Dear Faculty, Administrators and Staff,

As part of our ongoing commitment to instructional excellence and student success, we are pleased to continue our partnership with the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE), to offer faculty the opportunity to participate in the Effective Teaching Practices course during the 2026–27 academic year. This course equips faculty with evidence-based strategies, validated by independent research, that improve student achievement and help close equity gaps.

ACUE follows a cohort model for this 25-week course, with all participants beginning in September 2026 and ending in May 2027. The course is fully online with content delivered in an asynchronous and video-rich format facilitated by ACUE. All interested faculty should complete the ACUE Interest Form by August 10 in order to schedule an info session. Please note that the cohort is limited to 33 participants. Learn more about the program on the ACUE website.

As this year's ACUE participants are in the homestretch of completing the course, we invite the current participants and faculty interested to join us at the ACUE Finish Line Support Brunch on Tuesday, May 12 from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. in the Faculty Lounge, University Center, Room 201. Connect in an informal setting and learn more about the course experience. Please register in advance to let us know you will join.

Sincerely,
Erik

Designed specifically for the “end-users” – the individuals who conduct assessment reporting – two interactive sessions will explore:

This is an opportunity to get your feet wet and understand the capability of the system for assessment - and to ask questions as you go along. Seats are limited to 25 people each session, so please RSVP accurately so that we can offer the opportunity to others if we have available seats.

For faculty, administrators and staff who need transportation to the Baccalaureate Commencement Ceremony at the Prudential Center on Monday, May 18, bus service from campus will be provided with prior registration by May 13, 2026.

Faculty members planning to attend Commencement can order academic regalia or volunteer to serve as a marshal. After selecting the ceremony, you wish to attend, additional selections will appear. The deadline for completing the information is May 11, 2026.  There is no charge to rent the attire, and distribution will take place in Bayley Hall.  You will be contacted by the Office of the Registrar once your attire is ready for pick-up.

Finance is preparing to close the University’s financial records as of June 30, 2026. The University community is urged to limit the procuring of goods and services, and the use of university-issued credit cards, to only those items essential for the last two months of the fiscal year. Further, all outstanding approved invoices and Travel & Expense (“T & E”) reimbursement requests are to be submitted to Accounts Payable for processing as soon as possible. Please refer to The Division of Finance email from Thursday, April 23 for deadlines.

Submitting a Thesis or Dissertation? Deadline Reminder: May 1

The deadline to submit a thesis or dissertation is this Friday, May 1. Please make sure to follow the Submission Instructions and also share the upcoming deadline and information with students before papers are submitted to the library! Download the Thesis and Dissertation Checklist to make sure your document is properly formatted. Please also review Copyright and Fair Use Guidelines. Questions? Contact etds@shu.edu.

Reverend Joseph R. Laracy Receives University Research Council Grant

Reverend Joseph R. Laracy, S.T.D., associate professor at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, received a 2025-26 University Research Council award in for his project titled “AI and the Human Person: A Thomistic Inquiry into Dignity, Agency, and Moral Responsibility.” This work explores the implications of AI, especially machine learning, through the lens of Catholic, Thomistic anthropology and ethics. It addresses questions around human dignity, agency and moral responsibility.

Drawing from the framework of St. Thomas Aquinas, as well as insights from modern Neo-Thomists such as Bernard Lonergan and Stanley Jaki, the study investigates the metaphysical distinctions between human and artificial intelligence, emphasizing the uniqueness of human rationality, free will, and moral accountability. Reverend Laracy presented his research at 2026 Petersheim Faculty Research Exposition.

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.

"Student Assessments in the Age of Generative AI: Building Better Online Assignments"
Speaker: Franny Zawadzki, Ph.D., Instructional Assistant Professor of Art History, The University of Mississippi
April 30, 9 a.m. - 10 a.m., on Teams

Reading of Laudate Deum
April 29, 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m., University Green (Rain Location: Mooney Hall 329)

Faculty Lunch Time Meet-ups:
April 29, 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Location: Faculty section of the Pirate Dining Room

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

Podcast: Faculty Matters

Videos

New Videos:

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

Refresh Your Course Content with the Materials Makeover Lab 
Refine your instructional materials with hands-on support at the Materials Makeover Lab, offered at both the Law School and South Orange campuses. Bring your Word documents, slides, PDFs, videos or other content and receive guidance on improving clarity, formatting and accessibility to better support student learning.

Get Started with 3D Printing in the Maker Studio 
The Innovation Hub Maker Studio supports teaching, research and project development through 3D printing and hands-on fabrication. Faculty and staff can prototype ideas, enhance course experiences and collaborate with the TLTC team for guidance and support. Submit a 3D Print Request to begin your project.

Build Skills with LinkedIn Learning and Microsoft Learn 
Access LinkedIn Learning and Microsoft Learn to develop professional and technical skills through expert-led courses and hands-on training. Earn badges and certificates using your Seton Hall account. Explore LinkedIn Learning and Microsoft Learn.

Keep Track of Student Details with Canvas Gradebook Notes 
Use the Notes column in the Canvas Gradebook to record private, instructor-only details such as preferred names, attendance insights or assignment context. Learn how to use the Notes column in Canvas Gradebook.

Enhance Teaching with the Adobe Education Institute 
Join the Adobe Education Institute, June 8–11, for a virtual conference focused on using Adobe tools to support teaching, workflows and communication. Participate live or on demand and earn badges. Register for the Adobe Education Institute. 

Reminder: Advising Course Now Available in Canvas, Complete By May 18
Faculty, administrators and staff are reminded that the updated Seton Hall University Advising Course is now available in Canvas. The training highlights advising best practices and introduces enhanced Compass features to support student engagement. Please plan to complete the course by May 18, 2026.

Student Travel Award: Applications Open for MSCHE
The Annual Conference of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), taking place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 10, 2026. The Office of the Provost will support a select number of student researchers with a Student Travel Award. You and your students can read more about prior recipients here and consider presenting. To apply for the award, students should complete a brief application by this May 8.

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.