#apscufku

On January 25th, the College Board announced that the SAT® Suite of Assessments will transition to a shorter online version. Priscilla Rodriguez, the Vice President of College Readiness Assessments at College Board, stated, “The digital SAT will be easier to take, easier to give, and more relevant… We’re not simply putting the current SAT on a digital platform—we’re taking full advantage of what delivering an assessment digitally makes possible.”

The overall test will be shorter; the new digital version will last two hours as opposed to three, and students will be given more time per question. The reading portion will change to reflect a wider range of topics to better represent the works students read in college and the sections will include shorter passages with one question per passage. The math portion will change to allow the use of a calculator on all sections. Because of its digital format, educators and students will receive their scores back in a matter of days rather than weeks.

This new format hopes to make the SAT—and college admissions by extension—more accessible. The College Board recognizes the inequities in access to technology and works to address this by providing schools with devices to students that need them. Students can choose between their own device, a school issued device, or a college board issued device. The test is also designed to save progress and time remaining if the students happen to lose connection. The online format also makes the tests easier to schedule during the school day, making it more available to low-income students.

Ronné Turner, Vice Provost for Admissions & Financial Aid at Washington University in St. Louis, said “It’s encouraging to see the positive feedback from students and educators who participated in the pilots for the digital SAT. The changes to the test are timely and clearly centered around improving the student experience.” Students who participated in the November global pilot of the new digital format were cited saying the testing experience was less stressful and the questions easier to pay attention to. Administrators were cited saying the new format was either easier or the same to proctor, and educators will no longer have to worry about packaging, sorting, or shipping testing materials.

When colleges went test optional during the pandemic, millions of students still took the SAT, and that trend continues with the class of 2022. Most students are interested in their scores and want the option to submit their scores to college admissions. Rodriguez explains, “In a largely test-optional world, the SAT is a lower-stakes test in college admissions. Submitting a score is optional for every type of college, and we want the SAT to be the best possible option for students. The SAT allows every student—regardless of where they go to high school—to be seen and to access opportunities that will shape their lives and careers.”

SAT scores are a way for students demonstrate what they know in a time where the share of students graduating high school with an A average has grown from 39% in 1998 to 55% in 2021 and other parts of college applications, including clubs, sports, and academic activities, often are costly and inaccessible for many families. In the class of 2020, 1.7 million U.S. students had SAT scores that confirmed or exceeded their high school GPA. More than 300,000 of those students were from small towns and rural communities, 600,000 were first-generation college goers, and 700,000 were Black or Latino.

The new SAT format will be delivered internationally beginning in 2023 and in the U.S. in 2024.

By Emma Streb

Consolidation for six Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities is coming closer day by day, with consolidated universities welcoming students as early as Fall of 2022. While consolidation of the selected universities is supposed to benefit the universities and put the PASSHE system on the right track, the impact of consolidation on morale, faculty, and retirements has proven otherwise. With consolidation less than a year away, I fear the future of PASSHE is looking bleak.

Two years ago, PASSHE universities were wrapping up a regular semester, not knowing that their future contained a pandemic full of zoom, hybrid classes, and a whole new teaching environment. Now, professors are still juggling the challenges of teaching during a pandemic while experiencing concern about how university consolidation will impact their futures. Dr. Chris Hallen, the vice president of APSCUF, shared his personal experience as a professor at Bloomsburg, one of the soon-to-be consolidated universities, during the December 1st Board of Governor's Meeting stating, "My colleagues and I wonder if we are doomed to a lifetime of overload, as retired (or retrenched) faculty are not being replaced, and somehow it makes more sense to pay me over twice what they could pay an adjunct for the same course, "My colleagues and I are wondering whether we are next — next to be retrenched as our department’s enrollments drop below a magical, moving-number target." This insight from Hallen exemplifies what it is like to be a professor on a PASSHE campus on the road to consolidation. Professors are not only experiencing uncertainty about the future but worry that their careers are on the line, all while taking on a larger workload to make up for the decreasing faculty numbers at their universities. With falling morale on campus, PASSHE should evaluate if the steps they are taking on the path to consolidation benefit those it affects or only the system's finances, which can also be questioned- but that is a whole extra blog.

In addition to low morale, retirement is on the rise for faculty members at PASSHE universities, and it appears that consolidation could be partly to blame. In the most recent round of retirement incentives offered to PASSHE employees, almost half of the 165 who signed up were from consolidating universities. By accepting the incentive, the participants will retire by the summer of 2022. The retirement incentive itself is a part of State System Chancellor Greenstein's goal to reduce PASSHE's workforce to 2010-11 levels. Knowing that this effort is in place, faculty may be more willing to retire, not knowing what their future could look like in the system. While the effort is to help maintain system efficiency, the impact on remaining faculty could do more harm than good. APSCUF President Dr. Jamie Martin shared that, "When you are losing senior faculty at that rate, it’s a significant loss not only for students but their junior colleagues.” She emphasized that through loss of senior faculty, “You lose mentors, people that can help you navigate all of the tenure promotion processes. For junior colleagues, you lose all of that.” Even though Greenstein is closer to his goal through retirement incentives, it does not mean that it will positively impact the individuals left on campus who are already stretched thin.  

As more information regarding the consolidation comes out, we hope to see concerns of faculty and students addressed. APSCUF will continue to advocate for the students, faculty, and coaches of the PASSHE system. From the ground level, Dr. Hallen speaks for himself and colleagues, "I’m tired of consolidation, and I’m not alone. And we have barely started with hundreds of issues that need resolution." The lack of morale and rapidly increasing retirements may only be the beginning of the consequences of consolidation.

To learn more about recent consolidation developments, visit APSCUF President Dr. Jamie Martin’s interview with Behind the Headlines: https://www.apscuf.org/martin-discusses-unanswered-consolidation-questions-in-interview/

By Erica Bottjer, APSCUF-KU Intern Fall 2021

Sources Referenced

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/11/faculty-retirements-at-pa-state-universities-are-double-the-number-of-a-typical-year.html

https://www.apscuf.org/see-dr-christopher-hallens-remarks-to-the-bog-dec12021/

For many, attending college comes with a hefty price tag and years of student-loan repayment, but Kristina M. Johnson has another plan. Johnson, the president of Ohio State University, has come up with an idea to bring the undergraduate students' average loans from over $27,000 to zero. The ultimate goal of the program is to open the gates of opportunity for students to attend college, pursue graduate school if desired, and prompt students to "launch their lives after college, whether that means starting a business, buying a home or investing in the success of their communities," says Johnson. While there is much debate about forgiving current student loan costs, Ohio seeks to fight the root of the problem itself.

To reduce the Ohio student's student average loan to zero, the university plans to use grants, internships, and research opportunities for funding rather than the federal-direct loans included in financial-aid packages. Although the student federal-direct loans are aimed at zero, the university will require a large investment for the program to benefit students. Ohio State will have to raise a minimum of $800 million to reach all undergraduates within the next ten years.

Ohio's program, the Scarlet & Gray Advantage, will be piloted in the fall of 2022. It will serve 125 students ranging from low to middle-class income households. The program is expected to cover the full cost of student attendance. It is important to note that the program is not "free college." While students should not have to take out loans, they and their families, in most instances, will be expected to put funds towards the expenses associated with tuition and attending college. The amount that students and their families would be expected to contribute would be calculated by the FAFSA's "expected family contribution" formula. In addition, undergraduates would have to put their wages from internships and on-campus jobs towards their tuition and fees. Aside from the financial contributions to the undergraduate's education, those who participate in the program are expected to complete the FAFSA annually, pledge to finish their studies within four years, and take part in the required financial-literacy counseling provided by the Scarlet & Gray Advantage. 

While Ohio State is not the only college with a program to allow students to have a debt-free degree, it is one of the most accessible. Students looking for a debt-free degree are often limited in their options. In most cases, they choose to apply to either private institutions that are extremely selective throughout the admissions process or to a few public institutions that only allow students from low-income households to participate in their debt-free programs.

The implementation of the Scarlet & Gray Advantage at Ohio State University could change higher education for the best and allow students who would not enroll in college to attain an undergraduate degree. By providing a debt-free degree Ohio State students could start their lives after graduation free of student loans and follow their professional aspirations. Hopefully, the debt-free degree program is one of the first of many to appear on public college campuses providing equal opportunities for students from all backgrounds.

By Erica Bottjer, APSCUF-KU Intern Fall 2021

Sources Referenced

https://www.chronicle.com/article/ohio-state-u-unveils-a-plan-for-all-students-to-graduate-debt-free?cid=gen_sign_in

https://www.businessinsider.com/student-loan-debt-eliminated-ohio-state-university-decade-initative-2021-11

https://news.osu.edu/ohio-state-to-create-debt-free-degree-with-scholarships-work-opportunities-grants-and-financial-literacy/

Chancellor Dan Greenstein of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) received approval to request the largest appropriation in system history for $550 million during The Board of Governors meeting on October 14th, 2021. The request is a total of $73 million more than was requested from the Commonwealth last year. While the approval from The Board of Governors is just the first step in the process, it demonstrates dedication to keep the state system operating effectively while still recruiting and retaining students. But, this also leads to the question of where the additional funding will go.

According to the PASSHE website, "The $73 million state funding increase will enable the System to continue implementing plans for university integrations that were approved in July; to further invest in the diversity, equity, and inclusion plan approved in April; and support other initiatives while reducing universities’ dependence on additional budget cuts or tuition increases." While the request for a historic state funding increase is large and has drawn scrutiny, it could be vital to students of the state system. The investments that will likely make the most positive monetary impact on students include funds towards the consolidation efforts and efforts towards reducing dependence on tuition increases.

A large sum of the money is to go towards the consolidation efforts, which will begin in 2022. The goal of putting additional funds towards consolidation is to make minimal faculty and program changes, along with ensuring the universities are prepared for opening day. This includes reducing cuts of programs and staff of state-owned universities, which has happened in the past with a non-sufficient budget. With new students enrolling in a brand-new system on the horizon next August, the state system must be adequately prepared to provide what is necessary to set students up for success. This includes the ability to meet with an advisor and select their courses to begin their degree.

There has been increasing concerns about pricing students out of public higher education, allocating some of these funds to prevent a tuition increase is vital Greenstein shared that Pennsylvania currently ranks 46th in funding for state-owned universities, ninth in student cost, and second in average student debt. Even though state universities have frozen tuition prices for the past three years, the total costs for attending colleges in the PASSHE system have increased 62.4% from 2009-10 to 2018-19. Students and their families are struggling to afford even the current tuition, making the approval of funding so crucial for students.

APSCUF President Jamie Martin supports the request for additional funding for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. While she wished the request happened sooner, she shared that “Any investment in our students is a step toward making college more affordable for them.” We hope that the steps towards receiving the historic funding to the state system continue to run smoothly, so students of all PASSHE universities can benefit.

By Erica Bottjer, APSCUF-KU Intern Fall 2021

Sources Referenced

https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylavnia-state-university-state-funding-ask-20211014.html

https://www.penncapital-star.com/education/higher-education-is-a-partnership-pa-state-system-approves-550m-request-to-help-with-redesign/

https://www.goerie.com/story/news/education/2021/10/14/passhe-seeks-550-million-state-appropriation-pennsylvania-legislature-higher-education/8449955002/

https://www.passhe.edu/News/Pages/Releases.aspx?q=2021-10-14-Historic-Funding-Request

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the American population has relied on essential workers, and now it seems there aren't any to be found. Almost every gas station, grocery store, and retail establishment has a "help wanted" sign on the door, along with a high starting wage, and in some cases, a sign-on bonus. A few years ago, these incentives would quickly draw in job applicants, although today, not much. Workers are leaving their jobs faster than ever before, and some even leaving the workforce altogether, asking the question of how COVID-19 is impacting the labor market and empowering labor unions.

After major losses of talent during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers are continuing to try and pick up the pieces. This process has proven difficult, leading many to wonder why people aren't returning to work. COVID-19 remains a concern for many workers who pre-pandemic worked in-person serving the public, these workers may now be seeking hybrid and work-from-home opportunities instead. For essential workers, there are concerns about the level of stress they would experience upon rejoining the workforce since many companies are short-staffed, resulting in overworked employees.

Although employers may be struggling, the current labor environment has led to an opportunity for employees, who are now recognizing their power. Employers need their employees now more than ever to continue running operations smoothly and keep up with demand, creating the perfect time for unions to make a move. Throughout October, the ILR School Labor Action Tracker developed by Cornell has tracked 43 strikes so far. Johnnie Kallas, the director of Cornell's Labor Action Tracker, shared that "Workers are fed up with low pay and understaffing, and they have more labor market leverage with employers needing to hire right now". 

Even right here at Kutztown University, labor unrest can be found, as the university Dining Workers are attempting to unionize. They remain as the only food service workers at a PA public university without a union. The ultimate goal is to increase wages and benefits for the short-staffed Dining Services group. In Lancaster, PA Kellogg's employees are striking for better pay, benefits, and more sustainable hours. The School District of Philadelphia has warned students that they may need to move online in November, as SEPTA's union has authorized a strike if a contract deal is not reached. It appears that October is only the beginning of workers and unions demanding change. 

COVID-19 has drastically changed the labor force. Employees no longer settle for the bare minimum from employers and are seeking out what will provide them the best benefits, pay, and fair treatment. With employment options almost at every corner, companies can no longer afford to treat their employees as less than they are worth. The demand for labor exceeds the supply, and workers know it. Therefore, putting employees and their unions in a position of more power than before, allowing them to demand change. The labor market has turned upside down as the fate of the employer is now in the hands of employees, although it could be just what is needed to set US businesses on the right path. 

By Erica Bottjer, APSCUF-KU Intern Fall 2021

Sources Referenced

https://www.usnews.com/news/economy/articles/2021-10-07/the-labor-market-is-undergoing-a-seismic-shift-as-markets-await-septembers-jobs-report

https://time.com/6107676/labor-unions/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/10/17/strikes-great-resignation/

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/labor-market-is-a-great-reset-for-every-business-infosys-president-says-133548797.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALfRVcE5Y4ontdZ_QSSKAYgOg3oleaZ6jlXFnKJsPTXnyd5_tRb4PCZqM3Bv2ONRWvq4Oiyl8FgpaULoQyBXykno3kJEsLTmbYU3KR1SlD5fl-J3Z8-YswqM91DtLVxrADAKe3psKgAJFlhPMpB-ep8T4ZTGuMDcDwXi2FPz63wJ

https://striketracker.ilr.cornell.edu/about.html

https://time.com/6105109/workers-strike-unemployment/

Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) is comprised of 14 universities throughout the state and has hit its lowest enrollment level in decades. PASSHE currently serves over 88,000 students who are pursuing a four-year degree. This means traditionally PASSHE schools serve the largest number of PA college students compared to other Pennsylvania universities. The mission of PASSHE is “To increase educational attainment in the Commonwealth; to prepare students at the undergraduate and graduate levels for professional and personal success in their lives; and to contribute to the economic, social, and cultural development of Pennsylvania’s communities, the Commonwealth, and the nation.” The decreasing enrollment levels throughout the state are a cause for concern. Can PASSHE uphold its mission without being able to attract and satisfy students?

During the PASSHE Board of Governors Meeting on October 13th, it was shared that enrollment has decreased about 5.4% throughout the system. This is a significant jump from only a 2% decline last year, during the peak of the pandemic. PASSHE has lost over 5,000 students within one academic year, bringing the enrollment total to 88,651 students, which was previously at over 93,000. While Kutztown University is fortunate enough to have only seen a drop from 7,892 to 7,675 students enrolled from Fall 2020 to 2021, other state universities saw a more significant change. Bloomsburg experienced a sharp decline from 8,436 students enrolled during the Fall of 2020 to only 7,745 in the Fall of 2021. This lack of students resulted in the lowest enrollment levels in over a decade, even as enrollment in PASSHE has steadily decreased over the past few years.

There is a multitude of reasons that could be the cause of PASSHE’s drop in enrollment, including the COVID-19 pandemic, state funding, and the cost of student tuition. Since PASSHE is unable to control the pandemic, it may be worth evaluating how the system itself is directly driving students away. Dr. Jamie Martin, APSCUF President, highlighted key points about Act 188 of 1982, the cost of student attendance, and the lack of state funding for PASSHE during the Board of Governors Meeting as possible causes for the drop.

Act 188 of 1982 lays out the mission of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education and is as follows, “The State System of Higher Education shall be part of the Commonwealth’s system of higher education. Its purpose shall be to provide high-quality education at the lowest possible cost to the students.”

Currently, Pennsylvania is ranked 47th in the United States for per-capita investment in higher education, leaving students responsible for 75% of their cost to attend state universities. It is important to consider that in 1990, 75% of the cost of student attendance in the PASSHE system was covered by state appropriations. The lack of state funding and increase in tuition prices has resulted in more and more students being unable to attend PASSHE colleges due to a lack of affordability.

Dr. Martin shared during the meeting, “We are at an inflection point, and a very important question must be addressed: Are the universities in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education state-owned and state-supported universities — or not?” As PASSHE continues the road of consolidation for universities in the state system, students are left to wonder if the changes will ultimately benefit them or lead to even further rising costs to attend a PASSHE school, excluding even more Pennsylvanians from access to an affordable 4-year institution.

By Erica Bottjer, APSCUF-KU Intern Fall 2021

Sources Referenced

https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania-state-university-enrollment-drop-pandemic-20211011.html

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2021/10/11/State-System-of-Higher-Education-Pennsylvania-enrollment-2021-Cal-U-Clarion-Edinboro-Daniel-Greenstein-APSCUF/stories/202110110081

https://www.apscuf.org/see-dr-jamie-martins-remarks-to-the-board-of-governors-oct13-2021/

https://www.passhe.edu/About/Pages/About.aspx

Streaming services, like Netflix and Hulu, are at an all-time high both in subscribers and profits, but the production workers that make entertainment happen have been left behind. On Monday, October 4th, 2021, The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) authorized their first strike in 128 years of existence. IATSE currently has over 150,000 members working in arts, media, and entertainment. Their goal is to ensure their members have fair wages and fair working conditions. 

98% of IATSE members voted yes to a strike, giving union president Matthew D. Loeb the authority to call for a production shutdown. Crew members such as set builders, videographers, and production assistants have been suffering from a loss of meal breaks, time to rest, and paychecks which are below the living wage for some members. Brad Simpson, a film and television producer, shared, “In my 20-plus years, though, I haven’t seen the below-the-line crew feeling so unified and so upset.” As a result of production shutdown during the early days of the coronavirus, crew workers have been expected to play catch-up at a rapid pace as streaming services attempt to produce content to hold onto subscribers and bring in new ones. The injustice the crew members have been experiencing has made it the perfect time to fight for fair conditions and wages, as streaming services need production to continue or could end up suffering financially. 

Production crew members are not often recognized but are just as important as the famous actors on your favorite Netflix show. Without them, the quality and experience of entertainment would not be the same. Theatre Crew workers previously had a seasonal schedule that accounted for personal time with a period that was not as intensive, but that time has come and gone. Now crew members are fighting for a 10-hour turnaround time between shifts and a 54-hour weekend turnaround time. They also are hoping to increase meal penalties, so production is forced to stop for the crew to have adequate time to eat and rest. Crew members are also suffering from the inability to pay their bills since some entry-level positions pay less than the living wage in Los Angeles, California. 

While the IATSE strike is authorized, it is not desired. IATSE is prepared to meet with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) who connect their employees to productions to discuss how they can meet the needs of the union members. “I hope that the studios will see and understand the resolve of our members,” Loeb said. “The ball is in their court. If they want to avoid a strike, they will return to the bargaining table and make us a reasonable offer.” The AMPTP responded, “The AMPTP remains committed to reaching an agreement that will keep the industry working." IATSE and AMPTP have continued negotiations as of Wednesday, October 13th, 2021. If the negotiations do not meet IATSE standards, Loeb is supporting a nationwide strike starting Monday, October 18th, 2021

As a union, APSCUF’s mission is to work on behalf of student and faculty interests. APSCUF-KU stands in solidarity with IATSE as they work towards better conditions for crew members and fair wages. If you are interested in learning more about IATSE and its work, we encourage you to visit https://iatse.net.

By Erica Bottjer, APSCUF-KU Intern Fall 2021

Sources Referenced

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/10/04/hollywood-strike-vote-production-workers/

https://variety.com/2021/film/news/iatse-strike-vote-result-1235079382/

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/04/business/media/hollywood-union-strike.html

On September 22nd, 2021, APSCUF President Dr. Jamie Martin attended the Board of Governor’s meeting to discuss the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education university consolidation. The meeting involved the consideration of approving seven side-letter agreements to APSCUF’s collective bargaining agreement. Side letters #1-6 apply to Bloomsburg, California, Clarion, Edinboro, Lock Haven, and Mansfield Universities. Side letter #7 applies to all universities in the PASSHE system.

Summary of the Side Letters:

Article 6 – Creates a process for the election of new department chairpersons for the integrated universities and identifies work they will perform along with commensurate compensation during the 2021-22 academic year, as well as delegated work for the first year of integration.

Article 12 – Identifies how evaluations will be conducted for various groups of faculty.

Article 15 – Allows existing tenure to transfer to the integrated university. Establishes procedures for the selection of university-wide tenure committees.

Article 16 – Establishes procedures for the selection of university-wide  promotion committees. Faculty applying for promotion will be subjected to promotion policies and procedures from their prior university for the first two years of integration.

Article 31E – Establishes an interim curriculum committee that is comprised of individuals from the existing curriculum committees. Interim curriculum committee will establish processes and procedures to recommend curricular action during the 2021-22 academic year and summer term.

Articles 29 and 34 – Allow for existing faculty at the six universities to     seamlessly move to the respective integrated university with their     existing seniority.

Retrenchments Side Letter – Allows for retrenchments to be deferred to future years     contingent upon adequate funding received from the Commonwealth for this     purpose. Also modifies the Enhanced Sick Leave Payout program from earlier this year to extend the deadline for notices of retirement and increases the payout multiplier in the second window to the higher payout utilized in the first window.

Dr. Jamie Martin encouraged the passing of all side letters and shared, “There remains much uncertainty and anxiety regarding consolidation on these six campuses, among the students (both current and prospective), faculty and staff. This process — coupled with the retrenchments that occurred at four of our campuses last year and the threats of retrenchment this year — has left many feeling defeated, and all of this is happening while faculty struggle to offer face-to-face classes in a safe way amidst the ongoing pandemic. The combination of these things has negatively impacted morale on a number of our universities.”

During the meeting, viewable on YouTube and apscuf.org, all side letters were passed. The Retrenchment Side Letter received the most attention, as faculty payroll and benefits comprise a large part of the PASSHE system’s budget.

The Consolidation of California, Clarion, Edinboro in the West, and Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield in the East has caused students and faculty concern about the future of public higher education in Pennsylvania. With the first group of students set to begin at a consolidated university in August of 2022, we will soon know what the real world consequences of consolidation look like. The Board of Governor’s Meeting has allowed for the alleviation of worry for faculty concerned about losing their position until at least 2024, as APSCUF continues to dedicate itself to advocating for faculty and students.

By Erica Bottjer, APSCUF-KU Intern Fall 2021

Sources Referenced

https://www.bradfordera.com/news/pa-state-universities-faculty-given-job-assurance-ahead-of-consolidation/article_d1d192b5-36d0-55d3-be1e-b811729e73e2.html

https://www.apscuf.org/see-dr-jamie-martins-remarks-to-the-board-of-governors-sept22-2021/?fbclid=IwAR3HH-aQIirlA421dgAvQFVdAY7WhaoQK311UNVMCMN4Z_W21C4OEZTcvxQ