Portland State faces a standoff after an arbitrator ordered the reinstatement and back pay for 10 laid-off nontenure-track faculty; the university has refused to reinstate on legal grounds and signaled it may pursue review of the arbitrator’s authority. The union argues the award is standard contract remedy; university counsel contends the remedy exceeds the agreed arbitration scope. In New Jersey, Rider University’s new president announced a large cost-cutting package that includes a 20% reduction in full-time faculty roles, base-pay cuts, and heavier teaching loads after an accreditor placed the institution on probation. Faculty warn the cuts could trigger further departures and long-term quality impacts. Both cases highlight a broader sector trend: universities balancing short-term fiscal repairs against collective-bargaining rights and accreditation conditions, raising the risk of legal challenges, faculty exodus, and reputational damage.