The president of the faculty union at the State System of Higher Education told the Board of Governors yesterday that the faculty at the 14 state-owned universities are “exhausted” as they begin the new academic year, owing to a number of factors.
APSCUF president Dr. Jamie Martin said there is “much uncertainty and anxiety” about the consolidation of six universities into two, and coupled with the retrenchment at four schools last year– including IUP – and the threat of more retrenchment this year, many union members are “feeling defeated.”
Martin noted that the Board would be considering six side letters which it negotiated with the union pertaining to consolidation issues, and another which relates to all 14 schools, but said those negotiations took eight months to conclude. She said there are at least 13 other articles related to consolidation that must be bargained over and there are many issues and questions to address, but the consolidation is scheduled to take effect in just ten months.
Martin pledged that the union would continue to work with the State System on the many issues at hand and on advocating for more state funding for the System, but asked the board to “recognize the legitimacy of the (faculty’s) feelings” as they are called upon to “do some heavy lifting in the coming months.”
