After State System of Higher Education Chancellor Dan Greenstein dropped a bombshell announcement during the Senate budget appropriations hearing on March 18th, the president of the union that represents teachers and coaches at the state-owned universities called the statement “reckless and irresponsible”.
On Thursday, Greenstein was being questioned by State Senator Joe Pittman about the deficits in the state system, and how IUP was paying a high cost to help subsidize weaker universities. Greenstein said that if PASSHE could not get its financial problems in order, he would recommend to the PASSHE board of directors that they go to the senate next year with a legislative package to dissolve the system.
In response to that statement, APSCUF president Dr. Jamie Martin said that despite remarks that the chancellor was not making any threats, many union members may have perceived his remarks as one. Martin said that “his detrimental testimony crossed a line, and we are shocked, appalled and outraged.” She also said that his suggestion only creates an atmosphere of fear, uncertainty and mistrust for students, their families, faculties, coaches and staffers.
Martin has met with the presidents at the 14 APSCUF chapters and an emergency action meeting of the APFSCUF executive council has been called for early next week for further discussion.
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