Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) and the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) announced on Thursday that negotiators representing the organizations have reached an “agreement in principle” for a new faculty contract.

According to a joint APSCUF and PASSHE press release, negotiators reached an “agreement in principle” on Sept. 18 for the faculty contract between PASSHE and APSCUF.

The announcement comes after five consecutive days of interest-based bargaining (IBB) that began on Sept. 14 at Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.

For this faculty contract, the state system and APSCUF have engaged in interest-based bargaining, which focuses on collaboration instead of traditional exchanges of contract proposals. Negotiators met for a total of 21 days since talks began in mid-May, according to the release.

When negotiations began, Kara Laskowski, president of SU’s chapter of APSCUF, said “IBB is supposed to be a better way to conduct the negotiations.”

The most recent contract expired on June 30. However, the contract remains in effect until a new collective bargaining agreement is ratified, the release said.

“I believe that the agreement in principle represents a historic advance in the process of creating a shared vision of how our universities should operate to best serve our students,” said APSCUF President Ken Mash.

He added that the principal components of the agreement “are fair,” citing the agreement addresses faculty concerns and establishes a solid foundation for the future of public higher education in Pennsylvania.

PASSHE Board of Governors Chair Cindy Shapira said the agreement is another milestone of the system redesign.

“We’ve achieved that goal together. Reaching this milestone is another example of what System Redesign is all about—working together to solve complex problems with the shared understanding of our common interests and always putting students at the center of everything we do,” she said.

PASSHE Chancellor Dan Greenstein praised the decision, “Along the way, we built lasting relationships that will serve us well as we collaborate to create a better future for our students, our 14 universities, and our Commonwealth,” he said.

Legal counsel for APSCUF and the State System will continue to finalize language before a tentative agreement is available for APSCUF members. The ratification process will begin after the language is completed, according to the release.

PASSHE Board of Governors Chair Cindy Shapira said the agreement is another milestone of the system redesign.

“We’ve achieved that goal together. Reaching this milestone is another example of what the system redesign is all about — working together to solve complex problems with the shared understanding of our common interests and always putting students at the center of everything we do,” she said.

PASSHE Chancellor Dan Greenstein praised the decision.

“Along the way, we built lasting relationships that will serve us well as we collaborate to create a better future for our students, our 14 universities and our Commonwealth,” Greenstein said.

Legal counsel for APSCUF and the state system will continue to finalize language before a tentative agreement is available for APSCUF members. The ratification process will begin after the language is completed, according to the release.

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