Both the University of Florida and its faculty union have announced that a contract agreement has been reached between the two parties.

"If it could have been reached year ago it would have been," said faculty union president John Biro. "It takes time and hard work on everybody's part."

UF officials released the following statement regarding the situation:

"We are very pleased to announce that the University of Florida and the United Faculty of Florida (UFF) have reached an agreement on a new contract, thereby avoiding an impasse hearing. We will now move to the next steps in the collective bargaining process, which would include the ratification of the contract terms by the UFF members and the UF Board of Trustees.”

Last month all signs had pointed to an agreement proceeding scheduled impasse hearings, but negotiations fell apart. The two groups have been going back and forth over a contract for nearly six years now.

"It will make faculty more productive, more committed to UF, and thus benefit UF," said Biro.