused on the goings on surrounding the budget battles in Harrisburg, including against a cut to PASSHE’s appropriation, fighting off paycheck deception, and working to preserve pensions, an even bigger storm brews in Washington, D.C.

On Monday the U.S. Supreme Court justices will likely announce their opinion in Harris v. Quinn, a case in which a conservative majority could potentially, in a worst-case scenario, find non-member, fair-share fees to be unconstitutional.  Such a ruling would deprive unions of revenue because non-members would then be able to free ride on the backs of members and benefit from the hard work that we and our fellow unions, e.g., PSEA, AFSCME, PFT, and SEIU, put in on behalf of all members of our bargaining units.

Should that storm come we will redouble our efforts so that we persevere.  The truth is that we can do little to control what happens at the Court.  However, you can still have an impact on what happens in Harrisburg by reaching out to your representatives. In the meanwhile, keep your eyes on our capitals, both Harrisburg and Washington.

For more information on Harris v. Quinn see:

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2014/06/samuel-alito-harris-quinn-supreme-court-union

http://www.vox.com/2014/6/3/5775516/the-supreme-court-could-cut-union-membership-in-half

The State Government Committees of both the House and the Senate have now moved anti-union legislation one step closer to becoming law by referring them out of their committees.  Dubbed “Paycheck Protection” by anti-union groups like the Commonwealth Foundation, these bills severely restrict the ability of public sector unions—including APSCUF—by prohibiting the Commonwealth from deducting dues from paychecks for anything beyond fair share.  They would also restrict a union’s ability to advocate in the legislature on behalf of their membership, meaning there would be no voice for APSCUF in the legislative process on important issues like funding for public higher education or protection of retirement benefits.

Senate Bill 1034 and House Bill 1507 are clear attempts to weaken and silence union members in order to maximize the power of other outside groups. The Commonwealth currently allows payroll deductions that benefit charities, retirement companies, and insurance companies that advocate on behalf of their members.  However, only unions are singled out in these bills.  We cannot allow this attempt to go unchallenged.

Please immediately contact your Senator and Representative and ask them to stand up to this attempt to challenge your collective voice.  Ask them to OPPOSE Senate Bill 1034 and House Bill 1507. 

Today, Dr. Kenneth M. Mash begins his two-year term as president for the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF).  He was elected to the position on April 26^th during APSCUF’s spring legislative assembly.  APSCUF represents the over 6,000 faculty and coaches at Pennsylvania’s state-owned universities.

No stranger to APSCUF, Dr. Mash has a decade of leadership experience with the state organization, including serving for the last four years as vice president. Dr. Mash also fought tirelessly for fair contracts for both faculty and coaches as a Negotiations Team member.

Dr. Mash is a political science professor and former co-director of the honors program at East Stroudsburg University (ESU). During his tenure at ESU, he dedicated countless hours to the local APSCUF chapter, serving as Acting President, Vice President, and spokesperson for the ESU faculty.  Outside of the union, Dr. Mash holds the titles of author and distinguished professor, an honor bestowed upon ESU faculty for excellence in university and statewide service, teaching, and academic scholarship.

Dr. Mash’s experience and professionalism will serve him well as he tackles the many issues that confront public higher education. “It’s truly an honor to serve the faculty and coaches at our great universities,” said Mash. “Through their skilled teaching, mentoring, and their important research, every day they go the extra mile to provide an affordable, excellent college education for Pennsylvania’s students. I am excited to help my colleagues as they do their part to build a great future for our Commonwealth.”

A political scientist, Dr. Mash is a graduate of Queens College (1987) and the Pennsylvania State University (1990 & 1997).  Dr. Jamie Martin, a professor of criminology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, will also begin her two-year term as APSCUF vice president.