The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) has submitted a new proposal to the union representing the approximately 5,500 faculty at the 14 state-owned universities that would grant salary increases totaling up to 27 percent over four years.

PASSHE has been negotiating for a new contract with the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) since last fall. The current contract between PASSHE and APSCUF expires June 30.

PASSHE’s latest proposal would provide all faculty a one-time cash payment of $1,250 in 2007-08 and general pay increases of 2 percent each in 2008-09 and 2009-10 and 3 percent in 2010-11. Eligible faculty also would receive annual service increments of 2.5 percent or 5 percent each year.

“Our latest proposal would ensure that PASSHE faculty salaries remain extremely competitive with those paid by similar public universities, both nationally and regionally,” said PASSHE Chancellor Judy G. Hample.

The salary increases included in PASSHE’s proposal are similar to those that already have been accepted by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), which represents 4,000 PASSHE employees and is the second largest of the eight labor unions that represent PASSHE faculty, administrators and staff. That agreement with AFSCME, which was recently ratified by both the union membership and PASSHE’s Board of Governors, also includes a cash payment in the first year and general pay increases in the second, third and fourth years.

APSCUF today revised its initial proposal made in January and is now seeking increases ranging from 22.5 percent to 45 percent over four years. The revised proposal includes general pay increases of 4 percent in 2007-08, 5.5 percent each in 2008-09 and 2009-10 and 5 percent in 2010-11, as well as other adjustments that would provide additional increases throughout the length of the agreement.

The most senior faculty would receive increases totaling 22.5 percent under APSCUF’s proposal. It would increase the nine-month salary of a full professor at the top of the salary scale to about $122,000 in the fourth year.

PASSHE faculty salaries currently rank at or near the 90^th percentile nationally when compared with salaries paid at comparable public institutions. The average nine-month salary for full-time faculty at all ranks during the recently concluded academic year was $70,008. Nationally, the average nine-month salary paid to full-time faculty at public, master’s level institutions in 2006-07 was $63,499, according to a survey conducted by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). Top nine-month faculty salaries at PASSHE currently range from $60,020 for instructors to $97,767 for full professors.

Additional information on the negotiations is available on the PASSHE website at: www.passhe.edu. Click on “Negotiations Update.”

With more than 109,000 students, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. The 14 PASSHE universities offer degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Approximately 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.