Dear Faculty, Administrators and Staff,

I would like to announce the call for student applicants who will represent Seton Hall University at the 2027 BIG EAST Undergraduate Research Poster Symposium.

This competition invites the 11 universities in the BIG EAST Conference to send a team of five standout student projects to compete in a high-caliber program with an atmosphere of excitement and innovation. This is an opportunity for mentors to have their top scholars share their research among leading research mentors in the BIG EAST Conference. Last year Seton Hall earned third place in the Health Sciences/Biomedical category. We aim to provide students with opportunities and support to engage in research and transformational learning experiences.

Student researchers from all undergraduate programs and disciplines are eligible to apply. Please encourage your students to complete a brief application explaining their research by November 4, 2026. To be selected, applicants must have prior research presentation experience at internal and/or external venues and a written statement of commitment from their mentor. Priority will be given to projects that demonstrate research excellence at Seton Hall. Team members will be announced in December and will receive weekly individual and team coaching in preparation for their presentation beginning in January.

Selected students will be supported for overnight travel to present their research at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, March 13, 2027. As an added bonus, all competing students will receive one complimentary ticket to the Men’s Basketball Conference Championship Game held in the evening. Winners of the competition will be announced at the game and will receive medals.

Sincerely,
Erik

As the 50th anniversary of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton's canonization year draws to a close, the Center for Faculty Development organized a "camino" in lower Manhattan in her honor – “In the Footsteps of St. Elizabeth.” The group visited a number of Mother Seton-related sites in New York City and gathered together for a luncheon near the Mother Seton Shrine.

Accounts Payable has implemented a new electronic submission process for Travel & Expense (T&E) Reimbursements and Check Requests. Please visit the AP website and Employee Reimbursements for the most current forms and submission instructions; PO-related expenses should continue to be processed through Unimarket.

Additionally, the IRS mileage reimbursement rate has increased to $0.76 per mile, effective July 1–December 31, 2026, and the T&E form has been updated accordingly. Please reach out to accountspayable@shu.edu with any questions or concerns.

To build a stronger sense of belonging for our out-of-state students, the Campus Inclusion Center and the Office of Student Engagement are launching an initiative to connect students with faculty and staff who share ties to their home states or countries. We are seeking faculty and staff members who are originally from, have lived in, or maintain connections to other states or countries. We are planning a social mixer for out-of-state students to get to meet peers and faculty/staff within the Seton Hall community. We invite you to participate in this new initiative. Please fill out this form to participate!

New Associate Dean - Sharon Ince, Ph.D.

The University Libraries is excited to announce that Sharon Ince, Ph.D. has been promoted to Interim Associate Dean. Sharon has been with the Libraries since 2008. She spent 14 years as a faculty member and four years as an Assistant Dean for Information Technology and Collection Services. Sharon has worked tirelessly to provide SHU faculty and students with accessible, cutting-edge digital resources.  

Sharon recently led two major system migrations for FOLIO (a free, open-source Library Services Platform) and Rapido (a library resource-sharing platform that includes Inter Library Loan). Sharon serves on the EBSCO AUL Technology Library Leaders Advisory Board. In this new role, Sharon will oversee Library IT, Collection Services, Research Data Services, and Access Services.

For additional information on our resource tools, please feel free to contact us via e-mail to schedule a Research Appointment at the University Libraries.

Father Lawrence Frizzell in the classroom, 1976.

Follow the CFD blog for more upcoming events and initiatives. We also welcome your suggestions for workshops and speakers, as well as requests for co-sponsorship of faculty-oriented events.

Inclusivity Reading Group: Backtalker; An American Memoir
October 2, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., in Teams

Contemplative Community Week
October 5 – 9
A week of events dedicated to contemplation and reflection. View the schedule.

Birds of a Feather: AI Assignments and Applications
October 9, 9 - 10 a.m., in Teams

Untenured Faculty Organization Meeting
October 14, 12 - 1:30 p.m., UC 201

Digital Humanities Workshop: Lucid Whiteboard
October 23, 10 - 11 a.m., in Teams

Ethics and Values in the Era of AI: Magnifica Humanitas and Our Shared Future.
October 24: Check-in: 8:30 a.m. | Program: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Optional Mass: 4:30 p.m., Chapel of the Immaculate Conception

Registration is free. Advance registration is required; space is limited. Register here.

SHU Meditates
Every Thursday, September 3 – December 10
12:30 – 1 p.m., in Teams

Faculty Lunch Time Meetups
September 30; 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Faculty section of the Pirate Dining Room

Invitation to Join the "Character Across the Curriculum (CAC) Faculty Fellows Seminar"
Applications are due by October 9. View additional details.

Podcast: Faculty Matters

Videos

Have you missed a CFD event? If so, you can find recordings here.

What Skills Will Graduates Need in Ten Years? 
The Innovate and Educate podcast returns for Season 3 with a conversation about preparing students for a future shaped by emerging technologies. The season premiere explores adaptable skills, critical evaluation of information, responsible technology use and experiential learning. Listen to the latest episode.

Adobe Creative Cloud License Update 
On October 12, the Division of Information Technology will perform a licensing update for Adobe Creative Cloud. No action is required, and applications, features and files will not be affected. If you experience an issue afterward, sign out of Creative Cloud and sign back in with your Seton Hall credentials. Learn more about Adobe Creative Cloud.

Check Course Materials for Accessibility 
Before sharing a Word document with students, use Microsoft Word’s built-in Accessibility Checker to identify potential barriers, including missing alt text and structural issues that can affect navigation with assistive technologies. Learn how to use the Accessibility Checker.

Create a Smart Networking Card in the Maker Studio 
From September 28 through October 2, faculty can visit the Innovation Hub Maker Studio to create a wooden networking card or tag using laser engraving and QR code technology. Guided sessions will be offered Monday, September 28 at 11 a.m. and Tuesday, September 29 at 2 p.m. Explore weekly projects and monthly Maker Challenges.

Looking Ahead: Upcoming Events

Sabbatical Workflow Faculty Step Due October 1
The sabbatical leave workflow has been opened and is available in Faculty Success. The faculty step is due by October 1.  The next step in the workflow will be the Department Faculty step, which is due on November 1. All chairs and acting chairs have been contacted regarding their role in this step.

Questions regarding the sabbatical application process may be directed to Kaerielle Larsen in the Office of the Provost.

Employee Field Day Thursday
Thursday, October 15 from 12 – 2 p.m.
The 1st annual Employee Field Day is coming soon! This event is open to all faculty, administrators, and staff. Join your fellow colleagues for an afternoon of connection, friendly competition and community spirit! Register here to attend.

The rain date is Friday, October 16.

Humanity AI - Communities Leading on AI: Open Call for Proposals
Deadline is October 21, 2026
Humanity AI, an initiative spearheaded by 10 leading philanthropies, is investing $10 million in innovative U.S.-based work that supports communities’ collective power to shape how AI is built, governed and used. This call is focused on community-led efforts in three issue areas central to Humanity AI’s work. By community-led, they mean those most affected by how technological changes are defining the goals, shaping the approach and driving the work. Issue areas include: Education, Labor and Economy, and Humanities, Arts, and Culture.  If you are interested in applying please email grantsoffice@shu.edu/.

Student Attendance Confirmation in Compass
To remain compliant with federal regulations, all faculty members are required to record attendance for students enrolled in their courses. Faculty received an email with instructions on how to complete attendance verification in Compass. Please complete this process promptly, as student financial aid cannot be released until attendance has been confirmed.