Blog
With all the (tuition) numbers in, the state system still reigns as Pennsylvania’s best value
Last Friday the Penn State Board of Trustees announced a tuition increase that one student considered modest given “the difficult circumstances that the university was in.” That increase — $712 for University Park freshmen and sophomores — amounts to a 4.9 percent jump, and it will ensure Penn State’s University Park tuition ($15,124) remains one of the nation’s most expensive for a public university. (Students at the branch campuses were given a slight reprieve, with those schools looking forward to a 2.9 percent tuition hike next year.) read more…
Contract negotiations – frequently asked questions
Many faculty members and coaches have contacted APSCUF with questions about how contract negotiations are proceeding and how the current situation could impact APSCUF members. Today’s blog update is from Mary Rita Duvall-Quinn, head of APSCUF’s contract department, and she took the time to answer a few of the most frequently asked questions read more…
Getting past the shiny objects
In last week’s Pittsburgh Business Times, Chancellor John Cavanaugh wrote about how the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and our universities will move on despite “losing” more than $90 million of its state appropriation. While it is understandable that Dr. Cavanaugh wants to put as fine a gloss on the financial difficulties that lie ahead as he can (it is part of his job), it is nonetheless disturbing that his most vocal pronouncement focuses not on the core of what we do, but rather highlights the “bells and whistles” of academia. read more…
Creating an emergency budget plan
As most of you now know, Gov. Tom Corbett signed the 2011-12 state budget on June 30, less than an hour before the deadline. The final version of the budget cut funding for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) by 18 percent – an improvement from the governor’s proposal, but a slightly larger reduction than the one in the House-passed version of the budget. In today’s blog post, APSCUF Associate Director of Governmental Relations Laura Saccente offers her thoughts and advice for members who want to stay engaged even during the summer months:
When he spoke at our Harrisburg rally in March, State Sen. Vincent Hughes was right on target when he predicted the legislature would wait until classrooms cleared and students and faculty members were out of sight before having the final budget drawn up. read more…
Temple raises tuition 10% (can you say “more”)
“Word” had it that Temple’s board had determined tuition and was waiting for the Governor to sign the budget to announce it. Late Thursday night the Governor signed the budget into law; yesterday Temple announced their tuition (surprise!).
10%! read more…