The Back of Tuor's Head

There is a picture here of the new Bowden cave gate. It is finally re-opened. Quite a popular cave.

I have heard that the parking area is posted by a hunting club, but parking is still open for cave visitation.
Remember your 3 sources of light and hard hat!

Cave on!

They're SPAM. Unsolicited email. The Chancellor's Office is using their position to sway people in their direction. They are also bald-face lying.

Someone who makes enough to buy two nice homes in this town every year doesn't deserve my respect. On one year of her salary, I could get a free ride through college. The money that was cut from the budget and wrung from our blood was used to build new redundant databases that will fail to work as promised and pay more redundant management in Harrisburg.

That's all.

From: "Chancellor's Office - PA State System of Higher Education"
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 16:27:55 -0400
Subject: Faculty Salaries: What Students Need to Know


Dear Student:



The Management of the State System of Higher Education (State System) continues to work with the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) to achieve a fair and financially responsible contract agreement. The settlement must reflect the difficult fiscal reality facing the State System since our universities had to make $40 million in budget cuts this year. These cuts were necessary even though student tuition was increased by 5%.



Nearly half of the State System's $1 billion annual operating budget pays for faculty salaries and benefits. We hope this series of questions and answers will give you a better understanding of the State System's position on the issue of faculty salaries in the contract negotiations.



Why is management asking faculty members to accept a wage freeze in the first year of their contract?



These are difficult fiscal times for the State System and the Commonwealth. Faced with declining revenues, the Commonwealth reduced its appropriation for the State System in each of the last three years: a 0% increase in 2001-2002, a 3% reduction in 2002-03 and another 5% reduction in 2003-04. This occurred even though university enrollments increased by more than 6,000 students during the same time period. University costs have also continued to rise-especially in areas such as health insurance, utilities, library acquisitions and instructional technology.



Were the chancellor and presidents given salary increases just prior to announcing the wage freeze?



The last salary increases for State System managers with meritorious performance evaluations - including university presidents and the chancellor - were approved by the Board of Governors in October 2002 and were retroactive to July 2002.For whatever reason, the media chose to comment on administrative raises for the first time in January 2003, which has resulted in a perception that raises were given at that time. Faculty salary increases - which are not subject to performance evaluations - were effective at the beginning of the Fall 2002 semester, with an additional small salary increase at the start of the Spring 2003 semester.



Are other State System employees sacrificing a salary increase?



Yes, in August 2003, Chancellor Judy G. Hample announced a salary freeze at 2002-03 levels for all State System executives, administrators and managers. This wage freeze applies to all non-union employees, beginning with the chancellor and the 14 university presidents.



Earlier this summer, Governor Edward G. Rendell, acting on behalf of the Commonwealth, negotiated a new four-year contract with the members of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and several other unions covering 60,000 state employees. Approximately 4,000 State System employees are members of the AFSCME union, which agreed to a wage freeze for 2003-04 as part of their contract settlement. 13,000 Commonwealth management employees also will have their wages frozen at 2002-03 levels. These wage freezes are part of the shared sacrifice that is needed in these difficult economic times.



Faculty members are upset about not receiving "step increases." What are those?



APSCUF faculty members receive pay increases based on negotiated across the board increases and years of service. A "step increase" is a pay increase based on length of service. This pay increase is in addition to the across the board increases that faculty members receive. The past contract between the State System and APSCUF provided for "step increases" at 12 different levels. That contract expired onJune 30, 2003. The expired contract provided step increases of 2.5 percent or 5 percent depending on where a faculty member placed on the negotiated 12-step pay scale. Due to difficult fiscal circumstances the State System, in its most recent contract proposal to APSCUF during the current round of negotiations, management's proposal does not provide a step increase for 2003-04. However, the proposal would provide for step increases to eligible faculty in 2004-05 and 2006-07. All faculty members - including those who would receive step increases - would receive across the board increases in 2005-06 and 2006-07.



If faculty salaries are not competitive, will the quality of my education suffer?



Keeping faculty salaries competitive with our universities' peer groups will continue to be a priority of management. The quality of education students receive could suffer if faculty members were not paid a competitive salary. State System faculty salaries, in fact, are very competitive. Faculty salaries rank in the 92nd percentile or higher nationally when compared with faculty at similar public colleges and universities, based on the American Association of University Professors' annual salary survey. Average salaries paid to State System faculty exceeded the national averages at all ranks, from instructor to full professor. The average nine-month salary for a full professor at State System universities is $86,950; $69,831 for an associate professor; $56,112 for an assistant professor; and $41,889 for an instructor. The State System wants faculty members to be paid well, and management takes pride in the fact that they are.



Do State System faculty members have other opportunities to boost their salaries?



Faculty members can earn more money by teaching overload - defined as each workload hour in excess of 15 during an academic term or 24 during an academic year. They can also earn more money by teaching summer school. In part as a result of such opportunities, the number of State System faculty members who earned $100,000 or more in a year increased 94 percent in one year, from 354 in 2001 to 688 in 2002.



The Board of Governors raised tuition 5 percent for 2003-04. Doesn't that mean there is money available to increase faculty salaries?



The State System's operating budget of more than $1 billion is funded primarily by student tuition: 38.5% comes from state appropriations; 12.9% from other sources (mostly fees); and the remaining 48.6% comes from student tuition. Pennsylvania's public universities currently have the 4th highest tuition in the nation. Even with the 5% tuition increase this year (which was modest by national standards), the State System experienced a $40 million revenue shortfall. Funding faculty salary increases for this year would necessitate additional student tuition increases. Management is not willing to burden students with additional tuition this year to give salary increases to anyone.



I see a good bit of construction on my campus. Instead of spending money on campus buildings, why can't the State System spend that money to increase faculty salaries?



The State System receives Commonwealth funding for capital improvements (buildings and expensive equipment) as a separate budget from the operating budget. Capital budget dollars cannot be used for anything other than construction projects that are specifically authorized by the Office of the Governor. None of the capital improvement funds can be used to cover employee salaries or other operating expenses of universities. Campus construction is intended to provide students with access to state-of-the-art classrooms and a learning environment that best assures their success.



For the latest updates on negotiations, please visit the State System's Web site at www.sshechan.edu/APSCUF.

Posted by: Ben / 8:10 PM 0 comments

From:






Dear Student:



The Management of the State System of Higher Education (State System) continues to work with the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) to achieve a fair and financially responsible contract agreement. The settlement must reflect the difficult fiscal reality facing the State System since our universities had to make $40 million in budget cuts this year. These cuts were necessary even though student tuition was increased by 5%.



Nearly half of the State System's $1 billion annual operating budget pays for faculty salaries and benefits. We hope this series of questions and answers will give you a better understanding of the State System's position on the issue of faculty salaries in the contract negotiations.



Why is management asking faculty members to accept a wage freeze in the first year of their contract?



These are difficult fiscal times for the State System and the Commonwealth. Faced with declining revenues, the Commonwealth reduced its appropriation for the State System in each of the last three years: a 0% increase in 2001-2002, a 3% reduction in 2002-03 and another 5% reduction in 2003-04. This occurred even though university enrollments increased by more than 6,000 students during the same time period. University costs have also continued to rise-especially in areas such as health insurance, utilities, library acquisitions and instructional technology.



Were the chancellor and presidents given salary increases just prior to announcing the wage freeze?



The last salary increases for State System managers with meritorious performance evaluations - including university presidents and the chancellor - were approved by the Board of Governors in October 2002 and were retroactive to July 2002.For whatever reason, the media chose to comment on administrative raises for the first time in January 2003, which has resulted in a perception that raises were given at that time. Faculty salary increases - which are not subject to performance evaluations - were effective at the beginning of the Fall 2002 semester, with an additional small salary increase at the start of the Spring 2003 semester.



Are other State System employees sacrificing a salary increase?



Yes, in August 2003, Chancellor Judy G. Hample announced a salary freeze at 2002-03 levels for all State System executives, administrators and managers. This wage freeze applies to all non-union employees, beginning with the chancellor and the 14 university presidents.



Earlier this summer, Governor Edward G. Rendell, acting on behalf of the Commonwealth, negotiated a new four-year contract with the members of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and several other unions covering 60,000 state employees. Approximately 4,000 State System employees are members of the AFSCME union, which agreed to a wage freeze for 2003-04 as part of their contract settlement. 13,000 Commonwealth management employees also will have their wages frozen at 2002-03 levels. These wage freezes are part of the shared sacrifice that is needed in these difficult economic times.



Faculty members are upset about not receiving "step increases." What are those?



APSCUF faculty members receive pay increases based on negotiated across the board increases and years of service. A "step increase" is a pay increase based on length of service. This pay increase is in addition to the across the board increases that faculty members receive. The past contract between the State System and APSCUF provided for "step increases" at 12 different levels. That contract expired onJune 30, 2003. The expired contract provided step increases of 2.5 percent or 5 percent depending on where a faculty member placed on the negotiated 12-step pay scale. Due to difficult fiscal circumstances the State System, in its most recent contract proposal to APSCUF during the current round of negotiations, management's proposal does not provide a step increase for 2003-04. However, the proposal would provide for step increases to eligible faculty in 2004-05 and 2006-07. All faculty members - including those who would receive step increases - would receive across the board increases in 2005-06 and 2006-07.



If faculty salaries are not competitive, will the quality of my education suffer?



Keeping faculty salaries competitive with our universities' peer groups will continue to be a priority of management. The quality of education students receive could suffer if faculty members were not paid a competitive salary. State System faculty salaries, in fact, are very competitive. Faculty salaries rank in the 92nd percentile or higher nationally when compared with faculty at similar public colleges and universities, based on the American Association of University Professors' annual salary survey. Average salaries paid to State System faculty exceeded the national averages at all ranks, from instructor to full professor. The average nine-month salary for a full professor at State System universities is $86,950; $69,831 for an associate professor; $56,112 for an assistant professor; and $41,889 for an instructor. The State System wants faculty members to be paid well, and management takes pride in the fact that they are.



Do State System faculty members have other opportunities to boost their salaries?



Faculty members can earn more money by teaching overload - defined as each workload hour in excess of 15 during an academic term or 24 during an academic year. They can also earn more money by teaching summer school. In part as a result of such opportunities, the number of State System faculty members who earned $100,000 or more in a year increased 94 percent in one year, from 354 in 2001 to 688 in 2002.



The Board of Governors raised tuition 5 percent for 2003-04. Doesn't that mean there is money available to increase faculty salaries?



The State System's operating budget of more than $1 billion is funded primarily by student tuition: 38.5% comes from state appropriations; 12.9% from other sources (mostly fees); and the remaining 48.6% comes from student tuition. Pennsylvania's public universities currently have the 4th highest tuition in the nation. Even with the 5% tuition increase this year (which was modest by national standards), the State System experienced a $40 million revenue shortfall. Funding faculty salary increases for this year would necessitate additional student tuition increases. Management is not willing to burden students with additional tuition this year to give salary increases to anyone.



I see a good bit of construction on my campus. Instead of spending money on campus buildings, why can't the State System spend that money to increase faculty salaries?



The State System receives Commonwealth funding for capital improvements (buildings and expensive equipment) as a separate budget from the operating budget. Capital budget dollars cannot be used for anything other than construction projects that are specifically authorized by the Office of the Governor. None of the capital improvement funds can be used to cover employee salaries or other operating expenses of universities. Campus construction is intended to provide students with access to state-of-the-art classrooms and a learning environment that best assures their success.



For the latest updates on negotiations, please visit the State System's Web site at www.sshechan.edu/APSCUF.

Dear Student:



Contract negotiations continue between the Chancellor's Office of the State System of Higher Education (State System) and the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF). More than 30 days ago, APSCUF members authorized their leadership to call a strike at any time. By law and by practice, APSCUF leadership is not required to notify the State System Chancellor's Office of the date a strike will begin. We want you to be prepared in the event APSCUF leadership decides to call for a strike that would affect you, your more than 104,000 fellow students, 14 universities, the State System, and the Commonwealth.



Does the State System Chancellor's Office want a strike?



No one representing any part of management of the State System wants a strike. When there is a strike, everyone loses. The State System Chancellor's Office and bargaining team remain committed to achieving a fair contract settlement. Management values the faculties' important roles in students' learning, but an agreement must prevent students having to pay double digit tuition increases each of the next three years in order to fund the contract settlement.



Does the APSCUF membership strike authorization vote mean that a strike will be called?



APSCUF--State System negotiations typically have continued past the expiration of a contract and well into the Fall semester. TheUniontypically has taken a strike authorization vote, and like this most recent vote, the membership overwhelmingly supports the authorization to call a strike. Management cannot guarantee that APSCUF will not strike. It is important, therefore, that you be well-informed in the event a faculty strike occurs.



Are the two sides still talking?



Yes, negotiations have been ongoing for more than a year and continue regularly. Chancellor Judy Hample and the State System's bargaining team are committed to continuing to work hard to reach a settlement as soon as possible. Reductions in State funding due to a declining economy have resulted in a difficult fiscal situation for the State System and the Commonwealth.



Is there any precedent for a strike?



APSCUF leadership has never actually called a walk-out in the history of the State System. What would the State System and its Universities do in the event of a strike? Each University, under the leadership of its University President, has a detailed contingency plan that would be put into operation the moment a strike occurs. University campuses will remain open. All legal means available will be taken to ensure student safety and to keep students on schedule toward the completion of their degrees.



Would all faculty members strike?



By law, individual faculty members have the right to decline to participate in a strike. We hope that faculty members will honor their commitment to students and conduct their classes as scheduled. University strike contingency plans intentionally do not include the hiring of replacement classroom faculty during the semester a strike occurs. State System officials believe that the hiring of such individuals would diminish the quality of your education.



What should students do if a strike is called?



In the event of a strike, students should plan to remain on campus and report to regularly scheduled classes. It is important that students attend every scheduled session in the event that their professor does not strike or returns to class at a session later in the day or week. By policy, during a strike, professors/instructors are not allowed to change the meeting site for a class; all classes must meet in the location scheduled for the semester. Students cannot be penalized for refusing to meet at an alternative site, and instructor requests for students to report to different locations should be reported immediately to the Office of the University President. Students should also continue with extra-curricular activities as normal. All campus facilities, including libraries, athletic facilities, residence halls and so forth will remain open and functional. State System officials and the Universities' Presidents will continue to be in contact with students until a settlement is reached.



If a strike occurs, will I lose credits to graduation?



Students will NOT lose graduation credits due to a strike. When faculty strikes have occurred in other universities, student course completions have been accommodated either as part of the settlement with the faculty union or by management. Students have not lost graduation credits due to the strike. The quality of your education, including ability to complete your degree, is a priority of the management of the State System.

For the latest updates on negotiations, please visit the State System's Web site at www.sshechan.edu/APSCUF.

Under Bob.
Convert to Bob-ism.

A comment thred from Slashdot:
Supreme Court Will Hear Pledge of Allegiance Case

No one is talking about this. Why?
I blame the Bush administration.

Meanwhile, Congress needs to send a little of that war deficit toward something worthwhile, like NASA.

China Launches Its First Piloted Spaceflight

China launches its first astronaut into space

Lady Willow's Journal

--> Just pimpin'

I noticed it this weekend. The trees are starting to change colors. Beautiful yellows and oranges right now.

They turned all of a sudden. I guess the cold snap we had triggered it, but it's warm again, an Indian Summer. Not for long, though. I expect it to be a cold and snowy winter.

I wouldn't put any money on big storms appearing, but I expect lots of accumulation without too much melting.

For the irony file: Microsoft is upset because an operating system maker is bundling a web browser with their systems.