State System Strike Finishes First Day; Student Directive Issued

LOCK HAVEN — Faculty at Lock Haven University and the other 13 schools in the State System of High Education today completed their first day on strike, manning picket lines locally from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. after negotiators for the faculty union APSCUF and the state system could not resolve their differences after five days of talks which ended Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile Lock Haven University has released instructions for students at the local school. It reads as follows:

“Strike Update for Thursday, October 20: On Thursday, October 20, if a faculty strike is implemented, you should attend all classes scheduled to meet on Thursdays UNLESS the faculty member for that class appears at 8 a.m. on the list in MyHaven, Student tab, of faculty who are not reporting to work

A message from the Provost to Lock Haven University Students:
In the event of a faculty strike, on a daily basis the University will provide you information about which faculty are not meeting classes, about any student or academic activities that are canceled, and about who will be responsible for oversight of academic and student organization functions in the absence of a faculty advisor. Please read the following guidance carefully so you will know how to stay informed:

What to do on Wednesday, October 19:
On Wednesday, October 19, if a faculty strike is implemented, you should attend all classes scheduled to meet on Wednesdays; if no faculty member is present a University administrator will make note of that and release you; you should attend your internship or field placement site unless you have received a letter from the University telling you otherwise.

Explanation: Faculty are not required to notify the University if they will meet their classes until 5 p.m. on October 19 in the event of a strike. Without official notification that faculty are not meeting classes the University must assume regular operation, until such notification, and advise students accordingly. Administration will neither take student attendance nor impose a penalty for absence, but your faculty member has a legal right to report to work and may elect to do so.

Information about whether CLASSES will meet after Wednesday, October 19:

1. On Thursday, October 20, if a faculty strike is implemented, you should attend all classes scheduled to meet on Thursdays UNLESS the faculty member for that class appears at 8 a.m. on the list in MyHaven Student tab of faculty who are not reporting to work;

2. Each day thereafter for the duration of a faculty strike, check MyHaven, Student tab at 8 a.m. for a list of faculty whose classes are CANCELED for that day. You should not assume that because a faculty member’s classes are canceled one day they are canceled for the duration of the strike. Because faculty can report to work at any time after striking by sending us official notification, our only option is to post announcements at 8 a.m.

Information about student ACTIVITIES:
1. Assume that all student activities will be held as scheduled UNLESS they are on a list of activities to be canceled in MyHaven Student tab.
2. Assume that University activities will be held as scheduled UNLESS they are on a list of activities to be canceled in MyHaven Student tab.
3. Assume that University offices other than faculty offices will be open and operational as scheduled UNLESS they are on a list of offices that are closed.
Information about INTERNSHIPS, FIELD PLACEMENTS, and CLINICAL PLACEMENTS:
All students registered for credit-bearing internships, field placements, and clinical placements will receive a memo from the University with specific instructions about whether or not they can continue their experiential learning activities if their faculty supervisor/advisor is on strike.

Information about student SERVICES:
1. Office of Disability Services for Students: Check MyHaven Student tab to determine whether the faculty director, Ms Tulare Park, is on the list of faculty not reporting to work; if so, take questions and concerns about disability services to Ms. Jamie Penn, Associate Director of Human Resources for Social Equity, ECJ 100, 570.484.2838, jks109@lhup.edu
2. Tutorial Services: Tutorial services will continue; check the Tutorial Services website for any change in schedule
3. Counseling Services: Check MyHaven to determine whether faculty counselors, Dr. Dan Tess or Ms. Carla Langdon, are on the list of faculty not reporting to work; if so, the list of service referrals can be found here:

Lycoming-Clinton Joinder Mental Health Program http://www.joinder.org/mentalhealth.htm
List of area mental and behavioral health providers and resources
Mental Health Resource Sheet

4. Student Success Services, ACT 101, Upward Bound, Academic Improvement Plan: Check MyHaven Student tab to determine whether faculty coordinators of these programs, respectively Dr. Julie Story, Mr. Doug Posey, Dr. Mary Gainer, and Mr. Pat Guerriero, are on the list of faculty not reporting to work; if so, these services and activities will be canceled until the conclusion of a strike.”
Athletics continue on as per scheduled and events were held on campus today. The strike is the first in the 33 year history of the state system. There has been no word of any new contract talks.