Members can go to apscuf.org and enter the Members Only section to view discussion on the possible strike date of July 1. Pat Heilman is publishing a series in Members Only titled A Reason a Day. If you do not have a password for the members only section and need help getting/remembering one, contact Marie Cavacini, 610-436-1064.
"); myScroller.addMessage("Once a prime destination, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) has lost some of its appeal in the eyes of faculty recruits. Since 1995, the number of students in the PASSHE has increased 15.59% -- from 96,275 to 109,088. The faculty complement has not kept pace with that surge, with only a 4.45% hike over that span. Management has tallied the biggest increase, as the management roster is total up 16.77%. For mor click above.
"); myScroller.addMessage("The winners of this year's General Scholarship is Megan Dickman. A second Special Scholarhip was awarded to Nicole Fortuna. There were over 30 applicants for the two scholarships, and each scholarship is worth $1,000.
"); myScroller.addMessage("Click above to go to a list of Web sites where you can find out more information about negotiations and find e-mail addresses and Web sites to contact PASSHE.
"); myScroller.addMessage("State APSCUF has called a strike authorization vote for all members. The authorization vote will be held April 24-26. Polling will be held at Main Hall, SOMPAC, South Campus, and the Graduate Business Center. Click above for details on polling times and directions.
"); myScroller.addMessage("When the vote is called, stand up for yourself, for your students, and for public higher education in Pennsylvania. For information about management's position and what you can do about it, click above to see full text.
"); myScroller.addMessage("On January 24, local APSCUF president Clifford Johnston spoke at the West Chester University Council of Trustees meeting during the Public Comments portion of the meeting. His comments made it clear that APSCUF is not satisfied with the negotiation tactics of the State System and that it is time for them to get serious. He went on to say that APSCUF will stand strong during these negotiations for a fair contract for the faculty that optimizes West Chester's ability to attract and retain quality faculty. He was accompanied by 8 other APSCUF members that stood as he read his remarks.
"); myScroller.addMessage("APSCUF and the PASSHE met on Friday, January 19, 2007, and exchanged contract proposals at that meeting. There were limited discussions between the parties regarding the proposals.
The PASSHE presented a salary package that would drastically erode faculty purchasing power and makes it virtually impossible to retain and recruit faculty. A significant attempt was made on the PASSHE.s part to erode shared governance and challenge faculty intellectual property rights. Their proposal also removes all controls on hiring temporary faculty and seeks academic rank and tenure for upper-level administrators.
APSCUF presented a package that included moderate pay increases over the next several years, designed to make up some of the ground that faculty salaries have lost in recent years when compared with border states, state-related schools, and private universities. The parties\' next scheduled joint meeting is on February 16, 2007.
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