Dear Faculty, Administrators and Staff,

As we conclude another academic year, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all faculty, staff and administrators who helped make our Graduate Ceremonies and Baccalaureate Commencement such meaningful and memorable celebrations for our graduates and their families.

The day was truly beautiful – filled with joy, pride, and a strong sense of community. Events of this scale and significance are only possible because of the dedication, professionalism and care shown by so many across the University. Whether you played a visible role during the ceremony or worked behind the scenes to support our students and guests, your efforts made a tremendous difference.

Thank you for all that you do on behalf of our students and our University. I am deeply appreciative of your commitment and partnership throughout the year, and especially during this important milestone celebration.

I hope you have an opportunity to reflect with pride on all that we accomplished together this year.

Sincerely,
Erik

Faculty and Administration News (FAN) is a quarterly publication of Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, which aims to share the many accomplishments of ICSST faculty and administrators. Read the May 2026 issue.

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.

Kanopy Available for Classroom Streaming Video Content

University Libraries subscribes to several streaming services for the classroom. Interested in streaming videos for your classroom? Try Kanopy! Kanopy offers more than 30,000 films, including critically acclaimed movies, inspiring documentaries, and award-winning foreign films. Learn more and find a list of films now available to the Seton Hall community.

Newspaper Subscriptions

Access the Chronicle of Higher Education and other major news outlets including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post through the University Libraries. Start today and catch up on your reading by visiting the libraries' Newspaper Subscriptions. Questions? Contact Gerry Shea, Education Librarian, at gerard.shea@shu.edu.

Golbarg Rekabtalaei, Ph.D., Wins University Research Council Award

Golbarg Rekabtalaei, Ph.D., associate professor within the College of Arts and Sciences, received a 2025 URC award for the project titled “Ruins, Relics, and Resorts: Politics of Heritage Tourism in Twentieth Century Iran.” This book employs tourism to investigate economic, social, and political transformations in Iran from the early 1900s to the 1979 Revolution. It examines how cultural heritage tourism reflects national aspirations and anxieties, religious and political debates, modernization efforts and global interactions shaping Iran as a modern nation.

📚 Advising Tip

Every student’s journey matters, and sometimes a simple outreach can make all the difference. Consider taking a few moments to check in with students who have not yet registered for classes to offer support, answer questions, and help connect them with resources they may need. A thoughtful message from a faculty member can encourage students to stay engaged, feel supported, and continue moving forward toward their goals.

🏆 Compass Super User of the Year

Congratulations to the College of Human Development, Culture, and Media (CHDCM) for being named this year’s Compass Super User Champion! CHDCM has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to student success and advising excellence, leading the University with the highest percentage of faculty completing the Compass Advising Training in Canvas to date.

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.

Summer Writing Retreat
May 19, 20, and 21; Chancellor's Suite, U Center lower level, and Teams.
Register here.

Faculty Summer Seminar
May 26–28, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., University Center Room 206. Register here.

New Faculty Orientation
August 17 and 18 – stay tuned for more information

Faculty Opportunities
Mission Partners Program 2026-27 - CFP
University Teaching Fellows 2026-27 - CFP
Faculty Seminar on Environmental Sustainability - CFP
Elizabeth Ann Seton Reading Group - CFP

Podcast: Faculty Matters

Videos

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

Summer Workshops Explore Innovation Hub Technologies 
The TLTC is offering hands-on summer workshops in the Innovation Hub where participants can explore emerging technologies, develop practical skills and create original projects through guided learning experiences.

Summer Online Teaching Certificate Programs

Explore Strategies for Navigating Generative AI in Student Work 
Turnitin will host a webinar on Wednesday, May 20 focused on using Turnitin Originality to evaluate student submissions, interpret AI detection data and support academic integrity in an evolving AI landscape. Register for the 8 a.m. live session or the 8 p.m. pre-recorded session.

Prepare Your Canvas Courses for Next Semester 
As the semester concludes, take time to organize your Canvas dashboard, remove old courses from Favorites and begin preparing upcoming courses for summer or fall. Faculty can also copy previous course content, merge cross-listed sections and review the start-of-semester Canvas checklist to help streamline course setup before the next term begins. View the full end-of-semester Canvas checklist. 

Reminder: Summer 2026 Sessions
As we look ahead to the summer, please mark your calendars for Summer 2026 sessions:

Visit the Academic Calendar for detailed information and add/drop deadlines.

Call for Academies and Idea Hall Applications
The call for applications is now open for the Academies and Idea Hall initiatives through September 10, 2026. These programs provide seed funding to support innovative, high-impact projects that advance our academic mission and strengthen the student experience.

Consider how your ideas might benefit from these opportunities. Additional information and application details are available on the Innovation in Action page or contact Sona Patel at innovation@shu.edu if you have any questions or would like to consult about your application.