HARRISBURG — Five state system universities have notified the teachers union about possible faculty cuts at the end of the 2017-18 year.

California, Cheyney, Clarion and Edinboro universities last week submitted letters of retrenchment to the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties.

Mansfield University made the announcement a week earlier.

Slippery Rock University experienced a decline in enrollment between 2011 and 2013, according to information from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, but has since made up the lost ground because of additions to its health sciences and graduate degree programs. It is currently one of two state system schools that has posted an overall enrollment increase since 2010 — the last year of net enrollment gains for the system’s 14 schools.

SRU’s 15-day enrollment numbers for the 2017 spring semester are 8,317 students, a 1.4-percent increase from the 2016 spring semester number of 8,200.

Since 2010, enrollment has dropped 20 percent at California, 53 percent at Cheyney, 29 percent at Clarion and Edinboro and 35 percent at Mansfield.

Saturday was the deadline to inform the association about possible layoffs due to program cuts, elimination of courses or the elimination of the duties and responsibilities performed by nonclassroom faculty, according to the collective bargaining unit.

APSCUF President Kenneth Mash stated in a union news release Monday that a letter of retrenchment does not necessarily mean faculty will be laid off, but it adds to the uncertainty already caused by discussion of possible closures and mergers.

“Students, potential students and faculty members deserve to know their universities’ intentions as soon as possible,” Mash said. “We understand finances are tight, but cutting programs and faculty members is penny wise and pound-foolish.”

The union represents roughly 5,500 faculty and coaches.

The other state system schools are Bloomsburg, East Stroudsburg, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Millersville, Shippensburg and West Chester.