Date: Thursday, July 18, 2019
For release: Immediately
Contact: Dave Pidgeon, or 717-720-4054
Kathryn Morton, or 717-236-7486
Leadership from Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education and the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties returned this week to discuss a new contract through interest-based bargaining.
Bargaining sessions were held Wednesday and Thursday at the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg. They are scheduled to continue July 22–23.
“Both sides are coming together with the understanding that we have shared interests and a stake in student success,” State System Chancellor Dan Greenstein said. “We appreciate the spirit of goodwill these negotiations have taken, and I’m optimistic about the direction we’re all heading.”
The most-recent faculty contract expired June 30, and by law, the provisions of that agreement continue until a new collective bargaining agreement is ratified.
The IBB strategy focuses on collaboration instead of traditional exchange of contract proposals.
“We have made substantial progress on several key issues,” APSCUF President Dr. Kenneth M. Mash said. “We continue to appreciate the quality conversations as we collectively try to move forward in the best interests of our students.”
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.