Phone: 814-227-2420

www.apscuf.org

May 2018

Executive Committee: President – Ray Feroz; Vice President – Joyce Overly; Secretary – Christopher McCarrick; Treasurer – Linda Lillard; Delegates –
Ray Feroz, Barry Sweet; Jonathan Touster, Annette Rosati, Lorie Taylor; Alternate Delegates – Ellen Foster, Jennifer May, Cristin Ketley, Karl Sprenger,
Jacqueline Knaust; Coaches President - Sean Esterhuizen; Coaches Vice President – Al Modrzejewski; Coaches’ Grievance Chair – Eric Laughlin; Venango
Campus – Renee Bloom; CAP – Joseph Croskey; DRC – Amy Love-Conner/Mary Buchanan; Grievance – Mary Buchanan/Mark Kilwein; Health & Welfare –
Marilyn Howe; Legislative – Jonathan Touster; Membership – Paul Klenowski; Negotiations – Ray Feroz; Nominations & Elections – YooJin Ha; Social
Justice – Amy Conner-Love; Public Affairs/Relations – Christopher McCarrick; Student Liaison – Naomi Bell O’Neil; Rules & Bylaws – Carey Childers;
Mobilization Co-Chairs – Lorie Taylor & Jacqueline Knaust; State Temporary Faculty Committee – Michael Hissam; State APSCUF Executive Council –
Joyce Overly

The President’s Message…
Dear Colleagues,
Another academic year is
about to become history. We
wish you a great summer:
restful, productive, fulfilling - may you find whatever
your heart needs. Enjoy the midyear!
Invitation to Our End-of-Semester Social

Sobina, Joe Grunenwald, John Phillips, Rod Griffin,
Randy Seitz, Hope Lineman and Lee James. I deeply
appreciate our faculty colleagues who volunteered to
serve on this and other process improvement
committees.
Godspeed to Our Retirees

Please plan to join us at the Clarion River Brewing
Company on Wednesday May 9 from 4-6 pm. There
will be hors’d’ouvres, soft drinks and a cash bar. End
the semester with your colleagues and friends.

Special thanks to Doug Knepp and his committee for
chairing the May 2nd faculty retirement reception cosponsored by APSCUF and President Fackler’s office.
Honored were: Greg Clary, Linda Cheresnowski,
Nancy Clemente, Bob Frakes, Mary Jo Reef, Bruce
Smith and Joe Wyatt.

Committees Update

Why Belong to APSCUF?

It looks like the implementation of joint FacultyManagement process improvement committees
mentioned in my April message will be delayed in
implementation until fall 2018. The only exception is
the Venango Steering Committee which will launch
on May 11. Their charge is to “discuss and provide
recommendations supporting Venango Campus as a
growing element of Clarion University. This will
include identifying the unique and specific
mission/purpose of Venango Campus. That mission
should include Venango’s unique fit within Clarion
University, as well as how it should relate to the
region and other institutions (community colleges,
businesses, etc.).”
The members of the Venango Steering Committee
are: Beth Jackson, Jen May, Ellen Foster, Chris
Weidle, Brianna Steele, Tammy Dulaney, Debbie
May 2017

APSCUF allows for equalization of power with
management and gives members protections and
voice in their employment. Specifically:
* Equity in terms of compensation, benefits,
promotions and working conditions.
* Job security – Academic freedom, professional
autonomy. No discipline, layoffs or termination
without due process.
* Transparency – free access to policies, information
and financial reports.
Without the Collective Bargaining Agreement, we
would be individually subject to the judgement and
decisions of management, good or bad, reasonable or

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unreasonable. Given the track record of
management actions such as the reorganization of
2013-14, or even last year’s retrenchment letter,
do you want your fate to be put totally in the
hands of any university administration?
Appreciation for our CBA, and sympathy for faculty
in those institutions without faculty unions, can be
illustrated by the newest idea in higher education:
Volunteer Faculty, which has been described as
public higher education’s death knell. Thanks to
Rick Sabousky for sharing this article, check it out:
https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/justvisiting/volunteer-faculty-death-knell-publichigher-ed
Finally, did you know that Pitt faculty are
organizing right now to form a faculty union? They
are figuring things out regarding the need for
faculty power equity.
Bottom line: APSCUF equalizes power and is
there for you in good times and bad times. We
have today’s benefits and securities because of
the hard-fought efforts of faculty who came
before us. We need to stay APSCUF-strong! If
you are not a current APSCUF member, we invite
your membership application. Paul Klenowski is
our Membership Chair and of course, Jan Walters,
our Office Manager, can answer any questions.
Enjoy your summer! We’ll send you e-mails this
summer for anything urgent and important.
In solidarity,
Ray

WELCOME ABOARD TO OUR
NEWEST APSCUF MEMBER!!
HEIDI UNDERWOOD –
Communication Sciences & Disorders

SUMMER SCHOOL PAYMENTS FOR 2018
SUMMER SESSION I: May 25, 2018
SUMMER SESSION II: June 22, 2018
SUMMER SESSION III: August 3, 2018

May 2017

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Clarion APSCUF Fall 2018 Scholarships Awarded
CONGRATULATIONS to the following
APSCUF Scholarship winners who were
awarded $500 each for the Fall 2018
semester. This year there were 41
outstanding applications submitted by
currently enrolled students throughout
Clarion and Venango campuses. The
scholarship winners were recommended
by the APSCUF Scholarship Committee
(Committee Chair Dr. Simon
Aristeguieta, Dr. Todd Lavin and Dr.
Jeffrey Diamond) and were approved at
the Executive Committee meeting on
April 3, 2018.
Front LR: Alivia Shuttleworth, Hannah Phillips, Jia Zhu
Back LR: Chapter President Dr. Ray Feroz, Jordyn Wilson, Hannah
Drass, Katharine Gannon, Committee Member Dr. Jeffrey Diamond

APSCUF Child – Hannah Phillips (Biology)
Graduate – Hannah Drass (Speech Language Pathology)
Senior – Katharine Gannon (Speech Pathology & Audiology)
Junior - Alivia Shuttleworth (Biology/Pre-Veterinarian)
Freshman/Sophomore – Jia Zhu (Chemistry)
At Large – Jordyn Wilson (Speech Language Pathology)

HEALTH CARE OPEN ENROLLMENT
REMINDER: Open Enrollment for PASSHE Health Plan for Active Employees is from NOW through
Friday, May 4, 2018.
If you would like to add/drop dependents, waive coverage, or enroll in the Highmark PPO plan you will
be able to make those changes during the annual Health Care Open Enrollment period of April 23, 2018
to May 4, 2018. Any changes to your coverage should be submitted via the Employee Self Service (ESS)
portal. Here is the link to ESS: https://portal.passhe.edu/irj/portal . If you choose to enroll in the
Highmark PPO during the Health Care Open Enrollment period, you will not be able to re-enroll in the
UPMC HMO plan at a future date. No new enrollments are allowed into the UPMC HMO plan after
January 1, 2019.

DEADLINE FOR PARTICIPATION in the Healthy U Wellness program is May 31, 2018.
With your completion of the Healthy U requirements:
 You will pay the lowest employee premium contribution for the plan year starting in
July 1, 2018.
 You will be provided with tools, support, resources and programs to help you maintain and improve
your health and well-being.
DON’T WAIT TILL THE LAST MINUTE TO COMPLETE YOUR PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS FOR HEALTHY U!
May 2017

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HAPPY RETIREMENT!!
Best Wishes to our 2017-2018 Retirees





 Dr. Mary Jo Reef, Social Sciences
 Dr. Bruce Smith, Education
 Dr. Joseph Wyatt, Computer Infor Sciences

Ms. Linda Cheresnowski, Libraries
Dr. Greg Clary, Special Education
Ms. Nancy Clemente, Libraries
Dr. Robert Frakes, Social Sciences

ATTENTION NEW FACUTLY RETIREES: PA Faculty Health and
Welfare Fund Benefits will end on the last day of the following
month after your retirement date. Retirees have the option of
signing up for COBRA for their Health and Welfare benefits for an
18-month period or paying for dental/vision benefits thru
APSCURF, the retirement association.
All Clarion APSCUF Retirees receive a one-year membership paid
by Clarion APSCUF to the Association of State College and
University of Retired Faculties (APSCURF). As an APSCURF
member, retirees are entitled to the special services they enjoyed as
an APSCUF member plus the voluntary member-paid
dental/vision benefit option plan.
LR: President Pete Fackler, Nancy Clemente, Bruce Smith,
Linda Cheresnowski, Chapter President Ray Feroz

EMERITUS STATUS PROCEDURES
Nominations for Emeritus Status should be initiated by member(s) of the appropriate department/unit
and announced at a department/unit meeting, normally within one year following retirement. The
nominated member(s) of the department/unit shall forward a one-page summary of the significant
accomplishments made by the nominee to the Dean and appropriate Vice President.
The Office of the Provost and Academic Vice President will be responsible for the implementation of
this policy and its procedures. The above procedures for departments to follow to request emeritus
status for retiring faculty in departments are taken from the Clarion University of Pennsylvania Policy
on Emeritus Status. A copy of the entire policy is available from the APSCUF office.
If you have faculty who are retiring at the end of the fall or spring semester in your department,
please follow the procedures in this policy to request emeritus status for the nominee.

At April’s Legislative Assembly,
APSCUF-CAP again endorsed Gov.
Tom Wolf.
Clarion APSCUF Delegates at April’s
APSCUF Legislative Assembly in State
College with Gov. Tom Wolf.
Front LR: Jan Walters,
Gov. Tom Wolf, Cristin
Ketley, Joyce Overly
Back LR: Karl Sprenger, Ray Feroz,
Jonathon Touster, Lorie Taylor
May 2017

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SPRING 2018 ELECTIONS RESULTS ANNOUNCED
The Clarion APSCUF Nominations and Elections Committee is pleased to announce the
results of the 2018 General Spring Elections for APSCUF Positions and Committees
along with University-wide Contractual Committees. Thank you, all, for your interest in
serving our union and our university community. And thanks to all who participated in
the election, candidates and voters; your contributions are appreciated.
N & E Committee: YooJin Ha (Chair), Ellen Foster, Amanda Lockwood, Jane Walsh & Jesse Haight
APSCUF OFFICES & COMMITTEES
Secretary:
(1 one-year term)
Christopher McCarrick

Alternate Delegate to Legislative Assembly:
(2 two-year term)
Ellen Foster
Jonathan Touster

Treasurer:
(1 one-year term)
Linda Lillard

Nominations & Elections Committee:
(3 two-year term)
Doug Knepp
Chunfei Li
Jane Walsh

Delegate to Legislative Assembly:
(2 two-year term)
Jennifer May
Barry Sweet

Venango Campus Representative:
(1 one-year term)
Renee Bloom

CONTRACTUAL COMMITTEES
Promotion Committee: (3 three-year term)
Stephen Gendler
Helen Hampikian
Linda Lillard
Sabbatical Leave Committee: (2 three-year term)
Leah Chambers
David Lott

Tenure Committee: (2 three-year term)
Paul Klenowski
Naomi “Bell” O’Neil
CCPS: (2 three-year term)
Daniel Shifflet
Karl Sprenger

CONGRATULATIONS to Ellen Foster who was recently elected to serve on the State Audit Committee.
Also next year, Joyce Overly will continue to serve on the State Executive Committee. Clarion APSCUF will
be well represented at State APSCUF!

SUMMER HOURS and SUMMER CLOSINGS: Clarion APSCUF Office Summer Hours are from 8 am
till 4:00 pm. The office is scheduled to be closed on the following days:







Monday, May 14
Monday-Wednesday, May 21-23
Friday & Monday, May 25 & May 28
Friday, June 1
June 8 through June 25
Monday thru Wednesday, July 2-4

Have a safe and enjoyable summer!
May 2018

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May 30 is the deadline to R.S.V.P. to our Legislative Reception and
legislator visits in Harrisburg. We hope to see you next month.

Dear colleagues:
Please join me, your colleagues from our 14 universities, and legislators for our 2018
APSCUF Legislative Reception 5–8 p.m. Tuesday, June 5, at The Capital Gastropub.
After two more hostile appropriations-committee hearings, a biased Rand study,
legislators singling out APSCUF as the cause of all of our universities’ woes, and a major
gubernatorial candidate proposing to close or privatize our universities, we must all to talk
to our legislators to make certain that they get accurate information about APSCUF and
the great things that are happening on our campuses every day.
Further, we need to continue to push a proactive and positive agenda that includes the
Pennsylvania Promise and our support of the governor’s recommended $15 million
increase to the State System. Along with these proactive items, it will be perfect timing for
us to play defense on issues like the Rand Corporation report and any proposed cuts to
the $15 million increase.
We talk to legislators every day in the Capitol, but our faculty and coaches do the best job
of communicating. The legislators want to hear directly from you!
A bipartisan group of legislators from every region of the state attended last year, and our
faculty had the opportunity to engage them in a relaxed setting over cocktails and
appetizers. This atmosphere promotes candid conversation, and it allows you to directly
educate them about our universities, and to do so unfiltered by State System or university
administrators. If the last year has taught us anything, it is that we must all actively engage
in the political process, and attending is one way to do just that.
In addition to Tuesday night's event, our staff will set up meetings on Wednesday, June 6,
for anyone who wishes to have in-office meetings with their state legislators at the Capitol.
Hotel accommodations will be provided for any member who stays for these meetings.
Please give serious consideration to registering for either or both of these events.
Click here to register online or click here to download a fillable PDF of the registration
form to return to Ty Marks at tmarks@apscuf.org. We need your help. I look forward to
seeing you there!
In solidarity and with thanks,
Ken

May 2018

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