PASSHE refuses fair compensation for faculty
The APSCUF and PASSHE negotiations teams were scheduled to meet multiple times this week. However, late last week PASSHE’s chief negotiator informed APSCUF that the System would not offer to the faculty the same economic proposal that Governor Corbett agreed to with virtually every major statewide union (including the second largest union on our campuses), unless the faculty were willing to accept “substantial” reductions to health care benefits and the elimination of compensation for developing, presenting and updating distance education courses.
In view of PASSHE’s rejection of the Commonwealth’s statewide pattern, APSCUF suspended discussions to allow the parties the time to thoughtfully review their positions.
Related information
On June 25, 2011, Gov. Corbett reached an agreement with the Council 13 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Read more about that contract agreement here.
Pennsylvania colleges and universities face difficulty providing students with proper voting IDs
The problem? Only 15 out of 110 Pennsylvania colleges and universities provide expiration dates on their student IDs. Furthermore, none of the 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education issues ID cards that include expiration dates.
APSCUF vice-president addresses Gov. Corbett’s post-secondary education commission
Wilkes-Barre, Pa — On Thursday APSCUF Vice-President Ken Mash participated in a public meeting of Gov. Corbett’s post-secondary education commission, addressing the lack of faculty and student representation from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education on the commission.
Mash asked to include representation from faculty members and students of public institutions – the individuals affected by the policy recommendations generated by the commission.
PASSHE delays tuition decision, schedules July meeting
Today the PASSHE Board of Governor’s met in their regularly scheduled, quarterly session and the big news is they did NOT move on 2012-13 tuition. Instead, they put that decision off until a newly scheduled July 12th meeting.
Tell your rep to vote "NO" to Roae amendment
Representative Brad Roae is continuing his attack on the State System of Higher Education. This week he plans to offer an amendment to SB 1308, sponsored by Senator Tomlinson, which clarifies intellectual property agreements between State System universities and employees based on APSCUF collective bargaining agreement language.
Talking points for Rep. Roae's legislation
Below are talking points to use in discussions regarding Rep. Roae's legislation that directly attacks state-owned universities.
Fact sheets for Rep. Roae's legislation
Below please find fact sheets to coincide with the "Keep Tuition Affordable" package being introduced by Rep. Brad Roae.
Commission discusses concerns surrounding the future of post-secondary education
PITTSBURGH WEST MIDDLESEX, Pa. – Gov. Tom Corbett’s Advisory Commission on Post-secondary Education held two open meetings on June 14, with administrators from various sectors of post-secondary institutions, business leaders, and members of the public to discuss the future of post-secondary and higher education institutions in Pennsylvania.
Chair Rob Wonderling said the commission wants to focus on determining greater accessibility and affordability to post-secondary institutions, as well as increased employability for graduates of the institutions.
We are all Upper Darby
By Dr. Cheryl Wanko
APSCUF members are university faculty, but they are also members of local communities – and parents. Those other roles should remind us of the fight for public education we share with the teachers and staff in our local school districts.
Distressed school districts are hardly news in Corbett-led Pennsylvania – Chester Upland, Harrisburg, York come to mind, and others join the list daily. One district particularly hard hit this year is Upper Darby, located in older Philadelphia suburbs. Last year, budget cuts resulted in lost positions in physical education and family/consumer sciences.
Letter to House State Government Committee
The following is a position paper APSCUF sent to the House State Government Committee regarding a package of legislation introduced by Rep. Brad Roae.
