Today is the deadline for State System of Higher Education schools to notify tenured professors if they will lose their jobs at the end of the academic year.
IUP, according to APSCUF President Dr. Jamie Martin, is expected to take the hardest hit, as many as 128 faculty members. If that figure holds, that would be more than twice as many job losses at IUP than at any other universities. The union projects 61 cuts at Edinboro.
IUP is one of seven universities that will furlough faculty members. There were originally ten schools that sent the required notice of retrenchment in the spring, but over the summer, Bloomsburg, Kutztown, and Millersville reconsidered.
IUP this week announced a major restructuring of its academic programs, including the elimination of five programs in the College of Fine Arts, the combining of that college with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
State Representative Jim Struzzi yesterday issued a statement on the changes at IUP and the State System. He’s a member of the PASSHE caucus and has been in discussions with IUP President Michael Driscoll and State System Chancellor Dan Greenstein. Struzzi urges IUP to “do what they can to allow the continuation of (the Fine Arts) programs,” but acknowledges that when demand for the programs decreases, changes must occur.
APSCUF has accused the State System of not revealing retrenchment plans during negotiations on a new contract, which was signed last December, but the System blames the pandemic for accelerating a five-year retrenchment-through-attrition plan to three years, which makes retrenchment now a priority.
Struzzi Issues Statement on PASSHE, IUP Restructuring
HARRISBURG – In efforts to ensure the financial stability of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) has indicated the financial need for faculty layoffs as well as significant changes to its academic programs. State Rep. Jim Struzzi (R-Indiana) issued the following statement on the matter:
“Recently, our community has been made aware of the unfortunate news of impending job losses, possible program changes and retrenchment at IUP. I am deeply concerned about the impacts this could have on our local economy, faculty, students and the future of the programs targeted for reduction. No one wants to see this occur, and I truly empathize with anyone whose job may be in jeopardy. The current dire financial situations at IUP and PASSHE were accelerated by COVID-19. Universities and colleges across the country, both public and private alike, are facing the necessity of difficult decisions to ensure the future viability of these institutions.
“My role as a legislator is to advocate for funding for the state system, which I have done since taking office. I am not involved in IUP’s academic decisions, nor do I have oversight regarding IUP administration. I have, however, been in discussions with IUP President Dr. Michael Driscoll as well as PASSHE Chancellor Daniel Greenstein and have taken every opportunity to express my concerns. As a member of the PASSHE caucus in Harrisburg, I am keenly aware of the challenges the system is facing. Enrollment has seen a significant decline, and the state system has been losing money for many years. The financial gap the system faces is large enough that it is not feasible, in these difficult financial times, to ask the taxpayers of Pennsylvania to bear the burden of filling it with tax dollars alone. Put very candidly, unless significant changes occur, the university as a whole will fail. There would be negative impacts on a multitude of levels if schools in the state system have to close, particularly IUP.
“Knowing this, we passed legislation to allow consolidation and restructuring of PASSHE schools while protecting the autonomy of IUP and ensuring its future viability. These bills were developed with input from the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Facilities as well as PASSHE. They were not, by any means, an order to eliminate programs or positions, but rather gave the system’s administrators the flexibility they need to begin a process of specialization and focus on what they do best as individual schools within the larger entity of the system.
“There has been much focus by students, faculty, and the community on the impact of restructuring on IUP’s Fine Arts. As a graduate with an English writing degree from the University of Pittsburgh, I am a supporter of the fine arts, humanities and social sciences. My children take lessons at the IUP Community Music School. There is fear amongst the community about losing access to such valuable programming. While I am told there is no news to share regarding any elimination of these community programs, I certainly recognize their enormous value and do not want to see them lost. I would urge IUP administration and faculty to do what they can to allow the continuation of these programs that add such value to our university, its students, and the overall community.
“However, I do bear in mind, and ask you to, as well, that in any business model, when demand for a product or service decreases, some changes must occur to achieve balance. While that is very much an oversimplification, the fact is undeniable that costs at IUP and other PASSHE schools must be reduced. These possible faculty reductions are not limited to the arts, humanities and social sciences – they will be seen in every college at IUP. I know the administration has not taken these decisions lightly. Difficult actions and changes must occur to maintain the overall health of the state system and IUP. I have been in regular communication with President Driscoll hoping to mitigate the impacts of these decisions as much as possible and will continue to coordinate with officials from IUP and PASSHE to achieve that goal.
“Like all of you, I wish there were a better way to solve this critical challenge without any losses. It is my hope that IUP is working toward the goal of striking the right balance between providing the best possible service to our students and community in a manner that proves to be economically sustainable moving forward. I ask you to be positive and show your support of our fellow community members, IUP employees and administration as we face these changes and work toward that balance together.”
Comments