Hofstra Faculty Pass No-Confidence Vote Against Leaders
Students and families considering Hofstra should watch how the dispute over enrollment and budget decisions shapes aid and programs.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Higher Education
Live Poll
Do you trust university leaders to make major decisions without faculty input?
Hofstra University faculty approved a no-confidence resolution against President Susan Poser and Provost Charles Riordan, passing 154-92, or 63% of participants, during a video conference on November 13, 2026. The university board of trustees expressed support for both leaders and rejected the faculty resolution.
Why it matters
For students weighing Hofstra, the dispute centers on enrollment declines, a slide in national rankings, and a proposed academic overhaul that faculty say they were not consulted on. Those pressures bear on tuition discounts, program offerings and the long-term value of a Hofstra degree.
The resolution passed 154-92, or 63% of those who participated, and Hofstra fell to 191st among national universities from 166th in 2022. About 20 secretarial jobs were eliminated over the summer, and the trustees say enrollment fell because of a sharp federal policy shift.
The players
Hofstra University
A private university on Long Island whose enrollment has fallen over the past two years while it has expanded tuition discounts.
Susan Poser
The president of Hofstra University since 2021, targeted by the faculty no-confidence resolution.
Charles Riordan
The provost of Hofstra University since 2022, targeted by the faculty no-confidence resolution.
The details
Faculty members voted by video conference, with a majority of full-time professors participating, on a three-page resolution proposed on November 6, 2026. The document says faculty lack faith in Poser's and Riordan's competence, judgment, transparency and capacity to lead. Faculty say the administration has left them out of decisions on budget cuts and a proposed academic overhaul, while the trustees counter that the documents were full of errors and that enrollment losses trace to federal policy.
Timeline
2021: Susan Poser was appointed president of Hofstra University.
2022: Charles Riordan was appointed provost, and Hofstra ranked 166th by U.S. News.
Over the summer of 2026: the university eliminated about 20 secretarial jobs.
November 6, 2026: a faculty member proposed the no-confidence resolution.
November 13, 2026: faculty approved the resolution 154-92.
Education Landscape
Hofstra's slide from 166th to 191st in the U.S. News national university rankings between 2022 and the latest edition sets the backdrop for the vote. The dispute reflects a wider pressure on private colleges to offset enrollment losses with tuition discounts and cost-cutting.
Prospective students comparing Hofstra with other schools can ask the admissions and financial-aid offices how enrollment changes and the current tuition-discount structure affect the aid they might receive. Current students with questions about course offerings or budget-driven changes can raise them with their academic advisers or the provost's office.
The takeaway
A public governance dispute at a university usually shows up later in program offerings, staffing and aid policies, so it is worth tracking how the board and faculty resolve it. If you are considering Hofstra, ask the financial-aid office directly what the current discount and aid package looks like for your situation.
Further reading
For broader context on how college enrollment and tuition pricing are shaping campus decisions, explore our Higher Education coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Newsday.
Live Poll
Do you trust university leaders to make major decisions without faculty input?
