The University of Cincinnati and its faculty have reached a tentative contract settlement, averting a strike set to begin Thursday, the first day of winter quarter.

        The agreement took shape Thursday night when Maita Levine, a retired UC professor of mathematical science, joined negotiators and the federal mediator in President Joseph A. Steger's office.

        The American Association of University Professors represents 1,988 full-time faculty in 17 colleges on UC's five campuses. AAUP's contract expired Aug. 31.

        Pay will rise a total of 10 percent over three years, Joe W. Fisher, president of the AAUP, said Friday.

        Medical benefits remain unchanged for 2002 but talks will reopen on costs and coverage for the second and third years, he said.

        “We end up on the short end of the stick,” said Dr. Fisher, a professor of mathematical science.

        The union initially sought 25 percent raises across the board over three years to catch up with losses to inflation over the past decade.

        The agreement is subject to approval by the Board of Trustees and ratification by the faculty. UC negotiators could not be reached.

        Thursday night, after a day of bargaining, Dr. Steger offered 9 percent, up 1 percent from UC's initial pay proposal.

        “I said to him, "I don't think we can persuade our members to take that,'” Dr. Levine said.

        Dr. Steger caucused again with his team and offered 10 percent.

        John K. Brackett, an associate professor of history and union chief negotiator, took the deal to the AAUP board, which agreed to recommend it to the faculty when they vote next month.

        Friday was spent polishing the language, Dr. Fisher said.

        In the new contract, Dr. Fisher said, across-the-board increases will be 2 percent in the current school year and stepped increases every six months during the next two years for another 8 percent.

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