HARRISBURG, Pa. – Frank Brogan, chancellor, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), outlined today in a statement that state system schools, including Clarion, are continuing their efforts to better align degree program offerings with the changing demands of students and the commonwealth.

In order to fulfill their obligations under the collective bargaining agreement between the state system and its faculty union, five universities have notified their local union leaders that some positions might be affected at the end of the 2014-2015 academic year.

Letters of notification regarding this possibility were sent by the universities to the Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) chapter presidents at Cheyney, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro and Mansfield universities. Clarion is continuing the process it began last year.

“As required under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, Clarion has notified APSCUF of the possible retrenchment of two faculty members in the psychology department,” said Dr. Karen Whitney, president, Clarion University. “These positions were identified as part of last fall’s workforce plan.”

Dr. Whitney emphasized that these will be the only two possible retrenchments for the 2014-2015 academic year.

“Even though we are issuing this notice, we hope to find a resolution that would avoid retrenchments through the processes outlined in the collective bargaining agreement,” Whitney said.

The APSCUF contract requires universities to notify the union by Aug. 1 about possible retrenchment of positions that might occur at the end of the next academic year. The decision whether to actually eliminate any positions next year would be made as early as October.

Today’s news release by PASSHE provides more information on this issue.