ThePennsylvania State System of Higher Education and the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract that would run through June 30, 2007. If ratified by APSCUF’s membership and the State System’s Board of Governors, terms of the new agreement would be retroactive to July 1, 2003.

Negotiations began more than a year ago. The most recent contract between the State System and APSCUF, which represents the approximately 5,500 faculty at the 14 state-owned universities, expired last June.

“I am pleased to announce that we have reached a tentative agreement with our faculty union,” said Chancellor Judy G. Hample. “These negotiations have been long and hard, and made especially difficult by the challenging fiscal situation facing the Commonwealth and the State System.

“Our students are fortunate to have qualified and dedicated faculties at each of our universities. Reaching a tentative agreement without an interruption to the academic year has always been the objective, and we have achieved that.”

The tentative agreement includes a wage freeze in 2003-04.

In 2004-05, most faculty would receive a service increment (equal to a 2.5 percent or 5 percent salary increase, depending where an employee is on the 12-step salary schedule). Faculty members at the top step of the pay scale and not eligible for a service increment would receive a cash payment equal to 2.5 percent. There would be no general pay increase in 2004-05.

In 2005-06, faculty would receive a 3 percent general pay increase. There would be no service increments provided in the contract’s third year.

In the fall of 2006, all faculty would receive a 3 percent general pay increase and those eligible would receive a service increment. In the spring of 2007, eligible faculty would receive another service increment. Additionally, a 13^th step would be added to the salary schedule, allowing those faculty at the top of the schedule to receive a service increment, as well.

Under the terms of the tentative agreement, faculty would begin contributing to the cost of their health insurance premiums.

The System earlier froze the salaries of all managers and administrators for the 2003-04 academic year and asked its other employee unions to accept a one-year freeze for their members. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the System’s second-largest union with 4,000 members, agreed last summer to both the wage freeze and insurance premium-sharing. Managers and administrators also have been informed they will begin paying a portion of their health insurance premiums, as well.

With more than 104,000 students, the Pennsylvania 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. More than 375,000 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. The regional centers are part of the Educational Resources Group, which is responsible for coordinating statewide programming.