PURPOSE

 

            APSCUF has been certified to represent, for purposes of collective bargaining, department chairpersons, full-time teaching faculty (including librarians with faculty status), part-time teaching faculty and librarians without faculty status and faculty members of the UNIVERSITIES whose basic responsibilities lie outside of the classroom setting.

 

            APSCUF and the STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION, desiring to cooperate each with the other in mutual respect and harmony, have agreed to the provisions of this Agreement in consideration of the following:

 

            1.  The UNIVERSITIES exist for the common good of the citizens of the Commonwealth, particularly the students who attend such UNIVERSITIES.  In a world of rapid change and recurring crises, all will be served best by an intellectual environment which encourages the search for truth.

 

            2.  APSCUF as the representative of the above named employees recognizes its obligation to permit all individuals and groups on each campus to be included in the consideration of matters relating to them.

 

            3.  The parties recognize that collective bargaining in good faith will further their common aim of offering the best possible educational opportunities at the UNIVERSITIES and assert their intention to abide by the terms of the Agreement.

 

            4.  For the purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions shall be applied:

 

            "ACADEMIC FACULTY" -- The bargaining unit consisting of department chairpersons, full-time teaching faculty including librarians with faculty status, part-time teaching faculty, librarians without faculty status and faculty members whose basic responsibilities lie outside of the classroom setting who have, by certification of the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board (PLRB), been designated as ACADEMIC FACULTY (PERA-R-775-C).

 

            "ADMINISTRATIVE FACULTY" -- The bargaining unit consisting of faculty members whose basic responsibilities lie outside of the classroom who have not been designated as ACADEMIC FACULTY (PERA-R-1354-C).

 

            "APSCUF" -- The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, Inc.

 

            "UNIVERSITIES" -- All institutions of the State System of Higher Education including Bloomsburg University, California University, Cheyney University, Clarion University, East Stroudsburg University, Edinboro University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown University, Lock Haven University, Mansfield University, Millersville University, Shippensburg University, Slippery Rock University, and West Chester University; and their respective branch campuses.

 

            "STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION" -- That System created by Act 188 of 1982, the State System of Higher Education Act, hereinafter referred to as the STATE SYSTEM.

 

            "COMMONWEALTH" -- The Executive Branch of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

 

            "FACULTY" or "FACULTY MEMBERS" -- All members of the bargaining units described in PLRB case numbers PERA-R-775-C and PERA-R-1354-C.

 

            "REGULAR" -- A tenured or tenure track FACULTY MEMBER.

 

            "PROBATIONARY NON-TENURED FACULTY MEMBER" -- A FACULTY MEMBER who is appointed to a tenure track position and who has not been granted tenure.

 

            "NON-TENURE TRACK FACULTY" -- A FACULTY MEMBER who is appointed to service in a position in which service will not be credited toward tenure.  Examples of such positions include Temporary Part-time, Temporary Full-time and Regular Part-time.

 

“DOMESTIC PARTNER” – The criteria listed below must be met in order to qualify for benefits extended to domestic partners in this agreement and a FACULTY MEMBER and domestic partner must provide management with a completed, notarized  “Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Domestic Partner Verification Statement” that will be maintained in the FACULTY MEMBER’S official personnel file:

 

1.         Each partner is the same gender.

 

2.         Both partners are unmarried.

 

3.         Both partners are at least 18 years old and mentally competent to enter into a contract in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

 

4.         Partners are the sole domestic partner of the other person.

 

5.         Partners have lived together in the same residence on a continuous basis for at least six months immediately prior to the date of the notarized statement, with the intent to reside together permanently.

 

6.         Partners are not related to each other by adoption or by blood, to a degree that would prohibit marriage in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

 

7.         Neither partner has been a member of another domestic partnership for the past six months (unless the prior domestic partnership ended as a result of the death or marriage of one of the domestic partners).

 

8.         Partners are jointly responsible for the common welfare and financial obligations of each other.

 

"CHILD OF SAME SEX DOMESTIC PARTNER" - The biological or legally adopted
child or a child for whom the Domestic Partner is the legal guardian.  CHILDREN OF SAME SEX DOMESTIC PARTNERS are eligible to receive benefits on the same basis as dependent step-children of a FACULTY MEMBER’S spouse (i.e., the FACULTY MEMBER must demonstrate that the child is the legal dependent of the FACULTY MEMBER’S certified DOMESTIC PARTNER and that the FACULTY MEMBER has assumed financial responsibility for the child of his/her DOMESTIC PARTNER).