Portland State University will reinstate 10 non‑tenure‑track faculty members after an arbitrator found the university violated its collective‑bargaining agreement. President Ann Cudd said officials still believe the reductions were necessary for budget reasons but decided to comply with the ruling; the university faces a $35 million deficit over two years. In a separate governance flashpoint, a former university president criticized for axing tenured faculty could be hired as a consultant by state Republicans, a move that has drawn scrutiny over the revolving door between campus leadership controversies and political appointments. Both developments highlight tensions between collective bargaining and administrative budget decisions as institutions balance legal compliance, labor relations and fiscal shortfalls amid enrollment declines.