In a recent letter, Kutztown University professor Eric F. Johnson attempted to explain why the union that represents faculty at the 14 universities that comprise Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education plans to go on strike Oct. 19 if it doesn’t have a new contract by then. Unfortunately, in doing so, Dr. Johnson mischaracterized much of what the State System is trying to accomplish on behalf of students during these negotiations.
Dr. Johnson begins by repeating the erroneous claim frequently cited by APSCUF that the State System is seeking more than 240 changes to the contract between the System and the union. While it is true we are seeking several substantive changes-all designed to provide the universities greater flexibility; and, more important, to enhance our students’ educational experience-it is nowhere near that number. Even worse than his exaggeration is his misrepresentation of the State System’s various proposals.
Dr. Johnson says the State System wants to “have students teach college courses.” The System had proposed allowing certain students who are working toward a master’s degree the opportunity to teach instructional laboratories and clinics-not courses-with the approval of the permanent faculty within the department, and under the direction of a faculty mentor. The student would have had to be a master’s student in good standing and have completed at least 18 graduate credits in the program. Opportunities such as these would have provided qualified students-as determined by the department’s regular faculty-the ability to gain important teaching experiences as they worked toward a graduate degree. This is considered a best practice in higher education. Dr. Johnson himself was recognized earlier this year as a “KU Difference Maker” on the university’s website, praised by a former undergraduate student, who said “(He) also offered me a supplemental instructor position for two of his intro classes to give me some tutoring/teaching experience.” APSCUF rejected this proposal, and the State System has withdrawn it.
Dr. Johnson also claims the State System has proposed allowing universities to “assign faculty members to teach outside their fields of knowledge (in other words, a biology class can be taught by an English professor).” The State System has never offered any such proposal. A proposed change to the contract would give the universities more flexibility to move qualified faculty to other departments to meet the needs of students. It would remove a current requirement that faculty in the receiving department vote by secret ballot whether to accept a qualified faculty member from another department. The receiving faculty still would have input into the process.
Dr. Johnson’s claims that the System wants to have “40 percent or more of classes taught by a rotating pool of temps” and to “replace in-person teaching with massive online courses” have no basis in fact. The State System does not have any proposal that would require any student to take an online course, nor any that would require any faculty member to teach a course via any form of distance education. We do want to ensure that our universities can appropriately respond to the rising student demand for more online courses.
When accurately explained, it is clear the State System’s proposals seek to enhance the educational experience students receive. They also recognize the outstanding contributions our outstanding faculty-including Dr. Johnson-make to the success of those students and the universities.
State System faculty salaries rank among the top 10 to 15 percent in the nation among their peers at similar public institutions, a fact of which we are proud. The State System’s latest offer to APSCUF would provide an additional $159 million in raises over the next three years, provided the union agrees to healthcare plan changes similar to those accepted by other employees across the Commonwealth and other contractual changes that would produce needed cost savings of about $70 million. For individual faculty members, the raises would range from 7.25 percent to 17.25 percent over the life of the new contract. Last year, total faculty earnings-not including benefits-averaged nearly $100,000 across all four faculty ranks. The average ranged from $63,304 for instructors to $126,209 for full professors.
Updates on the negotiations between the State System and APSCUF are available online at www.passhe.edu/negotiations.
Kenn Marshall, Media Relations Manager,
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education
