The union representing faculty members at the State System of Higher Education universities is casting a wary eye at the newest member of the State System Board of Governors. House Speaker Mike Turzai last week named Representative Brad Roae of Crawford County to replace Turzai on the board.
Roae has been a critic of both the State System and of APSCUF, the faculty union, which calls him “a frequent poster of anti-System diatribes on his Facebook page.” The union says that it’s true that Roae “has said some very insulting things about faculty in the past,” but they’re hoping he will “develop a more comprehensive view” of what the universities do and the role faculty and coaches play in advancing student success.
Roae has accused the State System of using “fuzzy math” to overcharge parents and students, and has demanded that teachers’ pay rates be brought “back in line with economic realities.”
APSCUF is currently in negotiations with the State System on new contracts for both faculty and coaches. The current one-year deals expire on June 30th.
