A new NCFDD survey finds institutions are pulling back on faculty professional development investment even as faculty report increased need for support. The 2026 State of Faculty Development Survey reports that more than two-thirds of faculty say professional development has become more important over the past year, while more than 70% report their institutions reduced funding for it. Faculty identified well-being and mentoring as some of the most urgent areas, but only about one in 10 report strong institutional investment. The survey frames the issue as a potentially compounding risk: when faculty-facing support shrinks during budget instability and rapid change—including the rise of AI and intensified debates over degree value—campus instructional and mentoring capacity can erode. For leaders, the update is a warning sign for workforce resilience—especially for institutions trying to stabilize retention, improve teaching effectiveness, and meet new instructional demands with fewer development resources.