Apscuf-KU May Newsletter

1

APSCUF-KU Newsletter

May 2016

The American of University Professors’ recent report, “Higher Education at a Crossroads: The Annual Report on the Economic Status of the Profession, 2015-16,” stresses that over the past 40 years, the number of faculty holding full-time tenured positions has dropped by 26 percent and that the number of people holding those positions has fallen by 50 percent.

Higher education truly is at a crossroads, and the AAUP report makes it clear that students, universities, and disciplines have suffered under a system that increasingly relies on adjunct faculty.

According to the report: There are clear economic benefits to expanding academic tenure. Greater job security allows faculty members to mentor students and junior colleagues more effectively. It also enables them to take greater risks in instruction and research, which often yield improved educational experiences and outcomes. Breakthroughs in research benefit the broader society as well. These claims are supported by the results of a survey conducted by the AAUP Research Office and by interviews conducted with tenured faculty members across the nation, including a recipient of a MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant and a Nobel Prize winner.

The AAUP report concludes that if colleges and universities hope to excel, they need to develop KU Proud

Accomplishments of KU students, faculty, and staff.

P. 4

Degrees of Value

Our Union

Albert Fu: Criticizing Return-On-Investment Approach To Degrees in PA

Message from Legislative Committee Chair Glenn Richardson

P. 8

P. 11

2

APSCUF-KU Newsletter

May 2016

mechanisms to convert adjunct positions into full-time tenure-track positions, which can be done with an additional 2 percent of university expenditures per year.

While the focus is on the profession, of course the report takes place within a context of a growing national appreciation of the plight of adjunct faculty and their struggles to make a decent living. That attention has been brought about by the hard work of organized adjunct faculty dedicated to improving their situations.

Improving working conditions for adjunct faculty is absolutely necessary. Universities across the country continue to intolerably exploit real people in day-to-day economically precarious positions.

However, the AAUP report is correct in stressing that the key is to convert adjunct positions into tenure-track lines. The number of adjuncts is growing because universities will exploit their workforce to the degree they can. It is not enough, however, to simply make the exploitation more tolerable. Although improving conditions for adjunct faculty does drive up the cost of that system, the true solution is to eliminate the system of exploitation.

There will always be a need for some adjunct faculty, but today the need is for more tenure-track positions. We are fortunate that our collective-bargaining agreement contains conversion language and a cap on the number of adjuncts. While certainly imperfect in text and in practice, this language has served to safeguard the State System from many of the ills that have infected much of higher education.

The AAUP report makes it clear that it is in the interest of our universities to maintain and strengthen our conversion language. One can only hope our university presidents and our State System officials will read the report carefully.

In solidarity, Ken

State APSCUF President – Ken Mash, East Stroudsburg; Vice-President – Jamie Martin, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Immediate Past President – Steve Hicks, Lock Haven; Treasurer – Chris Hallen, Bloomsburg; Secretary – Helen Bieber, Kutztown; Coach Executive Leader – Keith White, Kutztown; Faculty Officer-At-Large – B.J. Mullaney, Cheney; Faculty Officer-At-Large – Joyce Overly, Clarion; Faculty Officer-At-Large –Kara Laskowski, Shippensburg Labor Relations, (Grievance - Faculty and Coaches): Head of Labor Relations – Mary Rita Duvall; Directors – Julie A. Reese, Joshua J. Grubbs, Sara E. Miller; Administrative Assistants – Jewell Tunstall, Angela Belcher Government and External Relations: Associate Director of Government Relations – Carrie Hillman; Associate Director of Communications – Kathryn Morton; Administrative Assistant – Ty Marks Membership Services: Director – Nancy Koutris; Secretary/Receptionist – Monica Troutman State Organizer: Chris Ayala Support Staff: Executive Secretary – Lisa Demko; Administrative Assistant for Fiscal Affairs & Manager for Physical Facilities – Dedorah Myers 319 North Front Street Harrisburg, PA 17101; 717.236.7487 or 800.932.0587 qualityeducation@apscuf.org

2

APSCUF-KU Newsletter

May 2016

APSCUF Local Leadership

Incoming Leadership Faculty President, 1June: Amanda Morris, English Vice-President, 1 June: Bill Donner, Anthro/Soc Secretary, 1 June: Albert Fu, Anthro/Soc Treasurer, 1 July: Ju Zhou, Mathematics Delegate, 1 September: Tabetha Bernstein-Danis, Special Ed Delegate, 1 September: Daniel Haxall, Fine Arts Alternate, 1 September: Viviana Lucabeche, Counseling & Psych Services Alternate, 1 September: Kevin Mahoney, English Coaches President: John Gump Vice-President: Judy Lawes Continuing Leadership Delegate: Lisa Frye, CompSci & IT Delegate: Dina Hayduk, Sport Management & Leadership Studies Delegate: Jason Lanter, Psychology Delegate: Glenn Richardson, PolySci & Public Administration Delegate: Tom Stewart, Academic Enrichment Alternate: Timothy O’Boyle, Anthro/Soc Alternate: Denise Darrah, Elementary Ed Alternate: Angelo Rodriguez, Modern Languages

Congratulations, Helen! Thank you for your service.

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson Helen Bieber, an APSCUF member for more than three decades, has served on executive council since 1998 — a total of nine terms. She worked on the faculty negotiations team for the 2003–07 and 2007–11 contracts and chaired ad hoc committees on video conferencing and telecommunications.

This on top of duties as APSCUF-KU VP, and department chair of Kutztown’s department of electronic media.

She also has deep roots in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Her bachelor’s and master’s degrees are from Clarion University, and she taught at Indiana University of Pennsylvania before Kutztown hired her. http://apscuf.org/blog/item/375-after-decades-ofunion-service-state-secretary-leaves-her-mark Retirement: June 2016

3

APSCUF-KU Newsletter

Congratulations

*Joshua Steinberg, a December 2015 graduate, won a Fulbright Teaching Assistantship (ETA) grant to travel to Germany for the 2016-17 academic year. *Junior Brittany Larkin was awarded the PennsylvaniaDelaware Chapter of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired Student of the Year Education Scholarship.

May 2016

Congratulations, KU Class of 2016!

Best wishes as you begin your next journey

On Saturday, May 7, over 1,300 students walked across the commencement stage in the O’Pake Fieldhouse at KU. The morning ceremony honored graduates from the Colleges of Business and Education and the afternoon honored our Colleges of Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates. Morning speakers included assistant professor Dr. Amy Kennedy (Elementary Education) and student speakers Matthew Rozzi (Counseling) and Matthew Kuna (Secondary Education). The afternoon speakers were Dr. Frank Kumor (Music) and student speakers William Anthony (Social Work) and Viviana Vidal (Communication Studies). Graduates and their families enjoyed the day’s events as the town bustled with the excitement of accomplishments to celebrate and new adventures to discover.

APSCUF-KU Executive Committee President – Paul Quinn; Vice-President – Helen Bieber; Secretary – James Jackson; Treasurer – Kenneth Ehrensal; Delegates – Lisa Frye, Dina Hayduk, Jason Lanter, Viviana Lucabeche, Kevin Mahoney, Glenn Richardson, Thomas Stewart; Alternate Delegates – Helen Bieber, Denise Darrah, Kenneth Ehrensal, Carolyn Gardner, James Jackson, Timothy O’Boyle, Angelo Rodriguez; Senate Representative – Robert L. Smith; Health & Welfare – Dina Hayduk; Grievance Co-Chairs – Ruth Perkins, Viviana Lucabeche

4

1

APSCUF-KU Newsletter

Congratulations

*Dr. Anne Zayaitz was named provost and vice president for academic affairs. *Best wishes for the retirement of Dr. James Sowerwine (History). *Finance and Business Department employees Anil Aras, Debbie Logenhagen, Barbara Reitz, Craig Johnson, Gregory Dotter, and Matthew Delaney won the Military Club at Keystone Warriors 5K Challenge for the 3rd year in a row. *Junior Claire Santa (Bio/Molecular Cell) was chosen as one of only 50 students across the country who will participate in Oxfam America’s CHANGE Initiative Program to be July 23-28 in Quincy, MA.

May 2016

Lawes and Sienko Named to Academic All-District Team

Kutztown University seniors Rachel Lawes (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) andDanielle Sienko (Philadelphia, Pa./William Penn Charter) were honored for their success in the classroom and on the softball field on Thursday afternoon. They were named to the 2016 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District Team.

The Golden Bear duo will now be placed on CoSIDA's Academic AllAmerica ballot, where first-, second- and third-team All-America honorees will be selected later this month.

Lawes and Sienko are the third and fourth players in program history to be named Academic All-District, along with Jennifer Hummel in 1998 and Colleen Smith (Islip Terrace, N.Y./East Islip (Hofstra))last year. They have a chance to be the first Academic All-Americans in program history.

Both Lawes and Sienko are members of the KU Honors Program. They have earned Dean's List honors in each of their seven semesters, are threetime Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Scholar-Athletes, two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Scholar-Athletes and two-time D2ADA Academic Achievement Award recipients.

5

2

APSCUF-KU Newsletter Congratulations *Biology majors David Grow, Antonina Esposto, Alyssa Boswell, and Christina Ellis presented their research at the 47th Annual Meeting of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Biologists. *KU student and football player Ryan Baron was received the Tri-County American Red Cross Adult Good Samaritan Heroes Award at their annual Berks County Heroes Breakfast.

May 2016

Lawes and Sienko Named to Academic All-District Team Lawes carries a 3.96 grade-point-average as a communication studies major. She is batting a career-high .295 this year with 28 hits and a careerbest 20 RBI. A Reading native, Lawes has started all 47 games as a senior. For her career, she has started in 158-of-198 games.

Sienko holds a 3.94 GPA as an applied mathematics major. She was named to the All-PSAC Eastern Division First Team this year for the first time of her career, and earned a 2016 Chambliss Academic Achievement Award Copper Medal for her research project in mathematics.

Sienko, a Philadelphia native, is batting a career-high .346 as a senior with 27 RBI and 45 hits. She is slugging a career-high .538, thanks to a teamleading 14 doubles, and has started in 166 of her 177 career games.

For more information about the Academic All-District™ and Academic All-AmericaŽ Teams program, please visit www.cosida.com

by Bryan Salvadore, Sports Information Director Reprinted from www.kubears.com .

Fine Arts Junior Emma Osle

Fine Arts Junior Emma Osle was the Dixon Center Atrium Sculpture Contest. This biennial contest solicits proposal from State System art students to propose a suspended sculpture to build and install in the atrium of the Dixon Center. The winning sculpture remains on view for 2 years. The winner receives a $1000 prize plus $1000 for materials to build the sculpture. Emma's proposal will be on view beginning Fall 17.

Reprinted from the Kutztown University Daily Brief.

6

CAP: THE POLITICAL VOICE OF APSCUF

APSCUF-KU Newsletter

q

May 2016

APSCUF's Committee for Action through Politics (APSCUF/CAP) is the political voice for APSCUF faculty and coaches. Since its inception in 1981, CAP has assisted faculty and coaches in making informed political decisions. CAP is a nonpartisan organization that supports candidates who will advocate for APSCUF's goals and priorities. To find out more about APSCUF/CAP, download the CAP brochure.

Visit APSCUF's member's forum (login required) to view APSCUF/CAP's recommendations for the 2016 primary election.

Wondering why you should donate to CAP? When you contribute to APSCUF/CAP, you become involved in the political process. Your CAP donations support candidates for state office who will advocate for public higher education and have strong records on labor, education, and budget issues.

APSCUF/CAP members have the opportunity to: Attend fundraising events.

Build relationships with policymakers.

Make important endorsement decisions.

Assist candidates who support APSCUF goals.

Participate in golf outings to support candidates. http://apscuf.org/members/cap http://www.apscuf.org/forum/

WHAT CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION DURING THE BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS HEARING

PUTTING IT ALL ON THE TABLE: COMMUNISM, SOCIALISM, OLD DINOSAURS, YOUR 17-HOUR WORKWEEK, STRUGGLING UNIVERSITIES AND SUPERMARKETS, APSCUF BASHING, PER-CREDIT TUITION, AND MORE “I will remind all of us, not just you (the chancellor), that everybody has to be part of the conversation,“ she said. “And we can rail against certain entities or groups, but they’ve got to be part of this because they are a key factor in making sure that our students get the education that they need. … you look at a Cheyney or you look at a Millersville or you look at, for example, Kutztown. They are vital parts of our community. They are great economic contributors, but they’re also a part of the institution, too. So those entities also have to be involved in this conversation as well.” ~ Senator Schwank House: http://apscuf.org/blog/item/362-what-caught-our-attention-during-thehouse-budget-appropriations-hearings Senate: http://apscuf.org/blog/item/363-what-caught-our-attention-during-thesenate-budget-appropriations-hearing

7

Hot Button Issue: Criticizing Return-On-Investment Approach To Degrees in PA

APSCUF-KU Newsletter

May 2016

Earlier this year, Pennsylvania’s System of Higher Education (PASSHE) issued a press release on a report entitled Degrees of Value. This report from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce will become part of the State System’s “Program Alignment Toolkit.” Looking at undergraduate degrees and income, the report essentially takes a return-on-investment (ROI) approach to college degrees. In PASSHE’s press release, it noted that: “While college-educated employees in any field tend to earn more than those with only a high school education, the college majors that lead to the highest earnings are in STEM, health and business. For example, a major in architecture and engineering, the highest-paying area of STEM, led to average earnings of $82,500 in Pennsylvania.”

The ROI approach to undergraduate programs is highly problematic and often criticized. Not only are there problems with its logic, it is typically used as an attack on the arts and humanities. APSCUF, the union representing faculty in the PASSHE system, has issued its statement on the report. However, I would like to offer my thoughts on the report. I do not find the results of the report particularly surprising. What is disconcerting is that the document lacks nuance even when using a ROI rationale and the report’s own data.

Take for example the state average for students who majored in the humanities and liberal arts. Median earnings for a humanities and liberal arts major between the ages of 12-64 is $45,300 statewide.

However, a humanities and liberal arts major in the Southeast region of the state makes $49,900, which is more than a biology and life science major living in the Northwest region of the state ($46,400) and pretty close to a biology major in the Southwest region ($51,000).

(Fig. 1) Source: Degrees of Value, Fig.14, pgs. 23-

PA Region Central Northeast Northwest Southeast Southwest Statewide

Biology & Life Science $58,500 $56,800 $46,400 $63,700 $51,000 $59,700

Humanities & Liberal Arts $44,100 $40,000 $36,100 $49,900 $41,200 $45,300 Fig. 1

8

Hot Button Issue: Criticizing Return-On-Investment Approach To Degrees in PA

APSCUF-KU Newsletter

May 2016

The Degrees of Value report only briefly discusses geographic differences. However, it only does so within majors. This is because using income as a benchmark is complicated by significant regional differences in jobs, cost of living, and economic resources. Yet, the report’s focus is solely on income.

PASSHE’s acceptance of the report reinforces faculty fears of a vocational-drive by campus administrators and state leaders. Yet, the data within the report does not support a vocational-drive based on ROI. Students majoring in the social sciences make more than those in fields such as agriculture and natural resources, education, law & public policy, journalism, industrial arts, and social work. (Fig. 2) In addition to the report’s focus on STEM-H, business majors are a focus. Yet, social science majors in the Southeast Region do better than many business majors across the state. (Fig. 3) Source: Degrees of Value, Fig. 14, pgs. 23-24

Source: Degrees of Value, Fig. 12, pgs. 23-24

PA Region

Business

Social Sciences

Central

$55,900

$49,500

Northeast

$50,500

$42,100

Northwest

$46,300

$42,900

$43,400

Southeast

$67,300

$60,500

$42,100

Southwest

$55,00

$47,100

Statewide

$58,900

$52,800

Major

Median earning by undergraduate major group age 21-64

Social Sciences

$52,800

Agriculture & Natural Resources Education

$50,800

Law & Public Policy

$46,700

Communications & Journalism Industrial Arts, Consumer Services & Recreation Psychology & Social Work

(Excluding Psychology & Social Work)

$47,800

$42,100

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

It is also important to note that nationally, the gap between humanities & social science, and professional & pre-professional fields closes significantly over the course of a worker’s career.

Source: Chronicle of Higher Education, AAUP. In conclusion, the equating of undergraduate degree with income is simplistic. It ignores economic geography, labor market dimensions, as well less quantifiable benefits such as career satisfaction, community service, and job security.

Albert Fu

9

APSCUF-KU Newsletter

May 2016

OUR LEGISLATIVE GOALS AND AGENDA APSCUF LEGISLATIVE GOALS AND PRIORITIES FOR 2015-2016 SESSION

A. Restore state funding to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education to pre 2011 levels and guarantee a 2 year tuition freeze. Total funding needed is $513 million (a $110 million increase from 2014-15).

B. Protect member retirement benefits and options.

C. Work in solidarity with the labor movement to preserve worker’s rights (e.g.preserve fair share, prevailing wage, collection of union dues, oppose liquor privatization, and support raising the minimum wage.)

D. Protect tenure and academic freedom.

E. Support legislation or regulations that would increase transparency for the State System of Higher Education.

F. Advocate for student voting rights.

G. Work to decrease the indebtedness of PASSHE students in different ways including changes in PHEAA grants and studying other state’s solutions for student debt.

H. Identify and build policy solutions to help Cheyney University recover from recent financial and institutional problems, including the promotion and inancial restoration of the Cheyney Keystone Honors Academy.

I. Promote legislation that properly regulates for-profit institutions of higher education Read APSCUF’s positions on Degrees of Value report & per-credit tuition

Degrees of Value report

APSCUF’s complete response

“At this point, the purpose of the Degrees of Value document appears to be an indictment of not only the liberal arts majors but also a signal that proposed changes are on the way,” the statement concludes. “The document is a leverage tool. All faculty should familiarize themselves with the report and be prepared to respond.”

Per-Credit Tuition

APSCUF position statement

“These pilot programs come at a time when the average Pennsylvania student already graduates from the State System with over $30,000 in debt,” the 2015 resolution reads. “From a national perspective, Pennsylvania ranks third-highest in student loan debt. Nearly 80 percent of PASSHE students accept some form of financial aid.

These tuition increases will place an even greater financial burden on students and their families.”

10

1

APSCUF-KU Newsletter

May 2016

A Letter to Faculty, Coaches, and Athletic Trainers from Legislative Committee Chair Glenn Richardson

Dear Fellow Faculty, Coaches, and Athletic Trainers: In the days ahead, our union confronts a prolonged and already bitter battle over our contract, set against an ongoing effort to privatize public higher education and eviscerate public employee unions. For the Chancellor of the State System of Higher Education (SSHE) and his legislative allies, our contract negotiation process is public theater. We have been cast as petulant, overcompensated, 17-hour a week employees protected by a cumbersome contract that provides swim coaches with $400,000 a year jobs. Political pressure to curb public employee pay and pension is high. It is quite likely the greatest trial APSCUF has faced in our 80-year history. t is thus incumbent upon us to assess and, I trust, to reaffirm, our common commitments.

In his inaugural address, John F. Kennedy challenged Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” As a union, we union are not there. At an APSCUF-KU Rep Council meeting this Spring, a member asked: what does our union do for us in exchange for our dues? It is a question we must be able to answer enthusiastically if we are to move forward united against the challenges ahead of us. Let us then consider what our union does for us in several key areas. Please bear in mind, the core services our union provides, it provides equally to faculty whether they are in the union or not.

Compensation and Job Security First, our union is responsible for sustaining our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). It provides us with strong protections against managerial encroachment into our areas of responsibility (including curriculum) and grants job protections not found in many colleges and universities. While none would find all its provisions ideal, its sacred provisions are no more secure than our vigilant observance of all of its provisions. It is because of the contract that the swim coach was able to recover years of underpayment (ultimately in one lump sum) resulting in a “$400,000” paycheck in one year. Without our CBA and our union, there can be little doubt, given the testimony of SSHE Chancellor Frank T. Brogan earlier this year, that: more and more faculty would be hired on a contingency basis, for less and less pay, with fewer and fewer benefits, in fewer departments in a system with fewer universities.

A retired colleague used to quip that ever since it was invented, money has been the universal currency of appreciation. Our CBA delivers on pay. No pay comparison can easily capture all the permutations of subfield and compensation, but according to Chronicle of Higher Education data on pay (http://data.chronicle.com/category/ccbasic/18/faculty-salaries/), KU salaries for the ranks of professor and associate professor rate in the top 15 percent nationally for large master’s universities. Those ahead of us are predominantly private institutions, a handful of public universities in New York and New Jersey and one or two Penn State operations. You may be aware that for U.S. workers, the gender pay gap narrows among unionized workers. It is true for faculty as well. According to the Chronicle data, professor and associate professor pay for women at KU rates in the top 12 percent nationally. The salaries at these ranks lay claim to being the

11

2

APSCUF-KU Newsletter

May 2016

best benchmark overall as they are the ones most faculty will ultimately earn. While KU salaries at the rank of assistant professor fall to the top 35 percent, that is not because of the CBA. Shippensburg, West Chester, East Stroudsburg, Clarion, and Edinboro all rank in the top 15 percent nationally, and several other SSHE schools rank higher than KU. Slippery Rock, the highest ranked SSHE university, ranks in the top 8 percent of assistant professor salaries under our CBA. Instructor pay at KU falls to 37 percent, but again, this cannot be laid against the CBA. It is the result of the hiring practices of KU management. California, Slippery Rock and Edinboro all rank between the top 21 and 23 percent of pay nationally at the instructor rank under our CBA. As to adjunct faculty specifically, our contract is literally seen as a model nationally, in particular its provision on conversion of adjunct positions to tenure-track status. Further, our CBA caps the number of adjunct faculty at 25 percent of the total, providing a bulwark of job security for three-fourths of our members, while insuring that we have experienced and committed faculty in our classrooms.

While the Chronicle data do not address health care benefits, no less an authority than Chancellor Brogan stated to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives SSHE budget appropriations hearings that our health plan is “not a Cadillac plan alone, it is a Cadillac with fins. It is an extraordinary health care plan, and stack it up against the rest of the country in higher ed it is one of the best that I’ve ever seen and that some of our experts have ever seen.” So good, in fact, Brogan suggested, it needs to be curbed. Brogan suggested that after his initiatives to boost co-pays, deductibles, etc., our benefits would still be equal to those at Penn State and Pitt—both non-union universities. Apparently Pitt faculty are thinking about that too. In December, it was reported that a unionization drive there had begun.

Our union is also responsible for the provision of our outstanding dental and vision plan that covers faculty and their dependents. No premium is required, with benefits based on full- or part-time status.

Unions do not only deliver on pay days. They deliver on all the days.

Shared Governance Our union also presents our interests and concerns to the university administration through the “meetand-discuss” process. Through these efforts, APSCUF-KU was able to obtain the detailed financial records that allowed us to challenge the administration’s proposal to eliminate more than 50 faculty members’ jobs through retrenchment. Absent our union’s effort, many of these jobs would surely have been lost. It is also through meet-and-discuss that APSCUF-KU is able to address various policy concerns. This past year, for example, APSCUF-KU was able to persuade management to modify an ill-guided policy on snow days that would have docked faculty for not attending meetings scheduled for days when classes were cancelled due to inclement weather. A parallel process occurs at statelevel meet-and-discuss where APSCUF has consistently resisted management’s worst inclinations.

Representation One of the key functions of our union is often unseen by the membership as it deals with confidential matters, representing individual members both in the grievance process and when members are being investigated in disciplinary matters.

The leadership typically shares with the membership when a “policy grievance” has been filed or resolved. In these, APSCUF-KU files a grievance on behalf of all members when the management attempts to institute a policy or procedure that violates the CBA. What are not shared are individual member’s grievances, which are confidential personnel matters. These can range from the “miscalculation” of overload payments to significant violations of tenure or promotion procedures.

Our union is broader than our campus; our CBA serves our 13 sister schools, and we draw strength from their efforts as well. For example, over the past few years, a series of grievances from 12

3

APSCUF-KU Newsletter

May 2016

across the system decided in APSCUF’s favor have supported faculty against the imposition of extracontractual standards in the tenure and promotion process. Every month, on average, a KU faculty member becomes involved with the grievance process. Over a five-year period, that means somewhere between 50 and 60 faculty find themselves squarely immersed in the grievance process.

By the numbers, this is a sizeable share of our faculty.

One of the most valuable affordances of any union is representation and defense in the face of investigation and discipline under CBA Article 43. This is a service that APSCUF frequently provides – about as often as a full moon. The union’s job in such cases is to ensure the due process rights and to represent, zealously, those accused, some of who are clearly falsely accused of wrongdoing and some of who may have been less than outstanding citizens in every way. The union represents both (or even multiple) sides in these disputes. It therefore cannot help but rankle and bother, just by doing the job it is tasked with doing. Further, occasionally conflicts among faculty break along lines of gender, age, rank, or race, exacerbating pre-existing tensions in society at large.

If this volume of litigation surprises you, it may be because the union has been doing one thing it is supposed to do very well: hold confidential matters of personnel. The mere leveling of allegations stains and injures the accused, regardless of guilt or innocence.

Professional Support Our union also supports a dedicated and talented staff at the APSCUF office in Harrisburg. Six staff members including lawyers comprise our labor relations department. Two staffers support member services. Their expertise on the health care benefits afforded by our CBA is extremely valuable. Our government and external relations department provides professional support and engages the legislative and executive branches of our state government. They are crucial in sharing our communications with the public. Their efforts on behalf of our opposition to painful budget cuts and other legislative misery have been heroic.

APSCUF also enlists the support of law firms to assist with matters of the CBA and in the negotiations process. Our most recent contract, in addition to the compensation considerations discussed above, also charts new ground in areas such as class size. Recently, APSCUF solicited a legal opinion to help clarify the tenure and promotion process. That opinion, grounded in the CBA and statutory law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, supports each applicant’s prerogative to choose their own path in pursuit of continuing scholarly development. It is a finding that I believe to be increasingly important as disruption continues to rile the scholarly community, where research in social and physical sciences is ever more the province of corporations—exactly as public support for university research falters.

Advocacy As faculty, our combined contributions to our Committee for Action in Politics (CAP) have afforded us access to legislators and the ability to help candidates who support affordable quality public higher education and the rights of organized labor. We should feel honored that an APSCUF endorsement is cherished among office seekers. This is because they and their constituents value what we do. Our CAP’s decision to become the first statewide union to endorse Tom Wolf in his campaign for governor turned out to be an extremely judicious use of our support, as it earned us valuable recognition. Governor Wolf has gone on to attempt to begin to roll back the devastating budget cuts imposed under his predecessor.

In short, we are blessed with a powerful and effective faculty union. Our union continues to deliver on the issues of greatest concern to our members. __________ Despite this record, however, our KU APSCUF chapter has been riven this past year by a 13

4

APSCUF-KU Newsletter

May 2016

series of accusations, innuendo, and general ill-temper. To this observer (and others) APSCUF-KU Rep Council 2015-2016 has been too frequently disheartening. “Disturbing,” was the way one visitor from another campus put it. At times, meetings have been marked by discord, hostility and mistrust.

“What’s in the water?” asked another representative of the statewide union after visiting a meeting.

There have been incidents of disrespect by faculty toward faculty that many of us would not tolerate in our students. Both by tone and non-verbal expression, bad blood is evident. Such incidents are not confined to any particular precinct or side of the argument. They are dispiriting and not in our common interests. Free and vigorous debate and disagreement do not require discord and disrespect.

We owe each other respect and civility, just as we are charged with cultivating the same in our students.

It is incumbent upon us all to work to resolve these tensions while remaining true to the core values we share. The timing of such dissension is not fortuitous. Resolution will require open and honest communication, albeit bounded by considerations of confidentiality and discretion. If we allow our anger and disdain for one another to define us in this hour of great challenge, we will have failed to secure the blessing that was bestowed upon us by previous generations of APSCUF members and by the organized labor movement itself.

The grains of sand falling through the hourglass may appear to move at a stately and deliberate pace, but that obscures the change that is life’s constant companion. I was reminded of this during one Rep Council meeting this Spring when a representative asked why Kevin Mahoney had been chosen as APSCUF-KU strike chair. It was not an inappropriate question. It later occurred to me that a proper response would be “because he is one of the great labor leaders in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.” Yet, I also realized each year new faculty step forward with their own unique experiences and perspectives. It is the beauty of the arc of life. _________________ It is our great challenge to surmount the divisions that confront us, and to unite in the more powerful commitments that bind us together as one, and to recognize and value the work we all do for each other. Our union must unite as one if we are to succeed as one.

Our union is our collective voice, and it is the only voice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania consistently committed to supporting the goal of affordable quality public higher education in our state. Our mission is great, our cause is just, and the future of affordable public higher education in this state hangs in the balance. Our union gives us the opportunity to fulfill that mission, serve that cause and secure that future. It is built upon the voluntary efforts of scores of faculty like yourself. It deserves our enthusiastic support! ________________ I want to thank all the men and women who have worked so hard to accomplish so much for us through APSCUF, as well as those who shared counsel in the crafting of this document.

Respectfully submitted, Glenn W. Richardson Jr. APSCUF-KU Delegate Department of Political Science

The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

14

APSCUF-KU Newsletter

May 2016

Why Did the New York Times Ask Everybody But Grad Students About Grad Student Unions?

“Given the rich history of student-worker organizing—in and around the New York metropolitan area and around the country, in addition to the highlypublicized, vibrant organizing of private-sector universities challenging the 2004 NLRB decision that has been ongoing in the region for the last two years—we find it disturbing and frustrating that the New York Times failed to interview a single graduate student-worker for its recent op-ed series “Room for Debate” on the graduate and contingent labor movement.”

In These Times, F 22052016, 11:59am ~ ANNA WALTMAN, NATASHA RAHEJA AND

News Round-Up

SHANNON IKEBE

United Faculty of Florida slams Rick Scott’s Degrees to Jobs Summit “Higher education “is about developing educated, well-rounded citizens and future leaders who are able to communicate and write effectively, think critically, and solve problems — skills that are also important criteria for those who do the hiring,” the union’s statement said. “If Gov. Scott is serious about improving higher education, then he would have a real summit that includes our faculty members, who are critical stakeholders in any discussion of higher education and higher education curriculum,” it added.”

St. Peters Blog, ~ James Rosica

Faculty Strike in UK “College and university faculty in the United Kingdom began a two-day strike today against the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA). Members of the University and College Union (UCU) are taking action after talks to resolve a dispute over a 1.1% pay offer collapsed last week. The UCU said the value of university staff pay had declined in real terms by 14.5% since 2009. The union is also concerned about the increasingly insecure nature of employment in universities, with 75,000 staff on temporary contracts, and the continuing gender inequality in pay, with a male member of staff earning on average 12.6% more than a female one… All this will sound familiar to faculty members at U.S. colleges and universities. Clearly the challenges posed by the expanding corporatization and privatization in higher education know no national boundaries, nor do the methods we must employ to combat them. For we are One Faculty!”

Acadame Blog, 25052016 ~ Hank Reichman

15

APSCUF-KU Newsletter

May 2016

Good Reads

Pedagogy of the Precariat by PETAR JANDRIC and HENRY A. GIROUX An important and broad ranging interview with Henry A. Giroux that addresses critical pedagogy in and for the age of the digital media. Topic of discussion include “haunted digital borders and alternative public spheres,” “cultural studies in and for the age of digital cultures,” and “digital imagination machines against the violence of organized forgetting.” Here’s a sneak peak from the final section “Towards a Pedagogy of the Precariat”: G: “A pedagogy that takes on particularly the savagery of the regime of

neoliberalism that has really altered the deck around the assault on the public, the assault on unions, youth, public goods, the environment, public values, and democracy itself. In many ways, the regime of neoliberalism has developed a public pedagogy rooted in poisonous values such as the unbridled belief in market values, radical individualism, and unchecked competition that so limits human possibilities by undermining all notions of the public, solidarity, the support for the common good, and care for others. In this form of market fundamentalism, human agency is reduced to a form of social combat and human relations mimic the logic of exchange values, promoting only matters of self-interest.”

Public Intellectuals Project, Posted on June 16, 2015 by pipeditor

“Dissociated Consciousness[es]”: The Rising Voice of the Administrator and the Falling Voice of the Academic in the Winter 2015 Labour Disruption at the University of Toronto“The usurpation of the academic voice by the university administration has

been a slow but steady process. As Benjamin Ginsberg has noted, “Forty years ago, America’s colleges employed more professors than administrators. The efforts of 446,830 professors were supported by 268,952 administrators and staffers. Over the past four decades, though, the number of full-time professors or ‘full-time equivalents’—that is, slots filled by two or more part-time faculty members whose combined hours equal those of a full-timer—increased slightly more than 50 percent. That percentage is comparable to the growth in student enrollments during the same time period. But the number of administrators and administrative staffers employed by those schools increased by an astonishing 85 percent and 240 percent, respectively.” The example I trace in this paper is symptomatic of the tension between those who profess and those who administer in the contemporary university, a tension which is only getting worse as the contemporary university becomes more punitively neoliberal.”

Public Intellectuals Project, Posted on June 25, 2015 by pipeditor

16

APSCUF-KU Newsletter

May 2016

HelloHello!

This is a call for submissions of 500-750 word essays for the ASPCUF newsletter.

The March PA House and Senate budget-appropriations hearings revealed a legislative body that thinks very little of public education, and even less of educators. I strongly recommend you take a little time to visit the ASPCUF blog for videos and partial transcripts of the proceedings: http://apscuf.org/blog

Letter To Faculty

Of particular note was Sen. John Eichelberger's commentary on professor salaries: “At 97 grand, these are the people that are working 17 hours a week.

Wow," Eichelberger said, "Can I get a signup list here, going in the senate?” Sen. Eichelberger’s comment reveals an insidious misconception that has been tossed about for decades. It is well past the time to bury it.

Sen. Eichelberger is a paid public representative who makes $85,338.65 annually with a $159 per diem, with an office and staff housed in public buildings, not to mention healthcare for life, all of which is paid for with public funds. I don’t know if the Senator realizes it or not, but higher education faculty contribute taxes that pay the salary, per diems and healthcare of all legislators.

I join Sen. Schwank to argue that faculty and institutions of higher education contribute to the development and well being of their communities, and the state as a whole, both qualitatively and quantitatively. I am asking you to help me present that argument.

Melissa K. Downes and Jeanne M. Slattery of Clarion University responded to legislator’s disparaging remarks about faculty on their blog Hand in Hand : https://handinhandclarion.wordpress.com/2016/03/20/seventeen-hours/ I ask that we join them in efforts to clarify The Teaching Life.

The APSCUF-KU newsletter has space for two new columns: one for essays on the teaching life, and another, “Hot Button Issues”, to provide an opportunity for conversations to begin across the greater community. The long-term goal is that each section will contain 3-4 500-750 word essays. You are encouraged to submit longer pieces if you have more to say. That’s the beauty of digital format!

It is well past time to move out from underneath defensive positioning, to stand proud of your profession and the work you do. Make that stand atop a foundation of community grown out of networks of commonalities and support, disallowing a narrative that purposefully defines, divides and exploits.

Colleen C. Fitzgerald 17

APSCUF-KU Newsletter

May 2016

Page 1 The American of University Professors’ recent report, “Higher Education at a Crossroads: The Annual Report on the Economic Status of the Profession, 2015-16,”: https://www.aaup.org/sites/default/files/2015-16EconomicStatusReport.pdf Page 8

Links

Source: Chronicle of Higher Education, AAUP: http://chronicle.com/article/HowLiberal-Arts-MajorsFare/144133/?key=HWlzJAU5ZnJAMS1nYz4RYT8GaCM4MRlxZXJLaCskblFU EA== , http://www.aacu.org/nchems-report Page 10 Degrees of Value Report: http://www.passhe.edu/inside/ne/press/pages/press.aspx?q=16-1-21DegreesofValue APSCUF’s complete response: http://www.apscuf.org/news-center/positionstatements/221-degrees-of-value-report Per Credit Tuition: http://apscuf.org/blog/item/369-read-apscuf%E2%80%99s-positions-on-degrees-ofvalue-report-per-credit-tuition APSCUF position statement: http://www.apscuf.org/news-center/position-statements/220-per-credit-tuitionprograms Page 15

Why Did the New York Times Ask Everybody But Grad Students About Grad Student Unions?: http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/17981/graduate_student_workers_respond_to_the_n ew_york_times

United Faculty of Florida slams Rick Scott’s Degrees to Jobs Summit: http://politics.heraldtribune.com/2016/05/24/faculty-union-criticizes-governors-highereducation-summit/ Faculty Strike in UK: https://academeblog.org/2016/05/25/faculty-strike-in-uk/ Universities and Colleges Employers Association : http://www.ucea.ac.uk/ University and College Union : https://www.ucu.org.uk/ One Faculty: https://www.aaup.org/get-involved/issue-campaigns/one-faculty Page 16

Pedagogy of the Precariat: http://publicintellectualsproject.mcmaster.ca/feature/pedagogy-of-the-precariat/ “Dissociated Consciousness[es]”: The Rising Voice of the Administrator and the Falling Voice of the Academic in the Winter 2015 Labour Disruption at the University of Toronto: http://publicintellectualsproject.mcmaster.ca/education/dissociated-consciousnesses-therising-voice-of-the-administrator-and-the-falling-voice-of-the-academic-in-the-winter2015-labour-disruption-at-the-university-of-toronto/

18

APSCUF-KU Newsletter

May 2016

APSCUF Member Publications Submit your publications.

APSCUF invites its members to share complimentary copies of published works for inclusion in the APSCUF member library at the state office. If you have books, articles and/or recordings (performed or directed by APSCUF members), please submit them to: APSCUF 319 N. Front Street Harrisburg, PA 17101 You will receive a letter of appreciation to acknowledge your gift. We hope to continue to grow this library of faculty works to acknowledge the academic excellence of APSCUF faculty.

Current program year is July 1, 2015 - May 31, 2016. You must obtain 70 total points for reduced premiums beginning July 1, 2016. If you are hired on or after April 1, 2016 you will automatically be placed in the participating rate and do not need to obtain the point until the next plan year.

Please visit the APSCUF Member’s Forum for discount codes to special services!

Go to http://apscuf.org/images/PDFs/member_forms/Member_Services_Bklt_2015.pdf to download a PDF file outlining the benefits of your APSCUF membership.

Full dues paying members must register for access into the Members Forum section on the APSCUF website. Registration is easy. Go to www.apscuf.org, click on Members Forum on the upper right side of the page, click on register and follow the directions. Your membership will be verified by the site administrator and you will receive a confirmation/verification email letting you know your registration has been accepted.

19

APSCUF-KU Newsletter

May 2016

KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY Kutztown University APSCUF Full Members 17% Discount ProgramProgram 17% Employee Discount Enrollment Instructions with AT&T Enrollment Instructions with AT&T Existing AT&T Customers – Instructions on enrolling in the discount program: Go to att.com/wireless/Kutztown Click the blue Enroll now button in the middle of the screen Enter email address and AT&T cell phone # Validate the Last 4 of Account Holder’s SS# and billing zip code You will receive a confirmation email stating that you’re enrolled, and that’s it!

To Start New Service with AT&T - choose one of the following: Visit an AT&T Retail Store; provide them the Discount code (FAN) # 2434981 and bring an acceptable form of ID such as a Payroll Stub or an Employee Badge. To find a store in your area go to: http://www.wireless.att.com/find-a-store or schedule an appointment at http://www.att.com/storeappointment Go to your AT&T Employee Discount website at att.com/wireless/Kutztown to validate eligibility, start new service, add a line of service, or upgrade your phone Call 888-444-4410 option 2 to order service by phone. Reference FAN # 2434981

Please go to apscuf.org Member’s Forum for discount code.

Important numbers for Customer Care and Premier Site Support Wireless Customer Care call 1-800-331-0500 (24/7) or 611 from your AT&T device Questions about discounts, enrollment process or eligibility contact Business Customer Care 888-444-4410 opt 2 opt 0

© 2013 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T and the AT&T logo are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property.

20

APSCUF-KU Newsletter

May 2016

With a new month, brings new great promotions for your employees to take advantage of with AT&T! As a reminder, KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY APSCUF full members are eligible for a 17% discount on their personal services with AT&T, and can register for the discount by visiting www.att.com/wireless/kutztown.

This month we have partnered with Samsung on a free 48” Smart TV with purchase of Samsung Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge (see flyer below for all details…).

Please let me know if you would like a printable 1 page PDF to post and share.

Below are all of our current promotions that APSCUF full members of KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY can take advantage of… · FREE 48” Samsung HD TV with GS7/GS7 edge on Next and adding new DIRECTV or U-Verse service (Existing DTV/U-Verse must add new activation only) · AT&T unlimited data, talk and text on up to 10 lines for customers who has AT&T Wireless and either DIRECTV or U-verse TV · iPhone BOGO (Buy one, get one FREE) with iPhone 6S & 6S Plus smartphones (2nd line must be new activation) · Up to $650 in credits for customers porting from Verizon, T-Mobile or Sprint, trading in a smartphone, and purchasing a smartphone on Next for new line of service · $49.99 LG G Pad X 10.1” with purchase of LG G5 or V10 smartphone on Next · $99.99 iPad mini 2 with purchase of an iPhone on Next · $99.99 LG Urbane with purchase of a LG G5 or V10 smartphone on Next · $399.99 Microsoft Surface 3 with purchase of any smartphone on Next · $0.99 LG G Pad F 8” or $0.99 ASUS MeMO 7” with a 2 year contract

Please go to apscuf.org Member’s Forum for discount code.

21

APSCUF-KU Newsletter

May 2016

Please go to apscuf.org Member’s Forum for discount code.

22

APSCUF-KU Newsletter

May 2016

Please go to apscuf.org Member’s Forum for discount

Please go to apscuf.org Member’s Forum for discount code.

Please go to apscuf.org Member’s Forum for discount code.

23