14 professors at Lock Haven University face potential layoffs at the end of the 2022-23 academic year pending letters of intent to retrench sent to various faculty. The looming retrenchment stems from letters of intent to retrench sent during the previous academic year, which included 23 letters sent to both Lock Haven and Mansfield professors that have since dwindled in number.
Mansfield University, another school under Commonwealth, had originally been sent six letters of intent to retrench. However, due to circumstances such as retirement, faculty leaving the university for other work and ongoing assessment of program needs, these letters have been removed and none currently exist at MU at the time of this article being written. The original 23 letters overall have been reduced to sixteen at LHU with two pending removal.
According to an anonymous source, there are several factors that may contribute to these letters being sent. One such reason given by PASSHE, Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education located in Harrisburg, is the uneven student-to-faculty ratio and the metrics the university is required to meet. Another is the intention to save money for Commonwealth as a whole. These reasons, however, have been contested by the Association of Pennsylvania State College & University Faculties, or APSCUF, who state the motivations are not in line with their collective bargaining agreement.
There are also concerns the union has with retrenchments being conducted during this academic year. Originally, money had been sent by the state government to be set aside for the state system, which included a percentage amount meant to prevent retrenchments from occurring until at least 2024. Since then, no confirmation has been sent to professors this academic year to ensure their continued employment at the university once the spring 2023 semester concludes. This means salaries are not yet assured to be covered for the 2023-24 academic year.
Though APSCUF does not agree with the reasons the letters were sent, the process of issuing grievances is lengthy and cannot guarantee affected staff their employment will remain intact while in progress. This raises further cause for worry as faculty may need to seek new employment during the unstable job environment the current pandemic brings. Regardless, the situation remains ongoing.
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