Faculty members and coaches at 14 Pennsylvania colleges and universities officially went on strike this morning for the first time in the 34-year history of the state’s system of higher education.

The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties sent out a tweet at 5 a.m., noting that “APSCUF faculty members are officially on strike.”

APSCUF faculty members are officially on strike. Our website is overloaded. Press release will be visible soon.

— APSCUF (@APSCUF) October 19, 2016

Since then, a number of students and civic organizations across the states have rallied behind the APSCUF faculty members, taking to social media to showcase their support and active protesting.

@IUPedu students supporting @apscuf faculty with water and donuts; defending quality education in PA! #withAPSCUF pic.twitter.com/Blnp0lu9xZ

— Bryna Siegel Finer (@BrynaSF_edu) October 19, 2016

@APSCUF Mansfield students peacefully sitting outside our President’s office. #studentsforfaculty pic.twitter.com/0qTkqjfptd

— Griffin Stone (@gstone0226) October 19, 2016

I got artsy and made my own solidarity pin. @APSCUF pic.twitter.com/VieriXY6Gr

— Emily KASkEt (@EmilyKase) October 19, 2016

Contract negotiations appeared to be at an impasse Tuesday night between the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and its faculty union as more than 100,000 students when contract talks broke down. The union represents more than 5,000 faculty and coaches across the state, and a walkout would likely halt classes mid-semester.

The union said Tuesday night on its Facebook page that the state had handed it its last best offer and was done negotiating. The union said it was reviewing the state’s offer and remained at the bargaining table, “ready to talk.”

The two sides have sparred over a number of contractual changes. Chief among them were proposed raises to be offered over three years and health care contributions.

The system said its latest proposal would provide raises to all permanent and temporary faculty and a healthcare package identical to what other state system employees have.

As part of the new offer, the state is proposing permanent faculty receive raises in each of the three remaining contract years. Those raises would range from 7.25 percent to 17.25 percent for individual faculty members.

In an effort to reach an agreement, the state said it withdrew several proposals, including one that would have required full-time temporary faculty to teach an additional class each semester.

Members of the APSCUF union have previously voted to authorize a strike, but faculty members have never walked out during the state system’s 34-year history.

The uncertainty left students to question the impact a strike might have on grades, mid-year graduations and financial aid.

The state said it would try to keep classes going, and reminded students that teachers are not required to strike.

But Shawn Davis, an assistant professor of parks and recreation at Slippery Rock University, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Tuesday that faculty members are ready.

“I’m really hoping they can come to an agreement, but we are prepared to strike if that’s what it takes,” Davis said at a rally on campus.

The union includes faculty from Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester universities of Pennsylvania.

The last faculty contract expired June 30, 2015.

The Sunbury, Pennsylvania Daily Item contributed details to this story.