The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s Board of Governors met this morning and covered a number of items of interest to faculty and coaches at the 14 state-owned universities.

First of all, the board did not take any formal action on Governor Corbett’s request to freeze $20 million in state funding for this academic year. At this point, it appears we are in “wait and see” mode, but we will keep you informed of developments on this issue. Our thanks go out to those members – hundreds of faculty and coaches – who took the time to contact Chancellor John Cavanaugh and Board Chairman Guido Pichini. Of course, the governor will reveal his 2012-13 budget on Tuesday, Feb. 7. (UPDATE: The governor’s office did not return a request for comment on the board’s inaction today, according to the Harrisburg Patriot-News.)

APSCUF President Steve Hicks discussed the proposed budget freeze and the impact of state cuts on the system in his remarks to the board:

There are a multitude of issues currently confronting our system, and I wish I could talk to you about them all today. But given the recent news, I feel compelled to return to the letter I sent you last week concerning the governor’s mid-year budget adjustment.

None of us needs to be reminded that these are difficult economic times. The Commonwealth, our students and their families, our universities, and the state system all face challenges.

However, regardless of whether we are struggling or thriving economically, our primary mission remains to educate students. The primary purpose of the state system, and, by extension, your primary responsibility as the governing board of the system, is to provide a quality education at an affordable price. Every decision you make must be guided by that purpose.

Last spring, we took an 18 percent cut in state appropriations. That means we are at the same funding level we were at in 2005. You chose not to fill that entire gap with tuition increases. While this served our students, it has led to demonstrably larger classes and increasing concerns that academic and athletic programs will disappear.

The governor’s proposal for a 5 percent mid-year cut will only mean more of the same, particularly since a large portion of the 2011-12 budget has already been distributed.

You don’t need me, or Jim Dillon to tell you that giving back $20 million will induce struggle.

You don’t need to tell me that there are potential political consequences if you say “no.” The governor could propose to take that 5 percent, that $20 million, from our 2012-13 budget in his Feb. 7 address.

Still, our current and future students need leaders who will stand up for the system and maintain its mission. At times, the governor does not seem aware of the commitment that being “state-owned” implies. Five percent back now will definitely mean more tuition in the summer — if you aren’t considering a mid-year tuition adjustment, which is not unprecedented. Or else it means the repeated growth of class size and the closing of more programs.

It’s also your responsibility as the governing body of the system to consider the quality of education the universities can provide. Year after year the presidents, here, are asked to do more with less, and sometimes they are asked how that will work. Repeatedly they say they’ll struggle. Please slow that struggle.

Our system has benefited, in the past, from having board members who were willing to stand up for the students and say “no” to a governor, despite the political pressure. They understood the system’s primary purpose. Please have the resolve to follow in their footsteps.

Secondly, the board selected Dr. Michael Driscoll, provost and executive vice chancellor of University of Alaska Anchorage, as the next president of Indiana University of Pennsylvania. We welcome Dr. Driscoll, who will begin July 1, as a partner in our mission of providing high-quality, affordable higher education for Pennsylvania’s students.

(UPDATE: APSCUF-IUP Vice President Francisco Alarcon had this to say about the new president: “We are very excited and pleased with his selection. All of the candidates were strong. He probably had the most comprehensive set of skills that we thought were the best match for IUP.” — IUP finds leader in Anchorage, Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Jan. 20, 2012)

Finally, APSCUF Vice President Ken Mash, along with leaders from the APSCUF-Cheyney chapter, addressed the board with comments highlighting inequities facing students at that institution. From Dr. Mash’s remarks:

Chairman Pichini, members of the Board, Dr. Cavanaugh, thank you for the opportunity to address you today. This past Monday our nation celebrated the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Across our campuses, events were held, and some will even take place next week. Perhaps, then, the time is fitting to ask you to confront what Dr. Hicks and I believe to be the most important civil rights issue confronting our system today, that is ensuring that the students who attend Cheyney University of Pennsylvania have the same educational opportunities as students at our other 13 universities.

My colleagues and I are fortunate to work in a system in which Cheyney University is a part. We are proud of Cheyney’s historical significance. We pain still at one of the Commonwealth’s low moments, when nearly 40 years ago a federal court felt it necessary to order the state to desegregate its higher education system. It pains us today to feel compelled to state our concerns about Cheyney in an open forum. But, enough is enough. It has gone on far too long.  Too many people have turned a blind eye to injustice for too long.

What is at risk are the futures of the students who attend and who will attend. Those students deserve better. Each of us has a moral responsibility to make it better. That responsibility to our students, regardless of the color of their skins, regardless of petty politics, regardless of hurt feelings, regardless of misplaced pride, regardless of the professional reputations of a few, regardless of how difficult a task it may be, must be paramount.

You have a responsibility. We have a responsibility. The PASSHE administration has a responsibility. The Cheyney administration has a responsibility. The administrations at our other 13 universities even have a responsibility. We cannot sit idly by in the face of inequality.

It has taken heroic efforts on the part of some of our faculty to make sure that Cheyney students get a quality education. But there is no way to look at our Cheyney and say things are equal, from its library resources, to its technology, to its facilities, to its services, to its course offerings, to its day-to-day operations, I could go on and on. . .  The bottom line is that there are not equal educational opportunities for our students.

You have the pledge of our association to do what is necessary within the bounds of our obligations to effectuate real change. Speeches and remembrances have their place in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. But action is the true way to serve his dream of justice. Inequality has persisted for far too long.

In his own words, “Never, never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person . . .  is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”

Our goal must be to restore Cheyney University to its rightful place as a jewel in our system. No other solution will suffice.

Here are remarks from Dr. Michael Adighibe, APSCUF-Cheyney president:

Good morning, Chancellor Cavanaugh, Chairman Pichini, and members of the Board of Governors. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak to you today about Cheyney University. I am proud of Cheyney University’s historic legacy and rich tradition, but I am deeply troubled by the current state of our institution. The opportunity for our students to receive a high quality education is increasingly in jeopardy because of the systemic problems on our campus.

One concern we have is the lack of foresight and planning, as evidenced by the poor planning of a “Fall 2” semester for undergrads both on campus and at Cheyney University – City Center.

The attempts to create a “Fall 2” semester occur at the last minute, usually 2-3 weeks before the fall semester begins, or even after the regular fall semester starts.  An effort like this needs to be planned well in advance to coordinate program offerings, faculty schedules and workload, and student planning.

The year, the university decided to create a common hour by canceling classes between 12:30 and 2:30 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. This has left 6 hours a week where there are no classes, which decreases opportunities for our students.

Instead of keeping classes at this more popular time, the university has expected each faculty member to teach at least one late afternoon or night class.  This was done without proof that students would prefer these course times or take these courses.

My colleagues and I have significant concerns that our students are not receiving the quality education that both Cheyney University and the State System are known for.

Please take a hard look at the current practices at Cheyney and take actions that are in the best interests of our students and our campus community. Please ensure that Cheyney students are able to earn a high quality education.

Here are remarks from Dr. Ayodele Aina:

Good morning, Chancellor Cavanaugh, Chairman Pichini, and members of the Board of Governors. Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today about issues at Cheyney University. I am a proud member to be on the Cheyney faculty, but I am deeply concerned by the current state of our institution.

Our students and our alumni are proud to attend the nation’s oldest HBCU, and they are proud that Cheyney is a member of the State System of Higher Education, which has a mission to provide a quality education at the lowest possible cost to students.

Yet, I am increasingly concerned that Cheyney’s students are increasingly unable to receive the same quality of education that students at the other thirteen PASSHE institutions experience because of systemic problems on our campus.

The number of tenured and tenure-track faculty has fallen 25 percent in five years.  Fewer faculty means that tenured/tenure track faculty must teach more introductory classes, sacrificing upper level specialized classes.  This also impacts the ability of students to study with respected scholars and teachers in their majors.

The Mathematics program was unilaterally placed in moratorium, which stifled Cheyney’s participation in an ongoing STEM collaborative initiative with area universities. It also adversely affected faculty’s chances of attracting grants specifically aimed at recruiting students, and those who were enrolled quickly transferred to other programs and to other institutions because the courses they needed were cancelled.

In addition to this, the great number of sub-100 level courses, low enrollments that prompt class cancellation, and the increased need for individualized instruction so that students can graduate all limit the choices in curriculum for students.

My colleagues and I have significant concerns that our students are not receiving the quality education that both Cheyney University and the State System are known for. I ask that the Board acts in the best interests of our students and our campus community. Please ensure that Cheyney students are able to earn a high quality education.

Here are remarks from Dr. Norma George:

Chancellor Cavanaugh, Chairman Pichini, and members of the Board of Governors, good morning, and thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak to you today about Cheyney University.

My name is Norma George and I am a faculty member of Cheyney University and chair of the Faculty Senate. I am proud to say that I am a graduate of Cheyney University from which I earned two undergraduate degrees and an M. Ed. degree. I attended Cheyney as an international student and through it studied abroad on two occasions. I believe that Cheyney afforded me the best educational experience and professional preparation possible anywhere, and I am proud of the university’s historic legacy and rich tradition. I am concerned, however, that Cheyney students are increasingly unable to receive the same high quality education which I was afforded because of systemic problems on our campus.

In addition to the significant budget cut to the system last year, Governor Corbett proposed the elimination of funding for Cheyney’s Keystone Honors Academy, a program that has produced scholars, doctors, lawyers, scientists, and business leaders. Although the legislature eventually restored SOME of this essential funding, it was only enough to maintain the current number of students enrolled in the program. This loss of funding is impeding our ability to continue to attract top quality students, and is consequently hurting our enrollment.

Additionally, the results of our inadequate recruitment efforts are such that an inordinate number of our incoming students require developmental courses for which they cannot receive college credit. This delays their entry into major-related coursework and prolongs the amount of time it takes for them to graduate.

The net effect is that our course offerings are dominated by lower level courses, and consequently, it has become increasingly difficult to fill our upper level courses. The resulting paucity of upper level courses endangers our programs, as students majoring in those areas cannot find the courses they need to graduate, and so they go elsewhere, giving us an abysmal retention rate.

The students who do matriculate are not experiencing the same quality of education that students at the other thirteen PASSHE institutions receive as they do not have the equivalent academic resources necessary to their academic success.

One example is the inadequacy of our library. The hours are inadequate to support a thriving academic community as the facility is not open many evenings and weekends. Derisory

The library building itself is plagued by severe heating and cooling problems, causing discomfort for students using the facility, and endangering our valuable collection of rare books that is susceptible to damage because of unstable temperatures.

Library resources are woefully inadequate with only a negligible number of new books and materials ordered over the past few years.

Technology to support our teaching is not on par with current practices in our profession or at our other 13 institutions.

I am personally immensely grateful for the opportunities which Cheyney University afforded me to study and learn alongside Cheyney students from this country and from other parts of the world, as well as to go beyond the physical limits of my classroom to experience firsthand other parts of the world. It is not simply bad academic practice, but it is unconscionable, it is immoral that at a time when international education has become a state system and a national priority, Cheyney University has chosen to deactivate its office  of International Programs, thereby depriving its students of the same opportunities which I had, as no international students are being actively recruited, the ones who happen to fall into our laps are not effectively processed or advised, and current students are not systematically provided information on international education opportunities.

I would also add our teacher education programs, from which I earned a master’s degree in preparation for the profession which I exercise today, and which formed the very foundation of our institution, are today practically non-existent.

I implore the Board of Governors to take a hard look at the current practices at Cheyney and take actions that are in the best interests of the students of the state of PA who attend that institution. Please ensure that Cheyney students are able to earn a high quality education on par with that provided to students of the other 13 institutions within our system.