Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education Chancellor Frank T. Brogan hosted a Facebook Live webcast to discuss the State System’s negotiations with the faculty union and to answer students’ questions at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 4.
“A chance to ask questions regarding one of the most important things that this or any other system does and that is dealing with the issue of collective bargaining and how it impacts you, our students,” opened Brogan. “This broadcast is dedicated to you, our students.”
After explaining who he is, that he was hired as PASSHE chancellor three years ago after serving as chancellor in the Florida State University System as well as president of Florida Atlantic University previously, to name a few prior education positions, Brogan explained how collective bargaining works, while students posted comments and questions live on how a strike would affect them.
“I deal in candor. I deal in fact. I do not deal in spin. I do not deal in rhetoric or hyperbole,” he said.
Throughout the live webcast, students, parents and faculty posted comments.
Tara Bennett posted, “‘I deal in fact’ okay it’s fact that you won’t take a paycut and refused binding arbitration, so it’s fact that you don’t care about students’ education.”
Suzy Q Carbo posted, “Too late, you have been spinning away since 11:30.”
Nine minutes into the live broadcast, Brogan read the first question that had been submitted prior to the broadcast. The first question was from a Kutztown University student, John, saying that the State System’s current proposal offers a $159 million increase to faculty salaries at the expense of $70 million in health care benefits and operational budget cuts. John wrote that the State System’s justification was this would better align faculty benefit packages with other state systems and state employees. “We should be offering competitive rather than commensurate benefit packages to attract, retain and reward the best faculty,” wrote John. “How does the State System intend to encourage students to pursue post baccalaureate higher education while sending the message that the State System does not value its own educators?”
“John, it’s a great and complicated question,” responded Brogan. “Our faculty, contrary to what you may be hearing, are respected by this chancellor, by the Board of Governors, by our presidents and our universities. … We know you respect them too for what they do, but we are required to go through the collective bargaining process.”
Brogan said there are amounts of money that have gone back and forth and contract language proposals that may change what has been done for the last 40 years. He asked students to not equate dollar figures or contract language with their level of respect for faculty.
“We have offered a 12 percent increase … because our faculty deserve it,” he said.
Brogan said the State System has made proposals for contract language changes “to make sure that the experience you and future students receive continues to be a world class opportunity because the world continues to change in higher education as to its needs.”
Going to an online question from Mary Jo, asking why PASSHE did not agree to binding arbitration, a three-person panel that could conclude the contract dispute, Brogan responded, “Decisions that are fundamentally important to collective bargaining, with any group, especially faculty, should first and foremost be made at the collective bargaining table,” said Brogan. “You have to come with both sides ready to negotiate and both sides be ready to mitigate one way or the other to arrive at a successful conclusion. And we’re working to do that.”
Comments continued to be posted live throughout the broadcast, too numerous to list. Many asked what would happen to student tuition and classes if a strike does occur. Others questioned why PASSHE administration, including Brogan, are not taking pay cuts.
Tara Bennett posted, “Watching him try to win back the PASSHE student body is beautiful.”
Nicole Zensky posted, “You literally aren’t telling us what we actual need to know.”
Amanda Lynch D’Agostino posted, “You really ought to be respectful of our students’ time and answer their questions.”
Suzy Q Carbo posted, “What happened to the idea of answering questions? This seems like a political speech.”
Gabi Marie posted, “How can you claim that you respect our faculty when just last week, you referred to them as ‘teaching machines’ just last week in negotiations?”
Tyler Longo posted, “‘Many of the people watching today’ could be a lot more if you didn’t conveniently schedule a discussion with students when most students are in class.”
Suzy Q Carbo posted, “Do not let him spin this, many other states use binding arbitration and in fact the research says that the outcomes are fair if not slightly in favor of management.”
Chrissy Fontanese posted, “The best interest of students is to have fully tenured professors on faculty being paid well for their level of expertise. Having teaching assistants is a way to keep from paying fully tenured faculty.”
Kimberly Firestine posted, “Thanks for not answering any questions. We truly appreciate your hard work to ensure that students believe you don’t truly care about their education or money.”
After explaining binding arbitration and fact finding, Brogan answered a question pre-submitted by a Shippensburg University student who wrote that he/she cannot handle another increase to tuition. How will negotiations impact the union and the State System without increasing the cost of tuition?
“I’ve never liked having to talk about tuition increases but I also understand our budgets derive from two methodologies,” said Brogan, noting state funding contributions to state universities has decreased over the years. “The only other place to go is to students and their families.”
He said this Board of Governors and previous boards have worked hard to keep those increases as low as possible.
“We would not want to see a student have to leave because they cannot afford tuition any longer.”
Answering an online question about whether he believes a strike will happen, he said whether or not a strike happens is out of his control.
“We don’t want a strike,” said Brogan. “The vast majority of your faculty do not want a strike to become a reality. They’re in this business for you and we are, too.”
Brogan said there are still several negotiation dates on the docket before the strike date of Oct. 19, to “stay at the table … find a successful conclusion.”
Addressing student concerns that a strike would close classes, Brogan said they will do everything in their power to prevent a strike.
“Should a strike occur, you have our commitment that we will do everything possible to make sure that you have an uninterrupted opportunity to finish your semester, collect a grade and ultimately the credits that go along with that grade for the hard work that you put in. We may have to find different approaches to it. People will have to be patient, because in the extreme, it may require delays in ultimately satisfying those grades.”
Brogan also answered questions about graduate students teaching courses; “Why would you give students the ability to teach other students?”
He explained that it is a contract language change proposal that would allow graduate students, with 18 credits and under the supervision of a full professor, to teach clinics and laboratories.
“This offers on-the -ground teaching experience but only in clinics and laboratories,” he said. “Only under the direct supervision of a full professor.”
APSCUF is opposed to that proposal. Brogan said PASSHE has therefore withdrawn that proposal.
He assured others that there has never been a strike in 30 years, and PASSHE intends to do everything to prevent one.
If a strike does occur, Brogan said all students are responsible to report to their classes, no matter what the professor chooses to do.
“Even if there is not a professor present, universities will be looking to see who is in class. … Your obligation as students is to go to class unless otherwise told.”
If a strike does occur, Brogan said, PASSHE has had a contingency plan at every university for many years.
“To the greatest degree possible, our contingency plan has you, our students, right at the epicenter of them … to make sure that we can continue to provide uninterrupted your educational endeavors.”
This includes dorms, food and extracurriculars.
Brogan said PASSHE intends to continue to answer questions in writing.
View the full webcast at facebook.com/statesystem.
A Student Fact Sheet and a series of frequently asked questions related to the negotiations and possible strike by APSCUF is available at passhe.edu/negotiations.
