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APSCUF is collecting stories from retrenched faculty members to spread awareness about the effect of such cuts and to put human faces on the numbers. Thank you to these members for sharing their experiences. Members: To participate in this project, email Kathryn Morton, APSCUF communications director, at .

To learn more about retrenchment, click here.

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I have invested nine years of my life and career at Edinboro, and because of custodial reasons (my kids Anna and William), I cannot leave this area. I have spent my entire career (over 20 years) as a math professor, and it was a profoundly sad day this May when I taught my last class at Edinboro University. It is not unlikely that my kids and I will lose the house we are in as a result of this. I am sure there is a way for the university to attain financial stability without hurting people like me and my family. I have worked hard and taught my students to the best of my abilities. I feel betrayed!
—Dr. Larry Downey,
Edinboro University faculty member

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IUP’s president retrenched all four faculty in the journalism and public relations department but is still offering the major and minor in the communications media department. Students who believe they are majoring in JRNL and PR will not be offered any writing intensive JRNL or PR courses. There are no JRNL courses on the summer or fall 2021 schedules. JRNL students will be directed to take media production, media marketing and media studies courses. It’s unethical and unfair to mislead our students this way. If IUP can’t afford to offer the journalism and PR program with qualified faculty, they should not offer it at all. This is a bait-and-switch scam to current students and an outright lie to incoming freshmen. Continuing this charade will also eventually devalue the JRNL degree for the alumni who hold it.
—Dr. Michele Papakie,
Indiana University of Pennsylvania faculty member

Photos courtesy of Larry Downey and Michele Papakie.

Edinboro APSCUF Chapter President Dr. Sam Claster and Edinboro Professor Emeritus Dr. Mary Jo Campbell were among today’s panelists at a Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus policy committee hearing about university consolidation. Click here to watch hearing footage. APSCUF live-tweeted the hearing, and the collated tweets are below.

The hearing comprised four panels:

Panel 1: 

• Dr. Sam Claster, chapter president of Edinboro APSCUF
• Lydia Laythe, Washington Township councilperson and Edinboro University alum
• Dr. Mary Jo Campbell, chapter president of Edinboro APSCURF and professor emeritus

Panel 2: 

• Ross Brumagin, president of AFSCME Local 2329, Edinboro University high-voltage electrician
• Shane Clark, director of AFSCME District Council 85

Panel 3: 

• Chancellor Dan Greenstein
• Dr. Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson, president of Clarion University and interim president of Edinboro University

Panel 4:

• Kyle Hurysz, Edinboro University council of trustees (student)
• Majd Al Halaby, Edinboro University student-government president

APSCUF President Dr. Jamie Martin and State System students were among today’s panelists at a Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus policy committee hearing about university consolidation. Click here to watch hearing footage. APSCUF live-tweeted the hearing, and the collated tweets are below.

The hearing comprised three panels:

Panel 1: PASSHE Redesign & Students

• Dr. Jamie Martin, president of APSCUF
• Cameron O’Neill, junior at Bloomsburg University
• Justina Arena, junior at California University

Panel 2: PASSHE Redesign & Workers

• Ross Brumagin, President AFSCME Local 2329, Edinboro University High Voltage Electrician
• Shawn O’Dell, President AFSCME Local 2360, Lock Haven University Clerk Typist 3
• Dr. Marc Stier, Director, Pennsylvania Budget & Policy Center

Panel 3: PASSHE Leadership & University President

• Chancellor Dan Greenstein
• Aaron Walton, president of Cheyney University
• Dr. Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson, president of Clarion University and interim president of Edinboro University
• Mia Swales, student trustee and graduate student at Lock Haven University

A Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus policy committee hearing is slated for 1 p.m. (time change) Thursday, May 20. We’ll share information about how to watch via our social-media channels.

Photo/Pennsylvania House footage

As required by Act 50 of 2020, Chancellor Daniel Greenstein updated legislators about Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education’s consolidation plans at a joint and House appropriation- and education-committee hearing today. Click here to watch full hearing footage. Read APSCUF’s collated tweets from the hearing below:

Photo/Pennsylvania Senate footage

As required by Act 50 of 2020, Chancellor Daniel Greenstein updated legislators about Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education’s consolidation plans at a joint and Senate appropriation- and education-committee hearing today. Click here to watch footage of the hearing. Read APSCUF’s collated tweets from the hearing below: