The Back of Tuor's Head

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.