Dear Faculty, Administrators and Staff,

Happy Charter Day! I hope you were able to join in the festivities marking the granting of our charter, Mother Seton’s legacy and our honorees. If you were unable to make this afternoon’s Charter Day Convocation, you can watch the video here.

We are also announcing the annual opening of our Faculty Merit pay process as part of comprehensive efforts to reward faculty who excel at their work. The following faculty are eligible to apply for merit: (a) all tenured faculty and (b) all faculty who are presently completing at least their fifth year of full-time service to the University and hold the rank of faculty associate, senior faculty associate, clinical faculty, lecturer, or a full-time faculty position at all campuses. Receipt of merit is of course contingent upon renewal of an applicant’s contract for the subsequent academic year. 

We are happy to announce improvements to the Faculty Merit process, continuing our efforts within the framework of the current system. First, as all eligible faculty are now supported by established merit review committees across all schools and colleges, there is no longer a need for an “alternate route” process. Accordingly, the Provost’s Office will not accept “alternate route” applications. All faculty must participate in the approved process through their designated committee.

Second, to encourage broader participation, we are introducing a tiered structure for Faculty Merit awards:

We strongly encourage all eligible faculty to apply for merit, particularly those faculty who have not yet applied. We are eager to recognize more meritorious faculty and hope this tiered structure encourages greater faculty participation, resulting in an increased number of awards this year. We will continue to enhance our means for rewarding, retaining and celebrating scholarship, teaching and service excellence at Seton Hall.

Sincerely,
Katia

The search for the new Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences is ongoing.  As a reminder, faculty, administrators and staff within the College are invited to attend an Open Forum with the candidates. During their respective forum, candidates will deliver a short presentation and then receive questions from the community. Please plan on joining in person if your schedule allows.

On Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at 3 p.m. in the Event Room, Jonathan Gyurko, Ph.D., president and co-founder of the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE), will deliver the next installment of our Impact Talk Speaker Series. President Gyurko, a leading voice in effective teaching and public-private collaboration, will discuss how quality teaching can adapt to these challenges. His new book, Publicization, explores how partnerships in education can drive meaningful change. The first 30 attendees will receive a complimentary copy of Publicization, which President Gyurko will sign following his talk. Learn more and register for the event.

On Thursday, April 24, join in for an insightful discussion on the topic of “Immigration: Local and National, Religious and Ethical Perspectives,” featuring Cardinal Tobin as keynote speaker and two panels. View the full schedule and add the event to your calendar.

We are thrilled to announce that Dean Courtney B. Smith, Ph.D., from the School of Diplomacy and International Relations, has been elected to the prestigious Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). This honor recognizes his expertise in international organizations and peace studies, especially his groundbreaking work on the United Nations. Congratulations Dean Smith! Read more.

May 2 Deadline for ETDs

The deadline to submit theses and dissertations this semester is Friday, May 2. Please direct students to submission information. Learn more about copyright guidelines before submission, too. Questions?  Contact etds@shu.edu.

Professor Zheng Wang Explores COVID-19 and United States-China Relations in New Text

Professor Zheng Wang, Ph.D., director of the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies at Seton Hall and a member of the National Committee on United States-China Relations, published a scholarly text in July 2024 called COVID-19 and U.S.-China Relations . With contributions from School of Diplomacy faculty member Yanzhong Huang, Ph.D., and Seton Hall Law Professor Margaret Lewis, J.D., the book offers a deep examination of the relationship between the two great powers during the COVID-19 pandemic with a focus on public health, trade, supply chain challenges, people-to-people connections, shifts in public opinion, rising nationalism, anti-Asian sentiments and strategic assessments.

Faculty Success Insider: Enhancing the Publications Screen

We’ve made an important update to the Publications screen in Faculty Success! Faculty members who select Translator as their role can now specify the language from which the work was translated. This new field—"What language was it translated from?"—ensures greater accuracy in capturing scholarly contributions and recognizes the critical role of translation in academic work.

As always, we’re committed to refining Faculty Success to better showcase your achievements. If you have any questions about this update, feel free to reach out!

Follow the CFD blog for more upcoming events and initiatives. Suggestions for workshops, speakers, or requests for co-sponsorship of faculty-oriented events welcome!

Events

How Video Games are Changing the World - Speaker: Marijam Did
April 8, 7 - 8:30 p.m., SZ 113

"How Far Toward Unity Can We Go?" A Lecture by Tamara Grdzelidze
April 9, 2 - 3 p.m., Chancellor's Suite
(sponsored by the Catholic Studies Program)

SHeWill Coffee Break.  "Finding Balance in Teaching, Research, Service and Family Responsibilities"
April 10, 10 - 11 a.m., UC 201

An Evening with Rapper and Poet Omar Offendum
April 10, 6:30 - 8 p.m., UC Outdoor Amphitheater

Fulbright Information Session
April 11, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

“Innovators In AI: Pedagogical Challenges and Ethical Questions”
April 14, 12:30 – 2 p.m., FH 129.

Scholarship Speed Dating
April 16, 4 - 6 p.m., Chancellor's Suite

SHU Meditates
Thursdays, 12:30 - 1 p.m., in Teams

Faculty Lunch Time Meet-ups (in the faculty area of the Galleon Dining Room)
4/9, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
4/15, 12:30pm - 1:30 p.m.

Write Club
A virtual space to work on research in a supportive atmosphere; Fridays, 9 - 11 a.m., in Teams.

Annual CFD Writing Retreat:
May 20, 21, 22, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Schwartz 112.

Resources

Videos

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

Upcoming TLTC Workshops 
Through year-round workshops and one-on-one support from designated Instructional Designers, the TLTC supports faculty and staff success. Attend sessions in-person at Space154 or online via MS Teams.

Explore the Future of Higher Ed at EdgeCon Spring 2025
Registration is still open for EdgeCon Spring 2025, being held on Thursday, April 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Seton Hall’s South Orange campus! This engaging one-day conference will explore digital teaching and learning, institutional strategy, artificial intelligence, accessibility, and the future of work in higher education. Don’t miss featured presentations by Seton Hall community members on immersive virtual reality experiences and podcasting as tools for innovation and collaboration. Learn more and register for EdgeCon.

Promote Academic Integrity Using Turnitin in Canvas 
Turnitin, integrated with Canvas, helps promote academic integrity and support student learning by checking the originality of written work. It generates a similarity report that highlights matching content and identifies sources, making it easier to discuss proper citation and referencing. Learn how to use Turnitin in Canvas. 

Streamlined PDF Editing in OneDrive and SharePoint 
Microsoft has updated the PDF annotation tools in OneDrive and SharePoint with a new, streamlined layout that places all editing options in a single row for easier access. The update also introduces a precise pixel-by-pixel eraser, allowing for more accurate edits. These enhancements make it easier for the University community to review, mark up, and collaborate on documents directly in the browser. Explore all the latest Microsoft 365 updates and features. 

Academies and Idea Halls: Funded Projects Showcase and Information Session on April 14
On April 14, 2025 from 3:30 – 4:45 p.m. in the University Center, Event Room, come and explore current funded projects in a poster presentation format, engage with colleagues, and get your questions answered about the application process. Learn more about the event and register.

Ready to apply? Visit the Innovation Hub page and apply now (Deadline: Sept. 10).

Abstract Deadline Extended! Petersheim Academic Exposition
The 29th Petersheim Academic Exposition "Share, Honor, Unite" will take place from Tuesday, April 22 – Saturday, April 26, 2025. The abstract submission deadline has been extended to Friday, April 11. Faculty are encouraged to spread the word among their students as well as submit their own abstracts. Visit the Petersheim website for details and the schedule of events.

 Interested in hosting an event? Visit the Petersheim Event Submission page for more information and to submit event details. It is recommended for organizers make arrangements (rooms, virtual format, food, media support) in advance. If any questions arise or there is a need for assistance, feel free to contact the Petersheim Program Development Sub-Committee (cosimo.antonacci@shu.edu).

Opportunity to Present at the MSCHE Conference – MSCHE Student Travel Award
Is your student submitting a poster to Petersheim? Help your students gain experience presenting at any external conference. The Office of the Provost will support a select number of student researchers with a Student Travel Award to present their research at the Annual Conference of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 11, 2025. Please encourage your students to read more about last year’s recipients here and consider presenting. To apply for the award, students should complete a brief application by May 1, 2025.

ACUE Pinning Ceremony
Please join in celebrating the accomplishments of those who complete the program at the ACUE Pinning Ceremony on May 12, 2025 at noon, where these faculty will receive their certificates and digital badges. Register and learn more.

This year Jonathan Gyurko, President of ACUE, will deliver a keynote address. In addition, faculty members will share testimonials about how they’ve integrated the strategies they learned into their teaching. This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in joining the program next year to hear firsthand about its impact and the transformative power of evidence-based teaching practices. Learn more about the program and how to apply.  

Celebration of Faculty Excellence: May 6
On Tuesday, May 6 in the University Center, Event Room, the Office of the Provost will showcase the remarkable contributions of our faculty members at the Celebration of Faculty Excellence. The award categories include: Researcher of the Year, Teacher of the Year, Adjunct of the Year, Excellence and Innovation in Teaching 21st Century Skills, Excellence in Service-Learning Award, and two awards for outstanding contributions in assessment, namely the Excellence in Assessment and Assessment Champion awards.

For many of these awards, each school proudly selects its winners, with each recipient receiving a stipend in recognition of their accomplishments. University-wide winners are chosen by committees comprised of past awardees, and we eagerly anticipate unveiling these honorees during the event. Please mark your calendars and RSVP to join us for this special celebration.

Call for Assessment Advancement Grants: Applications Now Open
Now in its second year, the Assessment Advancement Grants initiative provides financial support to academic departments and programs in enhancing their student learning assessment and continuous improvement efforts. Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to implement new assessment methods, engage stakeholders, enhance existing strategies, modify curricula based on assessment results, integrate technology for assessment data collection and analysis, and support faculty training on best practices and data interpretation.

Applications for the summer of 2025 are due by May 1, 2025. For more information or to discuss your proposal, contact Sona Patel at sona.patel@shu.edu. Learn more and apply here.