Abstract
[Excerpt] When a faculty member nervously asked me if they would lose their job, it was not the first time I had been asked that question this semester. Several faculty shared concerns about how they would meet financial responsibilities and whether they would be forced to relocate if their position were to be eliminated. The stressors are not tied to institutional actions; rather, they reflect a broader climate of uncertainty in higher education that has left many faculty feeling vulnerable, even in the absence of specific threats on our campus. These conversations, unfortunately, reflect a growing unease among academics that transcends boundaries in rank or discipline. Faculty are navigating institutional uncertainty, shifting public perceptions, and policy changes that challenge the very nature of academic work and the careers to which they have dedicated their lives