Seattle University terminated criminal justice professor Carmen Rivera's contract on June 30, 2026. University officials informed Rivera in an email that her contract would not be renewed, citing the elimination of the current assistant dean position and the unavailability of a full-time teaching position.

Rivera's contract had been set to expire two months after June 30, 2026. The university is scheduled to transition from the quarter system to a semester calendar in the 2027–28 academic year.

Rivera posted a video to Instagram on June 14, 2026, showing Provost Shane Martin taking a Palestinian flag from a graduating student. Rivera wrote in an accompanying post, "I am disturbed by how the provost handled this situation. I believe I've seen other flags waved by students and not receive this response." Martin subsequently issued a statement, apologizing for misunderstanding that the student "wished to avoid physical contact as part of her Muslim faith."

Rivera stated that her department chair told her in March 2026 that she would need to teach a full course load during the 2027–28 academic year. She plans to challenge the decision to terminate her contract in court. A Seattle University spokesperson stated that the university "does not comment on individual personnel matters."

In December, Rivera spoke out against Seattle University's decision to allow Customs and Border Protection to attend the Criminal Justice Career Fair during a faculty meeting. She also expressed her opposition via a collegewide email in January. The Seattle University Faculty Handbook states that "when faculty speak or write as citizens, they should be free from institutional censorship or discipline." The handbook also states that faculty "should remember that the public may judge their profession and Seattle University based on their communication."