HARRISBURG, Pa. – Leadership from Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education and the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties concluded a round of contract talks Tuesday and agreed to continue negotiations next month.

Bargaining sessions were held Monday and Tuesday at the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg on the heels of two days of talks last week. The next negotiations session is scheduled for Aug. 8 at APSCUF's headquarters in Harrisburg.

“We're encouraged by the progress we've made on several fronts, and both sides are driven by prioritizing student success," State System Chancellor Dan Greenstein said. “These talks have been propelled by a spirit of goodwill, and we appreciate the opportunities to collaborate with APSCUF'S leadership on a new contract."

The State System and APSCUF have engaged in interest-based bargaining, a strategy focusing on collaboration instead of a more traditional exchange of contract proposals.

The most-recent faculty contract expired June 30, and by law, the provisions of that agreement continue until a new collective bargaining agreement is ratified.

“Thanks to our collaboration with the State System, we continue to make important progress on the next contract," said Dr. Jamie Martin, APSCUF vice president and chair of the APSCUF negotiations team. “We are looking forward to additional productive sessions next month. We will start the school year with students as our top priority."

Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education oversees 14 four-year public universities educating more than 90,000 students across the Commonwealth. The State System offers more than 2,300 degrees and certificates in more than 530 academic areas.

*This release has been updated to reflect a change of schedule.