CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – The strike is over. APSCUF negotiators have reached a tentative agreement with Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. The three-year deal, ending on June 30, 2018, concludes a strike that began 5 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19. Faculty members will leave the picket lines immediately, according to APSCUF.

APSCUF reaches tentative agreement, ends strike: https://t.co/fKwai2evzc #withAPSCUF

— APSCUF (@APSCUF) October 21, 2016

“To preserve quality education, the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties accepted concessions to salary and benefits in exchange for eliminating most of the 249 changes the State System proposed in June. Also for the sake of students, APSCUF agreed to a salary package that was significantly lower than that of the other unions. APSCUF will release details about concessions and rescinded items in a future statement,” said APSCUF in a release issued Friday afternoon.

With the three-day strike over, Clarion University students will resume regular classes. Students like Eric Zavinski said they felt tension within the faculty and were surprised an agreement was reached today.

“Students were outraged, the faculty obviously were trying to get back into negotiations with PASSHE, so it was really surprising that it ended so abruptly,” said Zavinski, a junior communication major. “I thought it was going to go through the weekend because I heard that they hadn’t come back to the table, but then they did. It’s over, and we can try to get back to our normal lives and get back to our schoolwork.”

Senior communication and criminal justice major Kayla Handy said tension arose within certain departments due to some classes being cancelled.

“Different departments have definitely stood together whereas others had said they’re just going to go ahead and keep [teaching] despite the strike,” Handy stated.

However, Handy was in support of the strike and thought it united students and faculty.

“I thought the strike really set a motion. It really said that these students and faculty are united together as one, and it really gave the students a chance to support the faculty that’s always there to support them,” Handy explained.

Arnita Thompson, a junior human resource major, held a similar view, stating that while the strike took a toll on students, she stood by APSCUF faculty members.

“(The strike) was a little bit of a burden. It interfered with learning, and I know that it can make people very frustrated, but I support the professors,” Thompson said. “I feel like they do need their contract, and I believe in fair pay.”

Despite the upturn in their schedules, Clarion students will head back to class on Monday, October 24.

“Classes are back in session, online coursework is back up, so it’s time to get back to work,” Zavinski said.

“Our primary goals were to preserve quality education for our students, protect our adjuncts from exploitation, and make sure the varieties of faculty work are respected,” APSCUF President Dr. Kenneth M. Mash said. “We achieved every single one of those goals, and the faculty were willing to take less than every other bargaining unit in order to preserve those goals. We are relieved to have an agreement that preserves quality public higher education in Pennsylvania and allows our members to get back into the classroom where they belong.

“We are thankful to Gov. Tom Wolf for his commitment to reaching an agreement. We may never have received a deal if it were not for his commitment to public higher education, our universities, and our students.”

Mash continued: “We also were overwhelmed and grateful for the support of our brothers and sisters at other unions. Most of all, with thank our students. If any high school student is looking for a place to go to school, they should look at how much all our students supported their faculty. We have phenomenal students, and we are proud to be able to return to the classroom to supply the quality of public higher education they deserve.”

Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education confirmed that the agreement would provide faculty with pay increases, “and would allow the State System to realize important healthcare cost savings.”

State System, APSCUF reach tentative agreement, strike ends https://t.co/PqsP8y75w5

— State System (@statesystem) October 21, 2016

“We are pleased to get to this point and look forward to the conclusion of the process,” said State System Board Chair Cynthia D. Shapira. “Once again, everyone can focus on what matters most—teaching and learning.”

“Today is an opportunity for a fresh start,” said State System Chancellor Frank T. Brogan. “Throughout this process, our students have been remarkably patient, and they should be applauded. Now, we look forward to making sure the rest of the year ends strong for them and for our talented faculty.”

Once “final language” is agreed to, the new contract will go to the full APSCUF membership for a ratification vote. If ratified, the tentative agreement then would be brought to the State System’s Board of Governors for final approval.

Full details of the agreement will be released upon final approval.

This was the first strike in APSCUF’s history. The faculty contract expired June 30, 2015, and negotiations have been ongoing since late 2014.

Editor’s note: Clarion University faculty members were unavailable for comment.