November 08, 2000
STATE SYSTEM, UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATORS SIGN NEW FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
The State System of Higher Education and State College and University Professional Association (SCUPA) have signed a new four-year collective bargaining agreement that will run through June 30, 2004.
The agreement provides for general pay increases in each year and some improved benefits. SCUPA comprises about 450 university administrators, including admissions, financial aid and residence life officers.
The terms of the new contract are retroactive to July 1.
The agreement, which was approved earlier by both the SCUPA membership and the State System’s Board of Governors, provides for general pay increases totaling approximately 11.5 percent over the next four years. Administrators will receive a 2 percent increase retroactive to July 1, then additional increases of 1 percent on January 1, 2001; 2 percent on July 1, 2001; 1.5 percent on January 1, 2002; and 2.5 percent each on July 1, 2002 and July 1, 2003. Those administrators below the maximum pay range also will continue to receive an annual service increment of approximately 2.5 percent.
Under the terms of the new contract, the State System will contribute $50,000 annually in 2000 and 2001 and $75,000 a year in 2002 and 2003 to SCUPA’s Professional Development Program. The contract also provides for increased life insurance coverage and includes a uniform tuition waiver policy for all SCUPA members.
“On behalf of the State College and University Professional Association, I want to thank the chancellor, the Board of Governors and both negotiation teams for their time, effort and hard work, which resulted in successful contract negotiations,” said SCUPA President Ray Bazylak. “Despite the typically contentious nature of contract negotiations, I believe that both sides recognized the many challenging issues that confront all of us in higher education and worked together to resolve them for the best interests of the students in our State System of Higher Education.”
“We are pleased to have this new long-term contract in place,” said Chancellor James H. McCormick. “The members of SCUPA are vital to the good management and successful operation of our universities.”
The State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. Its 14 universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Nearly 350,000 System alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.
The state-owned 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 System also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Kittanning, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and the University Center for Southwest Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh. The regional centers are part of the Educational Resources Group, which is responsible for coordinating statewide programming.