May 14, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
David Pidgeon, or 717-720-4054
Kathryn Morton, or 717-236-7486
Contract negotiations have begun between faculties at Pennsylvania’s state-owned universities and Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. The negotiation teams met Monday and today for two interest-based bargaining sessions at the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties’ office in Harrisburg. The IBB strategy focuses on collaboration instead of traditional exchange of contract proposals.
“System Redesign has led us to take a fresh look at how we do everything, and that includes how we approach contract negotiations,” State System Chancellor Dan Greenstein said. “We have been happy to find the shared interests both sides have in many of the items we have discussed the first two days.”
APSCUF is optimistic, its leader said.
“So far, we are pleased with the process and the progress,” APSCUF President Dr. Kenneth M. Mash said. “We will continue to keep students in mind as we work on a contract that benefits them and our members.”
The current contract expires June 30, 2019. The next IBB session is slated for June 19 at Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.
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.