The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) and State College and University Professional Association/PSEA/NEA (SCUPA) have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract.

The new collective bargaining agreement with SCUPA, which represents student services professional staff at the 14 PASSHE universities, would run through June 30, 2007. The tentative agreement must be ratified first by the SCUPA membership, then by PASSHE's Board of Governors before it can take effect. The Board could consider the agreement at its regular quarterly meeting in October. Details of the tentative agreement will be released upon ratification.

SCUPA represents approximately 500 admissions, financial aid and residential life staff who work on each campus.

With more than 107,000 students, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. The 14 PASSHE universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. More than 405,000 PASSHE 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. PASSHE also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Freeport, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.