Portland Community College reached a tentative deal with its faculty union, ending a 20-day strike and pushing the campus back toward in-person instruction. The agreement follows an earlier tentative accord with unionized classified staff, which ended that strike before faculty returned. The reporting says the faculty agreement includes cost-of-living adjustments, increased college contributions to health insurance costs, and a one-time stipend for full-time and part-time faculty holding doctoral or terminal degrees. Full-time faculty would receive a $5,475 lump sum for lost wages, with additional stipends for academic professionals and part-time instructors. The deal also includes a 2% pay raise during the first year of the contract and 3% in the second year. While union leadership characterized it as a victory, the college president warned the agreement sits outside the budget and could force additional cuts. For higher education stakeholders, the settlement highlights the immediate institutional planning challenge in contract negotiations: restoring staffing stability while managing budget impacts that can flow into program offerings and student services.