August 13, 2014
Representatives from State System, APSCUF meet for first time to begin negotiations on new contract
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Harrisburg – Representatives from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties met today to begin negotiations toward a new collective bargaining agreement.
The current contract between the State System and APSCUF, which represents permanent
and temporary faculty at the 14 System universities, runs through June 30, 2015. Today’s
brief session served as an introductory meeting between the two sides. Substantive
discussions will begin later.
“Students should have access to relevant programs that meet their needs and that prepare
them for the future following graduation,” said Thomas S. Giotto, who is leading the
State System’s bargaining team and who spoke after the brief meeting. “The next collective
bargaining agreement must support this vision as well as the ongoing financial viability
of the universities.”
APSCUF represents the approximately 5,800 full- and part-time faculty members who
teach at the 14 State System universities. The current contract between the State
System and faculty union was agreed to in February 2013, more than 18 months after
the previous agreement had expired.
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher
education in the Commonwealth, with about 112,000 students. The 14 State System universities
offer degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study.
The 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.