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Phone: 814-227-2420
www.apscuf.org
September 2016
Executive Committee: President – Ray Feroz; Vice President – t/b/d; Secretary – Karen Bolinger; Treasurer – Linda Lillard; Delegates –Ray Feroz, Karen
Bolinger, Barry Sweet; Jonathan Touster, t/b/d Alternate Delegates – Nancy Clemente, Ellen Foster, Jennifer May, Karl Sprenger, Lorie Taylor; Coaches
President - Al Modrzejewski ; Coaches Vice President – Sean Esterhuizen; Coaches’ Grievance Chair – Eric Laughlin; Venango Campus – Paul Klenowski;
CAP – Joseph Croskey; DRC – Mary Buchanan; Grievance – Mark Kilwein; Health & Welfare – Marilyn Howe; Legislative – Jonathan Touster;
Membership – Rhonda Clark; 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 – Dan Clark & Lorie Taylor; State
APSCUF Executive Council – Joyce Overly
The President’s Message…
Hello Colleagues,
Welcome back! Hope your summer was great!
Thanks for being a member of APSCUF! It is an honor to serve as your chapter
president. Being a faculty member at Clarion and working with colleagues makes this the best job on earth!
And special thanks to all of our members who serve tirelessly in APSCUF leadership and committees.
Well-deserved recognition and thanks go to Beth McDaniel for her past 3 years as serving as our APSCUF
president. I know you will join me in wishing her all the best in retirement. Thanks for joining us at the fall
bargaining unit meeting on Thursday September 8 th at in Moore Hall.
My first priority is to keep our members in the loop – to communicate and over communicate. This will be
done using meetings, the monthly Newsletter, and more importantly, via frequent e-mail so you can receive
information in a timely manner. During eventful times, these e-mails will come often.
Philosophically, I aim to develop a positive working relationship with President Whitney and the
administration. We all want great things for Clarion University - there is much more that unites us than divides
us! However, we will not condone harm to our members by disregard for the CBA. We all realize that such
disrespect has happened in the last few years, and my hope is that with the recent administrative changes we
can reset with a new collaborative win-win approach. Time will tell if this is naïveté on my part.
Now, let’s get down to business. We have been working for 441 days without a contract. The first year of
negotiations after contract expiration there was zero progress; in fact, SSHE’s bargaining could be described as
“in bad faith.” The State System of Higher Education (SSHE) fired their negotiating team in January and
regrouped in April to begin negotiations. Some progress has been made this summer in terms of minor points,
and that is good. However, there has been no progress in terms of the most important issues: shared
governance (esp. decisions regarding hiring, promotion, assignments, tenure and sabbatical leave), job
protection, fairness to adjuncts, pay and benefits. It is noteworthy that our pay is frozen at 2015 rates while
other unions have had 1-year contract extensions, raises, and entire new contracts. “Dismissive” is the word
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used to describe the SSHE’s approach toward our negotiating team at the most recent negotiation session. In
contrast The Derrick on Saturday September 3 featured an article on Governor Wolf giving state government
managers “the largest boost in pay they have received in decades and perhaps longer.” (!)
On August 25th the Legislative Assembly voted unanimously to send a strike authorization vote to the faculty
in the 14 universities. On September 7-8-9 faculty here and statewide voted by a strong 93% margin to give
the negotiations committee the right to recommend a strike to our state president. On September 14-15
coaches will take the same vote. As with the faculty, I urge the coaches to vote in favor. Power respects
power. If we stand up for our rights, we will deliver a strong message about the faculty’s support for a fair
contract.
We are a community of scholars who support each other. Solidarity at Clarion and with our colleagues at the
other 13 SSHE universities is critical. And what is good for us is good for our students and public education. I
thank you for your membership, service, and your commitment to greatness at Clarion University. Stay
tuned…
In solidarity,
Ray
FALL 2016 MEETINGS
(Please mark your calendars!)
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (EC)
(Rhea Conf. Room @ 3:30 pm)
Tuesday, September 20
Tuesday, October 4
Tuesday, October 18
Tuesday, November 1
Tuesday, November 15
Tuesday, November 29
Fall 2016 MEET & DISCUSS @ 2 pm
Friday, October 14 (Pre-Meet)
Friday, October 21 (Meet & Discuss)
Friday, November 4 (Pre-Meet)
Friday, November 11 (Meet & Discuss)
Friday, December 2 (Pre-Meet)
Friday, December 9 (Meet & Discuss)
DEPARTMENTAL REP COUNCIL
(Rhea Conf. Room @ 3:30 PM)
Tuesday, October 11
Tuesday, November 8
Tuesday, December 6
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP & BU MEETINGS
Tuesday, September 27 @ 3:30 pm – 250/252 Gemmell
(Pres. Ken Mash campus visit)
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLIES
September, 22-24, 2016 (Red Lion Inn, Harrisburg)
February 9-11, 2017 (Wyndham, Gettysburg)
April 27-29, 2017 (Toftrees, State College)
ATTENTION ALL APSCUF MEMBERS (Faculty & Coaches): The Clarion APSCUF General
Membership Meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 27th @ 3:30 pm in Room 250/252 Gemmell
Student Center. There will be a campus visit by State APSCUF President Ken Mash. Light refreshments
will be served. ☺ Please mark your meeting calendars and make an effort to attend this important meeting.
The Clarion APSCUF office will be closed on the following days: Wednesday, September 21, Thursday,
September 22 and Friday September 30.
Fall 2016 Supplemental Payments
Overload & Related Payments – October 28th paycheck
Distance Education – November 23rd paycheck
September, 2016
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SPECIAL ELECTIONS FALL 2016 PART I: The Nominations & Elections
Committee announces the vacancy on the University-wide Promotion Committee. The
Special Election to fill this vacancy is now being conducted and will take place via absentee ballot;
Absentee ballots can be sent thru campus mail, US Postal Service or hand delivered to
the Clarion APSCUF office located in the Rhea Building. Absentee ballots must be
received in the APSCUF office no later than noon on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2016.
Results of the election will be announced through e-mail.
SPECIAL ELECTIONS FALL 2016 PART II: The Nominations & Elections Committee
announces the vacant APSCUF Leadership Positions: Chapter Vice President and Delegate to the
Legislative Assembly. The Special Election to fill these vacancies that are now being conducted and will take
place via absentee ballot; Absentee ballots can be sent thru campus mail, US Postal Service or hand
delivered to the Clarion APSCUF office located in the Rhea Building. Absentee ballots must be
received in the APSCUF office no later than noon on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2016. Results of the
elections will be announced through e-mail.
If you have any questions about this special nominations and election process, please contact N&E Chair YooJin
Ha at yha@clarion.edu or x 2014. Thank you in advanced for your consideration.
Clarion APSCUF Nominations & Elections Committee
FRESHMAN MOVE-IN DAY –
The MOVERS & the GROOVERS!!
THANK YOU to the following APSCUF volunteers that participated in the Freshman Move-In Day – Movers & Groovers Program:
Mary Buchanan (Libraries)
Ray Feroz (Human Services)
Vasudeva Aravind (Physics)
Peggy Apple (Education)
Karl Sprenger (Education)
Robin Bilan (Nursing)
Mary Pat McCartney (CSD)
Jackie Knaust (Chemistry)
Chunfei Li (Physics)
Paul Woodburne (Economics)
Bell O’Neil (Communication)
Jamie Phillips (Social Sciences)
Jeanne Slattery (Psychology)
John McCullough (Education)
Marcella McConnell (Education)
Kari Morris (Nursing)
Jesse Haight (Education)
Lorie Taylor (Special Education)
Mark Kilwein (Human Services)
Joyce Overly (Chemistry)
Amy Shannonhouse (Education)
Colleen McAleer (CSD)
William Pratt (Finance)
More photos of Freshman Move-In Day can be seen on Clarion APSCUF’s Facebook
page. Like us and check it out!! ☺
Have you moved over the summer? If so, please be sure to inform Jan in the APSCUF office of your new address.
Reporting your new address to Human Resources does not guarantee that we have received this information. You will also
need to change this with the PA Faculty Health & Welfare Fund, your dental and vision provider. For a new enrollment card,
please contact the APSCUF office today at 227-2420 or e-mail Jan at jwalters@clarion.edu.
September 2016
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WELCOME New & Returning APSCUF Members!!
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Catherine Allgeier – Accountancy
Ryan Begley – Social Sciences
Keith Bell – Justice, Law, Technology & Liberal Arts
Melanie Best - Nursing
David “DJ” Bevevino – Student Affairs Faculty Athletics
James Bolinger – Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics
Lauren Brubaker – Student Affairs - Counseling
Kristina Brzoza-Lewis – Biology & Geosciences
Shawn Collins – Biology & Geosciences
Michael Di Giacomo – Social Sciences
Jeffrey Diamond – Social Sciences
Sarah Gallagher – Communication Science & Disorders
John Gareis – Communication
Timothy Griffin – Student Success
Mark Guglielmo - Economics
Sara Heyl – Visual & Performing Arts
Ginelle Hunsberger – Nursing
Cristin Ketley – Special Education
Kayhan Koleyni – Economics
Crystal Moore – Communication Sciences Disorders
Shelly Moore - Nursing
Darlene Natale - Communication
Christine Okpomeshine – Nursing
Kenneth Saban – Management & Marketing
Grzegorz Sambor – Human Services, Rehab, Health & Sport Sciences
Kimberly Schwabenbauer - Human Services, Rehab, Health & Sport Sciences
Briana Steele – Student Affairs – Counseling
Jessica Thomas – Biology & Geosciences
Jeffrey Tienes – Social Sciences
Diane Weckerly – Justice, Law, Technology & Liberal Arts
Steven Baisey – Assistant Football Coach
Kyle Kiss – Assistant Football Coach
APSCUF MEMBERSHIP – APSCUF Membership is open to ALL active faculty and coaches - Tenured,
Tenure-Track, Full-time Temporary, and Part-time Temporary. If you wish to join APSCUF and have not
completed a membership card, please contact Jan Walters in the APSCUF office at (813) 227-2420 or email her at jwalters@clarion.edu to request a membership application.
Mmmmm….ARE YOU TRYING TO FIND ALL THE PROMOTION, TENURE, SABBATICAL LEAVE AND/OR
EVALUATIONS INFORMATION AND MATERIALS? Go to the Clarion APSCUF webpage at
www.apscuf.org/universties/clarion and click onto “Documentation Center” (right-hand side). For a quick
reference, please place this in your “favorites”. Note that all materials are updated on the web when received
from each university-wide committee chair.
University-wide Contractual Committee Chairs
Tenure Chair – Adam Roberts
Sabbatical Leave Chair – Mark Lepore
CCPS Chair – Adam Roberts (Fall only)
Promotion Co-Chairs – Lana Smith
For a complete listing of all the members of the contractual committees, go to
www.apscuf.org/universities/clarion . Scroll down toward the bottom and then click onto Clarion
University-wide Contractual Committees.
September 2016
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NEW TENURE-TRACK FACULTY
Welcome new tenure-track faculty for the Fall Semester 2016!
❖ Jayakumar Annadatha – Computer
Information Sciences
❖ Shawn Collins – Biology & Geosciences
❖ Kristina Dworek – Communication
Sciences & Disorders
❖ Cristin Ketley – Special Education
Christine Okpomeshine – Nursing
Briana Steele – Student Affairs Faculty
Cate Stiller – Nursing
Jody Strauser – Computer Information
Sciences
❖ Jessica Thomas – Biology & Geosciences
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TENURE GRANTED
Congratulations to the following faculty who have been granted tenured effective the Fall Semester 2016!
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Peggy Apple – Education
Simon Aristeguieta-Trillos – Library Science
Amy Conner-Love – Special Education
Duane Farnsworth – Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics
Jacqueline Knaust – Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics
Kate Overmoyer – Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics
Daniel Shifflet – Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics
PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCED
Congratulations to the following faculty who have been granted promotions effective Fall Semester 2016!
ASSOCIATE TO FULL PROFESSOR:
❖ Ellen Foster – English & Modern Languages
ASSISTANT TO ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
❖ Peggy Apple – Education
❖ Amy Conner-Love – Special Education
❖ YooJin Ha – Library Science
❖ Daniel Shifflet - Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics
SABBATICAL LEAVES GRANTED for 2017-18 AY
Congratulations to the following faculty who were granted sabbatical leave for the 2017-2018 Academic Year!
❖ Julia Aaron – Social Sciences
❖ Robert Balough - Economics
❖ Gustavo Barboza – Management &
Marketing
❖ Dip Bhattacharya - Chemistry, Math &
Physics
❖ Joseph Bodziock – English & Modern
Languages
❖ Mark Kilwein – Human Services
❖ Andrew Lingwall - Communication
❖ Robert Levy – Visual & Performing Arts
❖ Christopher McCarrick – English & Modern
Languages
❖ Dana Madison - Chemistry, Mathematics &
Physics
❖ Kathleen O’Donnell – English & Modern
Languages
❖ Miguel Olivas-Lujan – Management &
Marketing
❖ Randall Potter - Psychology
❖ Sandra Trejos – Economics
Best wishes to the following faculty who are on sabbatical leave for the 2016-2017 Academic Year!
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James Maccaferri – Library Science
Catherine Petrissans – Social Sciences
Kevin Roth – Marketing & Management
Rod Raehsler – Economics
September 2016
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Anthony Vega – Biology & Geosciences
Robert Balough – Economics (Fall)
Barry Sweet – Social Science (Fall)
Jon O’Donnell – Communication (Spring)
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September 2015
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OVERLOAD AND RELATED PAYMENTS
According to the attached documentation, overload and related payments must be submitted locally between now and by
no later than October 7, 2016.
Overload and related payments will be included in the October 28, 2016 pay, if the schedule is followed.
If a faculty member has not received an overload payment in his or her October 28, 2016 paycheck, there are three likely
possibilities: either (1) the faculty member has not yet earned credit overload (see explanation below); or (2) the paperwork
to authorize the payment was not sent to your Payroll Office; or (3) your Payroll Office has questions about the paperwork.
In any case, please keep in mind that the affected faculty member will have forty (40) days from October 28, 2016 to file a
grievance if he or she has not received an overload payment or disputes the amount paid. This means that such grievances
must be filed at Step Two of the Grievance Procedure by no later than December 7, 2016, in order to be timely.
Please remember that most faculty members who teach 15 credits in the fall do not earn credit in the fall even if they are
scheduled to teach 12 credits this spring, as their workload could be modified to 9 credits in the spring, making them
ineligible for overload compensation. If the faculty member actually does teach 12 credits this spring, he or she will have
then earned the credit overload in the spring.
DISTANCE EDUCATION PAYMENTS
According to the attached instructions, distance education payment must be submitted locally between now and by no later
than November 4, 2016.
Distance Education payments will be included in the November 23, 2016 paychecks.
If a faculty member has not received a distance education payment in his or her November 23, 2016 paycheck, either the
paperwork to authorize the payment was not sent to your Payroll Office or your Payroll Office has questions about the
paperwork. In any case, the affected faculty member will have forty (40) days from November 23, 2016 to file a grievance if
he or she has not received a distance education payment or disputes the amount paid. This means that such grievances must
be filed at Step Two for the Grievance Procedure by no later than January 3, 2017 in order to be considered timely.
I recommend that you contact the administration on your campus who are responsible for entering this information to make
sure that the input of both forms of compensation are dine in a timely manner.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Have a great semester.
-Mary Rita DuVall, MILR
Head of Labor Relations Department
Association of Pennsylvania State College & University Faculties
319 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101
717.236.7486
mrduvall@apscuf.org
Let's Stand Together! Follow APSCUF on Twitter and Facebook!
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On August 25th, a Special Legislative Assembly was held. Clarion Delegates voted on the
recommendation to the membership for a faculty strike authorization vote. Motion was passed.
An APSCUF Faculty Strike Authorization Vote was held on the Clarion and Venango
campuses September 7 thru 9. APSCUF Faculty on all 14 SSHE Universities voted
overwhelmingly to give leaders that authority.
APSCUF Coaches will be holding their Strike
Authorization Vote this week – September 14-15.
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FIRST, SOME BACKGROUND
You may have heard that negotiations between the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University
Faculties (the union that represents you) and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (your employer)
continue to be contentious. (See APSCUF’s news center and blog at APSCUF.org for information about past
negotiations sessions.)
The faculty and coach contracts expired June 30, 2015. APSCUF and State System negotiators have met repeatedly
since late 2014, and we will meet as often as possible until we agree upon a fair contract. APSCUF’s goal is to
achieve a fair, quality contract that helps faculty members and coaches over the course of their careers. Thus, we
work in the best interest of students so we can attract quality faculty members and coaches to our universities
and provide the best possible quality education. A strike will only be called if APSCUF does not believe that a
contract can be reached without a job action.
STRIKES AND THE LAW
Is a strike by State System faculty legal? Yes. Under the Pennsylvania Public Employee Relations Act (also known
as “Act 195”), a strike by APSCUF may occur at any time after its collective bargaining agreement with the State
System has expired (ours expired June 30, 2015), provided that several dispute-resolution procedures have been
exhausted. APSCUF will more than fulfill all such requirements. Therefore, if the membership authorizes a strikeauthorization vote, a strike can be held and will be legal. At that point, the State APSCUF Negotiations Committee
would choose the exact date and time.
Can I be fired if I go on strike? No. It is not legal to fire a striking worker in Pennsylvania. We can certainly expect
the State System to attempt to or threaten to replace striking faculty members. This is a standard intimidation
tactic used by corporate managers everywhere to try to coerce employees into accepting their contract proposals.
It would be illegal (as an unfair labor practice) for the State System to offer anyone additional material
compensation in return for crossing the picket line.
May faculty members who are not members of the union legally strike? Yes. There is no difference between the
rights of union members and non-members in the event of a strike, and APSCUF expects that ALL faculty
members will strike should a strike be called. People who cross a picket line will benefit from the work of those
who strike while hurting the efforts of those who do strike. Our solidarity is the key to a swift and fair contract
settlement.
Can untenured or temporary faculty be fired if they strike? No, they cannot be fired for going on strike.
Untenured and temporary faculty members are full members of a bargaining unit participating in a legal job
action, and they cannot be legally fired for such participation. Any attempt by the State System to do so would be
dealt with swiftly in court. One goal of any strike would be to improve working conditions for all faculty members,
including those in untenured and temporary positions.
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DOLLARS, CENTS, AND CONTRACTS
Will I get paid if I go on strike? No. Act 195 forbids pay to striking employees. However, faculty members are
entitled to be paid for all work performed before a strike begins and also after it ends. Moreover, if we strike and
an agreement is eventually reached to make up the work missed, faculty members would be compensated for the
make-up work.
What effect will a strike have on my medical insurance? See healthcare section at the end of this document.
Will a strike affect my retirement income? Not likely. Faculty who participate in TIAA-CREF could lose
contributions to their retirement fund for a period of time only in the highly unlikely event that work is not made
up after a strike. Faculty who participate in SERS and PSERS would probably not be affected at all if work is made
up, as retirement benefits depend on total years of service and the final average salary over the last three years of
retirement.
I have heard that the State System could implement its “last best offer” in the event of a strike. How would that
affect our working conditions? The terms of the expired contract remain in place until APSCUF goes on strike, at
which point the State System could legally implement its “last best offer.” This might seem as though we would be
going from bad (the old contract, with no pay increases) to worse (the State System’s “last best offer”), but this
action would be irrelevant. The purpose of a strike is to force the State System to bargain reasonably with our
representatives and to produce a settlement that compensates us fairly and maintains the quality of what we do.
APSCUF leadership will call for a strike only if a strike seems likely to produce the desired outcome, which will be
nothing like the State System’s “last best offer.” APSCUF would not agree to end a strike under the terms of the
System’s “last best offer.”
SOLIDARITY AND STUDENTS
Can AFSCME and SCUPA employees participate in an APSCUF strike? No. AFSCME and SCUPA are separate
bargaining units and their members may not participate in a strike by APSCUF (under Act 195). Thus AFSCME and
SCUPA members have to be allowed to cross APSCUF picket lines freely.
Can coaches participate in an APSCUF strike? While they are represented by APSCUF, coaches belong to a
separate bargaining unit. Thus, like AFSCME and SCUPA members, they cannot legally participate in a faculty
strike unless the coaches bargaining unit also is on strike. However, faculty members who are also coaches may
participate in a faculty strike, and all coaches can participate in strike activities before and after work.
Can teaching assistants and graduate assistants participate in the strike? No. Like AFSCME and SCUPA members,
they are not part of the APSCUF bargaining unit and could face disciplinary action if they do not perform their
contractual duties. However, no TA or GA can be compelled to perform any work beyond the scope of their
existing contract, and in the event of a strike, APSCUF would like to see TAs and GAs work to the letter of their
contracts, no less and no more.
What about student teachers and interns? What should they do? As long as they are at sites, such as schools,
that aren’t on strike, they should continue at the sites. APSCUF faculty would not participate in these experiences
during a strike, however, so no supervisory visits by faculty to the off-campus sites would occur. Students would
have to direct all other concerns to the administration.
What should counselors and social workers at university centers and their student clients do? They should tell
their clients to contact the administration. They should have a list of alternative sources of help for the short
term.
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A STRIKE AND YOU
How will I hear about a strike? There will be multiple channels of communication, and it is essential that you
keep the APSCUF office informed of your current address, home phone number, and off-campus email. Once a
job action is called, we will activate our phone tree, send email, post the announcement on our website, and post
notices in local media. For other APSCUF news, follow APSCUF on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the
APSCUF blog.
Can’t I just “get sick” for the duration of the strike? No. Unless a faculty member can show that an illness
occurred before the strike, the excuse would not succeed. Management would have the right to a doctor’s note
after three days of sick leave.
Can I hold my classes off campus instead of on campus? No. In addition to creating a myriad of liability issues,
this would be considered crossing the picket lines.
What happens to preapproved paid sick, personal, family sickness, disability due to pregnancy, family care,
civil, and work-related disability leaves during a strike? If the leave has been pre-approved and begun prior to
the beginning of a strike, the leave should continue with pay. Upon the conclusion of the pre-approved leave of
this type, APSCUF would expect faculty/coaches to join their colleagues in exercising their legal right to strike and
to refrain from doing bargaining unit work. If the leave was pre-approved, but not yet begun prior to the strike, it
will be up to the State System to decide whether or not to honor its commitment to the faculty member or coach.
The employee should contact the employer to find out whether or not its commitment will be honored.
What happens to sabbatical leave in the event of a strike? If a faculty member is on sabbatical leave when a
strike begins, APSCUF expects that the faculty member will join the strike.
ATHLETIC FACULTY
What if management asks an athletic director or athletic trainer to take over duties of striking faculty
members? Because athletic directors and athletic trainers are faculty members, they will be on strike with the rest
of their faculty colleagues and will be unavailable to do any additional work.
Will going on strike cause problems with the NCAA? If athletic trainers (who are faculty) are on strike, they
cannot participate in competitions, practices, and strength-and-conditioning activities. Trainer work cannot be
performed by anyone who is not certified. Conducting sports activities without certified trainers could cause
major problems with NCAA. The State System should be negotiating a fair contract and not putting athletic
trainers, students, and others in this difficult position.
Won't it be unfair to students if games or meets get canceled? If there is a strike, it will be because PASSHE has
not negotiated fairly with the faculty, and the faculty feel that they have been left without any other
option. PASSHE needs to negotiate a fair contract to make a strike unnecessary. It would be unfair to all students
and alumni if the faculty allows PASSHE to hurt academic and athletic quality.
If the faculty strike, will the coaches also be on strike? The faculty and coaches are two separate bargaining
units. According to their contracts, neither bargaining unit can go on strike in sympathy with the other bargaining
unit. However, it may be the case that the two bargaining units may go on strike simultaneously
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www.apscuf.org
September 2016
Executive Committee: President – Ray Feroz; Vice President – t/b/d; Secretary – Karen Bolinger; Treasurer – Linda Lillard; Delegates –Ray Feroz, Karen
Bolinger, Barry Sweet; Jonathan Touster, t/b/d Alternate Delegates – Nancy Clemente, Ellen Foster, Jennifer May, Karl Sprenger, Lorie Taylor; Coaches
President - Al Modrzejewski ; Coaches Vice President – Sean Esterhuizen; Coaches’ Grievance Chair – Eric Laughlin; Venango Campus – Paul Klenowski;
CAP – Joseph Croskey; DRC – Mary Buchanan; Grievance – Mark Kilwein; Health & Welfare – Marilyn Howe; Legislative – Jonathan Touster;
Membership – Rhonda Clark; 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 – Dan Clark & Lorie Taylor; State
APSCUF Executive Council – Joyce Overly
The President’s Message…
Hello Colleagues,
Welcome back! Hope your summer was great!
Thanks for being a member of APSCUF! It is an honor to serve as your chapter
president. Being a faculty member at Clarion and working with colleagues makes this the best job on earth!
And special thanks to all of our members who serve tirelessly in APSCUF leadership and committees.
Well-deserved recognition and thanks go to Beth McDaniel for her past 3 years as serving as our APSCUF
president. I know you will join me in wishing her all the best in retirement. Thanks for joining us at the fall
bargaining unit meeting on Thursday September 8 th at in Moore Hall.
My first priority is to keep our members in the loop – to communicate and over communicate. This will be
done using meetings, the monthly Newsletter, and more importantly, via frequent e-mail so you can receive
information in a timely manner. During eventful times, these e-mails will come often.
Philosophically, I aim to develop a positive working relationship with President Whitney and the
administration. We all want great things for Clarion University - there is much more that unites us than divides
us! However, we will not condone harm to our members by disregard for the CBA. We all realize that such
disrespect has happened in the last few years, and my hope is that with the recent administrative changes we
can reset with a new collaborative win-win approach. Time will tell if this is naïveté on my part.
Now, let’s get down to business. We have been working for 441 days without a contract. The first year of
negotiations after contract expiration there was zero progress; in fact, SSHE’s bargaining could be described as
“in bad faith.” The State System of Higher Education (SSHE) fired their negotiating team in January and
regrouped in April to begin negotiations. Some progress has been made this summer in terms of minor points,
and that is good. However, there has been no progress in terms of the most important issues: shared
governance (esp. decisions regarding hiring, promotion, assignments, tenure and sabbatical leave), job
protection, fairness to adjuncts, pay and benefits. It is noteworthy that our pay is frozen at 2015 rates while
other unions have had 1-year contract extensions, raises, and entire new contracts. “Dismissive” is the word
(Continued on Page 2)
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used to describe the SSHE’s approach toward our negotiating team at the most recent negotiation session. In
contrast The Derrick on Saturday September 3 featured an article on Governor Wolf giving state government
managers “the largest boost in pay they have received in decades and perhaps longer.” (!)
On August 25th the Legislative Assembly voted unanimously to send a strike authorization vote to the faculty
in the 14 universities. On September 7-8-9 faculty here and statewide voted by a strong 93% margin to give
the negotiations committee the right to recommend a strike to our state president. On September 14-15
coaches will take the same vote. As with the faculty, I urge the coaches to vote in favor. Power respects
power. If we stand up for our rights, we will deliver a strong message about the faculty’s support for a fair
contract.
We are a community of scholars who support each other. Solidarity at Clarion and with our colleagues at the
other 13 SSHE universities is critical. And what is good for us is good for our students and public education. I
thank you for your membership, service, and your commitment to greatness at Clarion University. Stay
tuned…
In solidarity,
Ray
FALL 2016 MEETINGS
(Please mark your calendars!)
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (EC)
(Rhea Conf. Room @ 3:30 pm)
Tuesday, September 20
Tuesday, October 4
Tuesday, October 18
Tuesday, November 1
Tuesday, November 15
Tuesday, November 29
Fall 2016 MEET & DISCUSS @ 2 pm
Friday, October 14 (Pre-Meet)
Friday, October 21 (Meet & Discuss)
Friday, November 4 (Pre-Meet)
Friday, November 11 (Meet & Discuss)
Friday, December 2 (Pre-Meet)
Friday, December 9 (Meet & Discuss)
DEPARTMENTAL REP COUNCIL
(Rhea Conf. Room @ 3:30 PM)
Tuesday, October 11
Tuesday, November 8
Tuesday, December 6
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP & BU MEETINGS
Tuesday, September 27 @ 3:30 pm – 250/252 Gemmell
(Pres. Ken Mash campus visit)
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLIES
September, 22-24, 2016 (Red Lion Inn, Harrisburg)
February 9-11, 2017 (Wyndham, Gettysburg)
April 27-29, 2017 (Toftrees, State College)
ATTENTION ALL APSCUF MEMBERS (Faculty & Coaches): The Clarion APSCUF General
Membership Meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 27th @ 3:30 pm in Room 250/252 Gemmell
Student Center. There will be a campus visit by State APSCUF President Ken Mash. Light refreshments
will be served. ☺ Please mark your meeting calendars and make an effort to attend this important meeting.
The Clarion APSCUF office will be closed on the following days: Wednesday, September 21, Thursday,
September 22 and Friday September 30.
Fall 2016 Supplemental Payments
Overload & Related Payments – October 28th paycheck
Distance Education – November 23rd paycheck
September, 2016
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SPECIAL ELECTIONS FALL 2016 PART I: The Nominations & Elections
Committee announces the vacancy on the University-wide Promotion Committee. The
Special Election to fill this vacancy is now being conducted and will take place via absentee ballot;
Absentee ballots can be sent thru campus mail, US Postal Service or hand delivered to
the Clarion APSCUF office located in the Rhea Building. Absentee ballots must be
received in the APSCUF office no later than noon on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2016.
Results of the election will be announced through e-mail.
SPECIAL ELECTIONS FALL 2016 PART II: The Nominations & Elections Committee
announces the vacant APSCUF Leadership Positions: Chapter Vice President and Delegate to the
Legislative Assembly. The Special Election to fill these vacancies that are now being conducted and will take
place via absentee ballot; Absentee ballots can be sent thru campus mail, US Postal Service or hand
delivered to the Clarion APSCUF office located in the Rhea Building. Absentee ballots must be
received in the APSCUF office no later than noon on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2016. Results of the
elections will be announced through e-mail.
If you have any questions about this special nominations and election process, please contact N&E Chair YooJin
Ha at yha@clarion.edu or x 2014. Thank you in advanced for your consideration.
Clarion APSCUF Nominations & Elections Committee
FRESHMAN MOVE-IN DAY –
The MOVERS & the GROOVERS!!
THANK YOU to the following APSCUF volunteers that participated in the Freshman Move-In Day – Movers & Groovers Program:
Mary Buchanan (Libraries)
Ray Feroz (Human Services)
Vasudeva Aravind (Physics)
Peggy Apple (Education)
Karl Sprenger (Education)
Robin Bilan (Nursing)
Mary Pat McCartney (CSD)
Jackie Knaust (Chemistry)
Chunfei Li (Physics)
Paul Woodburne (Economics)
Bell O’Neil (Communication)
Jamie Phillips (Social Sciences)
Jeanne Slattery (Psychology)
John McCullough (Education)
Marcella McConnell (Education)
Kari Morris (Nursing)
Jesse Haight (Education)
Lorie Taylor (Special Education)
Mark Kilwein (Human Services)
Joyce Overly (Chemistry)
Amy Shannonhouse (Education)
Colleen McAleer (CSD)
William Pratt (Finance)
More photos of Freshman Move-In Day can be seen on Clarion APSCUF’s Facebook
page. Like us and check it out!! ☺
Have you moved over the summer? If so, please be sure to inform Jan in the APSCUF office of your new address.
Reporting your new address to Human Resources does not guarantee that we have received this information. You will also
need to change this with the PA Faculty Health & Welfare Fund, your dental and vision provider. For a new enrollment card,
please contact the APSCUF office today at 227-2420 or e-mail Jan at jwalters@clarion.edu.
September 2016
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WELCOME New & Returning APSCUF Members!!
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Catherine Allgeier – Accountancy
Ryan Begley – Social Sciences
Keith Bell – Justice, Law, Technology & Liberal Arts
Melanie Best - Nursing
David “DJ” Bevevino – Student Affairs Faculty Athletics
James Bolinger – Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics
Lauren Brubaker – Student Affairs - Counseling
Kristina Brzoza-Lewis – Biology & Geosciences
Shawn Collins – Biology & Geosciences
Michael Di Giacomo – Social Sciences
Jeffrey Diamond – Social Sciences
Sarah Gallagher – Communication Science & Disorders
John Gareis – Communication
Timothy Griffin – Student Success
Mark Guglielmo - Economics
Sara Heyl – Visual & Performing Arts
Ginelle Hunsberger – Nursing
Cristin Ketley – Special Education
Kayhan Koleyni – Economics
Crystal Moore – Communication Sciences Disorders
Shelly Moore - Nursing
Darlene Natale - Communication
Christine Okpomeshine – Nursing
Kenneth Saban – Management & Marketing
Grzegorz Sambor – Human Services, Rehab, Health & Sport Sciences
Kimberly Schwabenbauer - Human Services, Rehab, Health & Sport Sciences
Briana Steele – Student Affairs – Counseling
Jessica Thomas – Biology & Geosciences
Jeffrey Tienes – Social Sciences
Diane Weckerly – Justice, Law, Technology & Liberal Arts
Steven Baisey – Assistant Football Coach
Kyle Kiss – Assistant Football Coach
APSCUF MEMBERSHIP – APSCUF Membership is open to ALL active faculty and coaches - Tenured,
Tenure-Track, Full-time Temporary, and Part-time Temporary. If you wish to join APSCUF and have not
completed a membership card, please contact Jan Walters in the APSCUF office at (813) 227-2420 or email her at jwalters@clarion.edu to request a membership application.
Mmmmm….ARE YOU TRYING TO FIND ALL THE PROMOTION, TENURE, SABBATICAL LEAVE AND/OR
EVALUATIONS INFORMATION AND MATERIALS? Go to the Clarion APSCUF webpage at
www.apscuf.org/universties/clarion and click onto “Documentation Center” (right-hand side). For a quick
reference, please place this in your “favorites”. Note that all materials are updated on the web when received
from each university-wide committee chair.
University-wide Contractual Committee Chairs
Tenure Chair – Adam Roberts
Sabbatical Leave Chair – Mark Lepore
CCPS Chair – Adam Roberts (Fall only)
Promotion Co-Chairs – Lana Smith
For a complete listing of all the members of the contractual committees, go to
www.apscuf.org/universities/clarion . Scroll down toward the bottom and then click onto Clarion
University-wide Contractual Committees.
September 2016
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NEW TENURE-TRACK FACULTY
Welcome new tenure-track faculty for the Fall Semester 2016!
❖ Jayakumar Annadatha – Computer
Information Sciences
❖ Shawn Collins – Biology & Geosciences
❖ Kristina Dworek – Communication
Sciences & Disorders
❖ Cristin Ketley – Special Education
Christine Okpomeshine – Nursing
Briana Steele – Student Affairs Faculty
Cate Stiller – Nursing
Jody Strauser – Computer Information
Sciences
❖ Jessica Thomas – Biology & Geosciences
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TENURE GRANTED
Congratulations to the following faculty who have been granted tenured effective the Fall Semester 2016!
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Peggy Apple – Education
Simon Aristeguieta-Trillos – Library Science
Amy Conner-Love – Special Education
Duane Farnsworth – Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics
Jacqueline Knaust – Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics
Kate Overmoyer – Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics
Daniel Shifflet – Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics
PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCED
Congratulations to the following faculty who have been granted promotions effective Fall Semester 2016!
ASSOCIATE TO FULL PROFESSOR:
❖ Ellen Foster – English & Modern Languages
ASSISTANT TO ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
❖ Peggy Apple – Education
❖ Amy Conner-Love – Special Education
❖ YooJin Ha – Library Science
❖ Daniel Shifflet - Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics
SABBATICAL LEAVES GRANTED for 2017-18 AY
Congratulations to the following faculty who were granted sabbatical leave for the 2017-2018 Academic Year!
❖ Julia Aaron – Social Sciences
❖ Robert Balough - Economics
❖ Gustavo Barboza – Management &
Marketing
❖ Dip Bhattacharya - Chemistry, Math &
Physics
❖ Joseph Bodziock – English & Modern
Languages
❖ Mark Kilwein – Human Services
❖ Andrew Lingwall - Communication
❖ Robert Levy – Visual & Performing Arts
❖ Christopher McCarrick – English & Modern
Languages
❖ Dana Madison - Chemistry, Mathematics &
Physics
❖ Kathleen O’Donnell – English & Modern
Languages
❖ Miguel Olivas-Lujan – Management &
Marketing
❖ Randall Potter - Psychology
❖ Sandra Trejos – Economics
Best wishes to the following faculty who are on sabbatical leave for the 2016-2017 Academic Year!
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James Maccaferri – Library Science
Catherine Petrissans – Social Sciences
Kevin Roth – Marketing & Management
Rod Raehsler – Economics
September 2016
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Anthony Vega – Biology & Geosciences
Robert Balough – Economics (Fall)
Barry Sweet – Social Science (Fall)
Jon O’Donnell – Communication (Spring)
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September 2015
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OVERLOAD AND RELATED PAYMENTS
According to the attached documentation, overload and related payments must be submitted locally between now and by
no later than October 7, 2016.
Overload and related payments will be included in the October 28, 2016 pay, if the schedule is followed.
If a faculty member has not received an overload payment in his or her October 28, 2016 paycheck, there are three likely
possibilities: either (1) the faculty member has not yet earned credit overload (see explanation below); or (2) the paperwork
to authorize the payment was not sent to your Payroll Office; or (3) your Payroll Office has questions about the paperwork.
In any case, please keep in mind that the affected faculty member will have forty (40) days from October 28, 2016 to file a
grievance if he or she has not received an overload payment or disputes the amount paid. This means that such grievances
must be filed at Step Two of the Grievance Procedure by no later than December 7, 2016, in order to be timely.
Please remember that most faculty members who teach 15 credits in the fall do not earn credit in the fall even if they are
scheduled to teach 12 credits this spring, as their workload could be modified to 9 credits in the spring, making them
ineligible for overload compensation. If the faculty member actually does teach 12 credits this spring, he or she will have
then earned the credit overload in the spring.
DISTANCE EDUCATION PAYMENTS
According to the attached instructions, distance education payment must be submitted locally between now and by no later
than November 4, 2016.
Distance Education payments will be included in the November 23, 2016 paychecks.
If a faculty member has not received a distance education payment in his or her November 23, 2016 paycheck, either the
paperwork to authorize the payment was not sent to your Payroll Office or your Payroll Office has questions about the
paperwork. In any case, the affected faculty member will have forty (40) days from November 23, 2016 to file a grievance if
he or she has not received a distance education payment or disputes the amount paid. This means that such grievances must
be filed at Step Two for the Grievance Procedure by no later than January 3, 2017 in order to be considered timely.
I recommend that you contact the administration on your campus who are responsible for entering this information to make
sure that the input of both forms of compensation are dine in a timely manner.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Have a great semester.
-Mary Rita DuVall, MILR
Head of Labor Relations Department
Association of Pennsylvania State College & University Faculties
319 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101
717.236.7486
mrduvall@apscuf.org
Let's Stand Together! Follow APSCUF on Twitter and Facebook!
September 2015
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On August 25th, a Special Legislative Assembly was held. Clarion Delegates voted on the
recommendation to the membership for a faculty strike authorization vote. Motion was passed.
An APSCUF Faculty Strike Authorization Vote was held on the Clarion and Venango
campuses September 7 thru 9. APSCUF Faculty on all 14 SSHE Universities voted
overwhelmingly to give leaders that authority.
APSCUF Coaches will be holding their Strike
Authorization Vote this week – September 14-15.
September 2015
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September 2015
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FIRST, SOME BACKGROUND
You may have heard that negotiations between the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University
Faculties (the union that represents you) and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (your employer)
continue to be contentious. (See APSCUF’s news center and blog at APSCUF.org for information about past
negotiations sessions.)
The faculty and coach contracts expired June 30, 2015. APSCUF and State System negotiators have met repeatedly
since late 2014, and we will meet as often as possible until we agree upon a fair contract. APSCUF’s goal is to
achieve a fair, quality contract that helps faculty members and coaches over the course of their careers. Thus, we
work in the best interest of students so we can attract quality faculty members and coaches to our universities
and provide the best possible quality education. A strike will only be called if APSCUF does not believe that a
contract can be reached without a job action.
STRIKES AND THE LAW
Is a strike by State System faculty legal? Yes. Under the Pennsylvania Public Employee Relations Act (also known
as “Act 195”), a strike by APSCUF may occur at any time after its collective bargaining agreement with the State
System has expired (ours expired June 30, 2015), provided that several dispute-resolution procedures have been
exhausted. APSCUF will more than fulfill all such requirements. Therefore, if the membership authorizes a strikeauthorization vote, a strike can be held and will be legal. At that point, the State APSCUF Negotiations Committee
would choose the exact date and time.
Can I be fired if I go on strike? No. It is not legal to fire a striking worker in Pennsylvania. We can certainly expect
the State System to attempt to or threaten to replace striking faculty members. This is a standard intimidation
tactic used by corporate managers everywhere to try to coerce employees into accepting their contract proposals.
It would be illegal (as an unfair labor practice) for the State System to offer anyone additional material
compensation in return for crossing the picket line.
May faculty members who are not members of the union legally strike? Yes. There is no difference between the
rights of union members and non-members in the event of a strike, and APSCUF expects that ALL faculty
members will strike should a strike be called. People who cross a picket line will benefit from the work of those
who strike while hurting the efforts of those who do strike. Our solidarity is the key to a swift and fair contract
settlement.
Can untenured or temporary faculty be fired if they strike? No, they cannot be fired for going on strike.
Untenured and temporary faculty members are full members of a bargaining unit participating in a legal job
action, and they cannot be legally fired for such participation. Any attempt by the State System to do so would be
dealt with swiftly in court. One goal of any strike would be to improve working conditions for all faculty members,
including those in untenured and temporary positions.
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DOLLARS, CENTS, AND CONTRACTS
Will I get paid if I go on strike? No. Act 195 forbids pay to striking employees. However, faculty members are
entitled to be paid for all work performed before a strike begins and also after it ends. Moreover, if we strike and
an agreement is eventually reached to make up the work missed, faculty members would be compensated for the
make-up work.
What effect will a strike have on my medical insurance? See healthcare section at the end of this document.
Will a strike affect my retirement income? Not likely. Faculty who participate in TIAA-CREF could lose
contributions to their retirement fund for a period of time only in the highly unlikely event that work is not made
up after a strike. Faculty who participate in SERS and PSERS would probably not be affected at all if work is made
up, as retirement benefits depend on total years of service and the final average salary over the last three years of
retirement.
I have heard that the State System could implement its “last best offer” in the event of a strike. How would that
affect our working conditions? The terms of the expired contract remain in place until APSCUF goes on strike, at
which point the State System could legally implement its “last best offer.” This might seem as though we would be
going from bad (the old contract, with no pay increases) to worse (the State System’s “last best offer”), but this
action would be irrelevant. The purpose of a strike is to force the State System to bargain reasonably with our
representatives and to produce a settlement that compensates us fairly and maintains the quality of what we do.
APSCUF leadership will call for a strike only if a strike seems likely to produce the desired outcome, which will be
nothing like the State System’s “last best offer.” APSCUF would not agree to end a strike under the terms of the
System’s “last best offer.”
SOLIDARITY AND STUDENTS
Can AFSCME and SCUPA employees participate in an APSCUF strike? No. AFSCME and SCUPA are separate
bargaining units and their members may not participate in a strike by APSCUF (under Act 195). Thus AFSCME and
SCUPA members have to be allowed to cross APSCUF picket lines freely.
Can coaches participate in an APSCUF strike? While they are represented by APSCUF, coaches belong to a
separate bargaining unit. Thus, like AFSCME and SCUPA members, they cannot legally participate in a faculty
strike unless the coaches bargaining unit also is on strike. However, faculty members who are also coaches may
participate in a faculty strike, and all coaches can participate in strike activities before and after work.
Can teaching assistants and graduate assistants participate in the strike? No. Like AFSCME and SCUPA members,
they are not part of the APSCUF bargaining unit and could face disciplinary action if they do not perform their
contractual duties. However, no TA or GA can be compelled to perform any work beyond the scope of their
existing contract, and in the event of a strike, APSCUF would like to see TAs and GAs work to the letter of their
contracts, no less and no more.
What about student teachers and interns? What should they do? As long as they are at sites, such as schools,
that aren’t on strike, they should continue at the sites. APSCUF faculty would not participate in these experiences
during a strike, however, so no supervisory visits by faculty to the off-campus sites would occur. Students would
have to direct all other concerns to the administration.
What should counselors and social workers at university centers and their student clients do? They should tell
their clients to contact the administration. They should have a list of alternative sources of help for the short
term.
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A STRIKE AND YOU
How will I hear about a strike? There will be multiple channels of communication, and it is essential that you
keep the APSCUF office informed of your current address, home phone number, and off-campus email. Once a
job action is called, we will activate our phone tree, send email, post the announcement on our website, and post
notices in local media. For other APSCUF news, follow APSCUF on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to the
APSCUF blog.
Can’t I just “get sick” for the duration of the strike? No. Unless a faculty member can show that an illness
occurred before the strike, the excuse would not succeed. Management would have the right to a doctor’s note
after three days of sick leave.
Can I hold my classes off campus instead of on campus? No. In addition to creating a myriad of liability issues,
this would be considered crossing the picket lines.
What happens to preapproved paid sick, personal, family sickness, disability due to pregnancy, family care,
civil, and work-related disability leaves during a strike? If the leave has been pre-approved and begun prior to
the beginning of a strike, the leave should continue with pay. Upon the conclusion of the pre-approved leave of
this type, APSCUF would expect faculty/coaches to join their colleagues in exercising their legal right to strike and
to refrain from doing bargaining unit work. If the leave was pre-approved, but not yet begun prior to the strike, it
will be up to the State System to decide whether or not to honor its commitment to the faculty member or coach.
The employee should contact the employer to find out whether or not its commitment will be honored.
What happens to sabbatical leave in the event of a strike? If a faculty member is on sabbatical leave when a
strike begins, APSCUF expects that the faculty member will join the strike.
ATHLETIC FACULTY
What if management asks an athletic director or athletic trainer to take over duties of striking faculty
members? Because athletic directors and athletic trainers are faculty members, they will be on strike with the rest
of their faculty colleagues and will be unavailable to do any additional work.
Will going on strike cause problems with the NCAA? If athletic trainers (who are faculty) are on strike, they
cannot participate in competitions, practices, and strength-and-conditioning activities. Trainer work cannot be
performed by anyone who is not certified. Conducting sports activities without certified trainers could cause
major problems with NCAA. The State System should be negotiating a fair contract and not putting athletic
trainers, students, and others in this difficult position.
Won't it be unfair to students if games or meets get canceled? If there is a strike, it will be because PASSHE has
not negotiated fairly with the faculty, and the faculty feel that they have been left without any other
option. PASSHE needs to negotiate a fair contract to make a strike unnecessary. It would be unfair to all students
and alumni if the faculty allows PASSHE to hurt academic and athletic quality.
If the faculty strike, will the coaches also be on strike? The faculty and coaches are two separate bargaining
units. According to their contracts, neither bargaining unit can go on strike in sympathy with the other bargaining
unit. However, it may be the case that the two bargaining units may go on strike simultaneously
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Media of