HARRISBURG — The contract with faculty at Slippery Rock University and 13 other state owned universities was approved Thursday by the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

It was one of four new collective bargaining agreements approved.

The new agreements also cover coaches, police and security officers, and treatment specialists and counselors, representing about 6,600 employees, according to a news release from the board of governors.

Each of the new contracts runs through June 30, 2011.

Jace Condravy, president of SRU chapter of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, said she is "absolutely" relieved the contract was ratified. Faculty voted on the document earlier this week and approved it by a margin of about two to one.

"I don't know that contract negotiations is at the forefront of faculty member's minds anymore," she said, compared to this summer when there was a strike looming. "But all of them can move on knowing this chapter is finished."

All of the new agreements include one-time cash payments to employees this year and general pay increases in each of the next three years. The new contracts also will increase the amount employees contribute to their health insurance premiums.

APSCUF represents about 5,900 faculty.

The new faculty contract provides for a one-time cash payment of $1,750 to each full-time faculty member this year, plus general pay increases of 3 percent each at the beginning of the fall 2008 and fall 2009 semesters and 4 percent in October 2010, according to the state system news release.

In addition to the general pay increases, faculty not at the top of the salary schedule will receive annual service increments of 2.5 percent or 5 percent each year. The most senior faculty also will receive a cash payment equal to 2.5 percent of their salary in the final year of the contract.

Faculty will continue to pay 10 percent of their health care premium during the first three years of the contract. That amount will increase to 15 percent in the final year. Faculty will be required to participate in a new wellness program that will be developed, or their premium co-payment will increase to as much as 25 percent.

The state system began the previous year with having to negotiate seven new labor agreements with its unions. All but one of those has now been completed, the news release states.

The system still is negotiating with the State College and University Professional Association, which represents about 530 campus administrators, including admissions, financial aid and student life officers.