By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG (CBS) – Faculty members at West Chester, Cheyney and the twelve other state-owned universities in Pennsylvania have overwhelmingly ratified a new contract agreement.

The faculty union had been working without a contract since June 2011 and the new four year agreement is retroactive to July of 2011.

Ken Mash, vice-president of APSCUF, the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, says regarding economic terms, the contract is similar to what other state employee unions have gotten.

But he says there’s a non-economic provision the union is very happy about.

“We managed to get, for the first time, a faculty voice in the curriculum process, particularly with regard to what class sizes would be,” says Mash.

He says the faculty will have the chance to make recommendations and while the school president will have the final say, he or she will be required to explain the decision.

Meanwhile, the state-owned universities’ board will vote on the contract later this month.