Dear Faculty, Administrators and Staff,

As in previous years, I would like to share the well wishes from our Deans Team with you.

“Christmas is a holiday of nostalgia and hope. I wish you all a restful twelve days rich with joyful memories and faith in a healthy, happy new year ahead.”
Interim Dean Jonathan Farina, College of Arts and Sciences

“To my “Pirate family” – it is a privilege and pleasure to work with you all! I’m so proud to be part of this community, and I greatly appreciate the hard work, energy and dedication that you all bring to our shared goals. I hope that you have a joyous holiday season, filled with great food, friends, family, faith, and fellowship – and lots of rest and relaxation!”
Dean Joyce Strawser, Stillman School of Business

“As we approach the Christmas season, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Seton Hall community. It has been a privilege to witness the dedication, creativity, and collaboration that make our University a place of growth and opportunity. In the Division of  Continuing Education & Professional Studies and the Office of International Programs, we are inspired by the many ways you contribute to advancing professional development and fostering industry and international connections. This season, I hope you find time to rest, reflect, and celebrate with loved ones. May the holidays bring you peace, joy, and cherished moments.”
Dean Mary Kate Naatus, Continuing Education and Professional Studies

"News stories constantly remind us of the importance of servant leaders, whether it be successes where their presence has made an instrumental difference, or crises where their absence has been a glaring omission. This is why the work of the Seton Hall community, no matter our role, is so vital. Our mission is perfectly aligned with society’s most critical need, and I am privileged to cooperate with each of you in our collective enterprise. I hope  you and your families have a wonderful and joyous holiday season."
Dean Courtney B. Smith, School of Diplomacy and International Relations

“I look forward to this time of the year when we reflect on our successes and failures while  simultaneously laying out personal and professional plans for the upcoming year. Checks and balances are all fine but pure joy comes from being present while executing a plan rather than the actualizing the goal per se. Therefore, as I think of things to do in the new year and reflect on my successes and failures in 2024, I will relax, read a book, sample some good chocolates, have multiple cups of coffee and I am hopeful that you get to do all that your heart desires. My gratitude and appreciation to the entire Seton Hall community for making it possible for so many of us to live the mission of the University. My family and I  want to wish you and your family Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year.”
Interim Dean Vikram Dayalu, School of Health and Medical Sciences

“On behalf of the Office of the Dean in the College of Human Development, Culture, and Media, I want to wish everyone in the SHU community a happy, healthy, and joyful end to the year—and wonderful holidays! Thank you for all that you do to make our campus such a welcoming and special place, and I am so grateful to be working alongside each and every one of you. Peace and love in your celebrations of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the New Year!”
Dean Bryan Crable, College of Human Development, Culture, and Media

“As the newest Seton Hall dean, I want to thank faculty, administrators and staff members across the University for welcoming me into this special community. During my first six months, I have been enormously impressed by the hard work and dedication of my Seton Hall colleagues in support of our students and each other. On behalf of the School of Law, I wish everyone Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah and Happy Holidays however you may celebrate. May the new year be filled with joy, compassion and respect for – of course – the Rule of Law!”
Dean Ronald Weich, School of Law

"As the Christmas season is upon us, I would like to take this time to express my deepest gratitude to faculty, administrators and staff for their continued dedication, engagement  and support to provide our students with a value-based curriculum rooted in the University mission to care for and protect the public as competent healthcare providers. It is an honor and privilege to work with all of you and to serve as Interim Dean of the College of Nursing. Many blessings to you and your families and wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with health, happiness, grace, and peace.”
Interim Dean Kristi Stinson, College of Nursing

“'Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand’ (Luke 21:28). With these words of Jesus, the Catholic Church opened the season of Advent on December 2. Have we kept watch? In any case, may the radiant warmth of Christmas, which promises light and love, so touch our hearts that they overflow in gratitude, propelling us to announce in word and deed the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ, the Son of God become human, who has ‘made His dwelling among us’ (John 1:14). May we find our home in Him, in the one above all in whom we learn that ‘God is love’ (1 John 4:8,16).”
Rector/Dean Rev. Msgr. Gerard H. McCarren, Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology

“One of our required texts in Core I is the Gospel of Luke, where we learn about the original Christmas story of the birth of Jesus in simplicity, poverty and great humility. I wish everyone at Seton Hall, a blessed and joyful Christmas, Chanukah, and all other holidays during this special time. Peace on earth and good will to all people.”
Director Nancy Enright, University Core

 “Wishing all a safe and healthy new year, and happy holidays. Let’s hope the new year brings the world and our country closer to peace. And of course, thanks to all Library faculty, staff and administrators who have brought us to the end of another successful year. I’d be remiss if I did not also mention my thanks and gratitude to OGRS and Grants Accounting staff: it has been quite a year!”
Dean John Buschman, University Libraries

I want to express my heartfelt thanks to each of you for your dedication and hard work throughout this past semester and year. I hope you all find joy, relaxation, and peace during this well-deserved break. Wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a healthy and prosperous year to come. Together, Hazard Zet Forward into 2025!

Sincerely,
Katia

We look forward to honoring our exceptional faculty through the Faculty Excellence Awards. This year, we have introduced a nomination form that is open to all for submitting nominees in any of the award categories by January 15. We will continue our tradition of asking each unit to review and recommend their School/College-wide awardees to their Dean. For this year only, student letters of support may be submitted to your Dean's Office by January 31, 2025. Please prepare your applications as per the guidelines as additional information may be requested by committees.

In honor of one of America's most revered advocates for racial justice and social change, Seton Hall will once again offer a special one-credit workshop on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday, January 20, 2025) from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. in Bethany Hall (virtual option available). The workshop will examine perspectives on racism, privilege and justice, including informative assessments of historical and contemporary issues from faculty. Register here.

Positive Check-in: Visit the Library’s Leisure Collection Before Break
The library's leisure collection was designed to join campus initiatives to focus on student, staff, and faculty mental health. It’s also being used to promote the positive connection between reading for pleasure and academic achievement. The collection has grown significantly since its start in 2022 with books ranging from contemporary and classic literature from both acclaimed and emerging authors to new non-fiction offering fresh perspectives on current issues. Library users can find the internet’s latest viral book beside timeless classics read for generations.

Writer-in-Residence Brendan Kiely's Best-Selling YA Novel on Racial Tensions Available Free on Libby
Seton Hall Writer-in-Residence Brendan Kiely and co-writer Jason Reynolds' New York Times Best Seller, All-American Boys, is available through the New York Public Library for free on the Libby reading app.  Selected by the NYPL for its Teen Banned Book Club, the novel (also a Coretta Scott King Author Honor book and a recipient of the Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature) tells the story of two teen boys—one Black, one white—who grapple with the repercussions of a single violent act that leaves their school, their community, and, ultimately, the country divided by racial tension.

Hanover Grants Calendar for Early Career Research
The Sponsored Programs Calendar is a wide-ranging schedule of programs and opportunities across the entire curricula and activities of the University. This calendar reviews upcoming grant opportunities focused on early career research. Short-term targets with set deadlines are included alongside longer-term opportunities expected to occur across the next year and beyond. Review the biweekly Hanover Grants Digest.

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

Winter Writing Retreat 
January 6, 7, and 8; 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Microsoft Teams

CFD Podcast: Faculty Matters
Subscribe and find all episodes on Podbean.

Weekly Events

Weekly meditation, Faculty Lunch-time Meet-ups and Write Club will commence after the winter break.

Opportunities

Videos

Missed a recent event? Find all event recordings here.

Upload Final Grades
At the end of each semester, faculty members upload final grades through their Faculty Dashboard in Self-Service Banner (SSB). The deadline for faculty to enter Fall 2024 grades is Friday, December 27. To ensure a smooth process, it is recommended to use a SHU-issued or personal computer on a secure network rather than a mobile device. Learn how to upload final grades.

Set a Default Grade for an Assignment in Gradebook  
The default grading tool simplifies the process by allowing you to assign a default grade to any assignment. You can apply this grade to all students or only to those who haven’t yet received one, ensuring fairness and consistency based on your selected criteria. Learn how to set a default grade.

End-of-Semester Support
As the semester comes to a close, the TLTC’s Instructional Designers are ready to assist with your teaching needs. Whether you’re wrapping up grades, preparing for next semester, or navigating Canvas, our team provides expert guidance to simplify your tasks. We offer personalized support for instructional technology, as well as strategies to enhance your courses and improve the learning experience. Connect with your Instructional Designer.

Plan Meetings with Scheduling Poll
Microsoft Outlook’s Scheduling Poll is a convenient tool for organizing meetings and finding a time that works for all participants. This new feature allows the organizer to send several time options, reducing the need for back-and-forth emails when scheduling a meeting. Learn how to use Scheduling Poll.          

Safe Zone Training for Seton Hall Employees
This new training development initiative for faculty, staff and administrators, developed by a committee across the University, aims to foster awareness and understanding of LGBTQIA+ identities and experiences. Safe Zone will provide participants with tools to promote allyship and inclusivity within the Seton Hall community. Registration is appreciated – upcoming sessions in include January 6 and January 9. 

URC Application Cycle Now Open!
The 2025 (URC) application cycle is now open! The University Research Council offers assistance for summer stipend requests of up to $10,000 and research grants of up to $10,000 for use during the subsequent academic year. The application deadline for Summer 2025 is February 17, 2025, at noon.