Dear Faculty, Administrators and Staff,

I hope everyone enjoyed a restful and restorative fall break. As we return to campus and settle into the heart of the semester, I encourage you to take a moment to appreciate the crisp autumn weather and the renewed energy that comes with this time of year. The weeks ahead promise to be busy and productive, filled with opportunities to continue our important work together in teaching, research and service.

We are continuing the Office of the Provost’s Scholarly Course Release Program for the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 semesters. This program allows full-time faculty to apply for a 3-credit course release, freeing up time from the usual teaching load to advance or complete important scholarly work. You can view the criteria and application process here. Please make sure to submit your application with your Chairperson’s evaluation to your Dean by Wednesday, November 5. Deans will then submit their ranked applications to the Provost’s Office by Wednesday, November 19. We encourage faculty to consider this support scholarship and grants work.

Thank you, as always, for your dedication to our students and to the mission of Seton Hall.

Sincerely,
Erik

The 2025 Seton Hall Cybersecurity Forum on Tuesday, October 28 will explore the latest challenges, innovations and opportunities in cybersecurity. Featuring keynote and alumnus Steve Ward ’98, co-Founder of Brightmind Partners, and industry experts from Tokio Marine, Morgan Stanley, and Prelude. Learn more.

Thought leaders from across the country will examine how integrating the humanities with business education can cultivate ethical, creative and socially responsible leaders who advance the common good. All members of the Seton Hall community are invited to attend this all-day event in the University Center’s Event Lounge. Learn more about “Teaching Business Differently – The Role of the Humanities in Business Education."

How are students using AI to manage stress and support their mental health—and what should we know as educators?

The Dean of Students Office invites you to AI and Student Mental Health on Friday, October 24, from 1 – 3 p.m. Join this interactive virtual session to learn about students’ use of AI tools for mental well-being and discover ways to engage in constructive, informed conversations about this emerging trend. Sign up today.

The Undergraduate Mock Trial team recently kicked off the fall competition season at the prestigious Dickinson College tournament facing schools including Virginia Tech, Binghamton, Juniata and Yale. The Yellow Team secured 2nd place overall with an impressive record of 6 wins, 1 loss and 1 tie, notably edging out Yale by a single point in Round 4. The Blue Team outperformed all, clinching 1st place with 7 wins and only 1 loss. Congratulations to our students on their remarkable showing!

Don’t Miss Out – Embed a Librarian in Your Canvas Course

University Libraries invites faculty to embed a librarian in your Canvas courses. An embedded librarian is a librarian that is placed within your Canvas course; when there, they can aid you and your students by serving as a point-of-contact for library, information, or research related questions. How can you request a librarian for your course? Simply fill out this form. Questions? Contact Lead Instruction Librarian Maria Barca at maria.barca@shu.edu.

Seton Hall’s eRepository Reaches 8.4 Million Downloads

The e-Repository is a centralized repository for the University’s departmental initiatives, ejournals and theses and dissertations. Learn more about one way faculty and students are using the eRepository in “From Classroom to Publishing Opportunities, Gregory Wiedman’s Hands-On Approach to Student Learning”. The eRepository collects statistics that can show where around the globe and when content is downloaded. For more information, contact Natalie Lau, Scholarly Communications Librarian at natalie.lau@shu.edu.

Solangel Maldonado, J.D., Selected as 2025 Researcher of the Year, School of Law

Solangel Maldonado’s groundbreaking scholarship explores how the law shapes intimate relationships and personal choice, offering students and readers profound insights into the intersection of legal structures, desire, and social inequality. Her acclaimed book, The Architecture of Desire — builds on an impressive body of work published in prestigious law reviews — examines how legal frameworks influence romantic preferences — ultimately reinforcing racial segregation and limiting opportunities for marriage, economic mobility, and social advancement. Through her research, Professor Maldonado provides a compelling and critical lens on how deeply the law impacts private life and broader societal patterns.

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.

Now available:

ACUE Commons Portal
This faculty development resource is available to all faculty at the university. It includes on-demand resources, Quick Study courses, expert-led events, and continued access to ETP course content for faculty who have previously completed it.

Upcoming Events

Weekly Events

Faculty Lunch-Time Meet-up:
October 21 and 29, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Location: Faculty section of the Pirate Dining Room

SHU Meditates
Thursday, October 23, 12:30 - 1 p.m., in Teams

Faculty Opportunities for the 2025-26 Academic Year:

The following faculty learning communities are opportunities for engagement as well as personal and professional development.

CFD Podcast: Faculty Matters

Videos

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

Upcoming TLTC Remote Workshops:

Explore Self-Paced Modules 
The TLTC offers flexible, bite-sized modules designed to help faculty and staff enhance professional skills and promote accessible, inclusive learning environments. Perfect for both new and experienced members of the community, these self-paced resources let you explore topics anytime, apply strategies right away and strengthen effective teaching practices. See all self-paced modules.

Provide Clear, Targeted Feedback on Student Work 
Canvas DocViewer in Speedgrader lets you view and markup online assignment submissions, making it easy to highlight strengths and areas for improvement directly on student work. You can also see when students view your feedback in the assignment’s details sidebar, helping you create a clearer and more collaborative learning experience. Learn how to view and annotate in SpeedGrader. 

Create Engaging Course Content with Adobe Express 
Adobe Express helps faculty quickly create professional-quality graphics, slides and short videos to enhance course materials and presentations. Faculty can also use Adobe Express to design promotional materials for programs, events or research projects. View Adobe Express how-to tutorials.

OIP’s Winter Gear Drive – Collection End Extended to Friday, October 24

OIP invites students, faculty and staff to contribute new or gently used winter items such as coats, gloves, scarves and hats to its Winter Gear Collection Drive. The Drive supports our international students—many of whom may be experiencing their first winter in the U.S.—as well as any Seton Hall community members in need. Your generosity will help ensure everyone on our campus feels comfortable, prepared, and welcomed this winter.

Collection and distribution dates have been extended to allow more members of our community to participate and benefit.

This initiative reflects our collective effort to build a supportive and inclusive campus community. Thank you in advance for your generosity and for helping our international students and Seton Hall family feel right at home this season. After the distribution period, any remaining winter gear will be donated to the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) of New Jersey.

Student Applications Open to Represent Seton Hall at the 2026 BIG EAST Undergraduate Research Poster Symposium

The Office of the Provost is looking for five student applicants who will represent Seton Hall at the 2026 BIG EAST Undergraduate Research Poster Symposium. Selected students will be supported for overnight travel to present their research at Madison Square Garden on Saturday March 14, 2026. 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. To apply for the award, students should complete a brief application by November 4, 2025. 

Now Open: 2026 University Research Council (URC) Application Cycle

Explore this opportunity to receive support for your research endeavors: summer stipend requests of up to $10,000 or research grants of up to $10,000 for use during the subsequent academic year. The application deadline for Summer 2026 is February 6, 2026. View program guidelines and the application form. Questions and submissions may be emailed to grantsoffice@shu.edu.