Dear Faculty, Administrators and Staff,

I hope everyone enjoyed the weekend snowfall and had an opportunity to rest, recharge, and safely enjoy the wintry weather.

Yesterday, our annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Symposium brought together students, faculty, staff and community members for a thoughtful and engaging reflection on Dr. King’s enduring vision. I extend my sincere thanks to the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way and the New Jersey Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission for sponsoring and supporting this meaningful event.

As we move into the week ahead, I look forward to seeing you around campus and to the continued progress on the Innovation Hub as it moves closer to opening.

Sincerely,
Erik

The deadline is now a few weeks away. 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.

Seton Hall’s For All, Forever Campaign Roadshows are coming to cities across the region in the weeks ahead, bringing the University’s bold vision directly to our alumni and friends. These gatherings offer an opportunity to share progress, celebrate impact and highlight how the campaign is advancing academic excellence, student success, and our Catholic mission. We are grateful to our faculty and staff whose work and dedication help bring this vision to life and inspire support for a greater Seton Hall.

As we settle into the new semester, the first three weeks are the most critical window for identifying students who may be struggling. Whether it is a "digital ghost" who hasn't logged into Canvas or a student showing signs of high anxiety, your observations are the first line of defense.

How You Can Help:

A simple referral in the first three weeks can change the trajectory of a student's entire semester. Thank you for all you do to support our students. Visit the BIT website for more information.

Embed a Librarian in Your Canvas Courses this Spring

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 and, when embedded, 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 Faculty Pioneer Global Model for Undergraduate Psychology Education

Psychology faculty, Susan Nolan, Ph.D., and Fanli Jia, Ph.D., along with an international team of collaborators, have achieved an innovative accomplishment in developing the International Collaboration on Undergraduate Psychology Outcomes (ICUPO) model and curriculum. The ICUPO project is a groundbreaking effort involving over 100 participants from more than 40 countries. It is explicitly designed to promote international collaboration, offering guidelines that encourage educators and institutions to think globally about psychology education. Read more.

As the semester begins, faculty are encouraged to use Compass as a proactive tool to support student success. Through features like progress reporting, alerts, coordinated outreach, and automated actions, Compass helps identify students who may need support early and connects them with the right resources at the right time—strengthening our collective impact while simplifying faculty workflows.

How to start Strong Using Compass:

Additional Resources

⭐ Compass Super User of the Week

Martin Edwards, Ph.D., associate dean for Academic and Student Affairs in the School of Diplomacy and International Relations, has been a consistent champion of Compass, regularly leveraging the platform to proactively support student success. He is always exploring new and innovative ways to use Compass effectively—from early alerts to meaningful outreach—and most recently exploring utilizing automations to ensure students receive timely, targeted support. Martin’s commitment exemplifies how thoughtful use of Compass can strengthen engagement, streamline follow-up, and improve student outcomes.

Learn about Automated Actions which enables you to set up routine interventions and communications efficiently, so your time is focused on meaningful engagement with students rather than manual tasks.

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.

Untenured Faculty Organization Lunch Meeting
January 21, 12 - 1:30 p.m., University Center, Room 201

Faculty Lunch Time Meet-ups
January 21, 27 from 12 – 1 p.m.
Location: Faculty section of the Pirate Dining Room

SHU Meditates
January 27, 12:30 – 1 p.m., in Teams

“Faculty Appreciation Mass and Lunch” in honor of St. Thomas Aquinas, the patron saint of university professors.
January 28, 12 p.m.; view more details and RSVP for the lunch.

“How to Write Well, and Why We Must,” Professor Leonard Cassuto, author of Academic Writing as If Readers Matter
February 12, 5 – 6 p.m. (including book signing)

“The Relational Classroom: Understanding and Engaging Today’s Students,” Dr. Widian Nicola
February 17, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m., in Teams

Faculty Learning Communities:

These are opportunities for engagement as well as personal and professional development; participation can be as time permits.

CFD Podcast: Faculty Matters

Videos

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

Innovation Hub Introduces New Learning, Making and Support Spaces 
The Innovation Hub, located within the Teaching, Learning and Technology Center, offers hands-on spaces that support making, immersive learning, content creation and technology assistance for students, faculty and staff. Currently, the Solutions Studio and seating areas are open, with additional studios and services becoming available in the coming weeks.

Prepare, Launch and Engage with TLTC Workshops 
January workshops support a strong start to the semester, with sessions focused on Canvas, Microsoft tools and essential teaching practices, along with continued access to one-on-one instructional design support.

Set Clear Expectations with Canvas Announcements 
Canvas Announcements help set expectations and reduce confusion early in the semester. Clear subject lines and consistent updates keep students organized, while built-in tools allow you to schedule posts, link to course content and embed Canvas Studio videos. Learn how to add an announcement in Canvas. 

Faculty Appreciation Mass and Lunch 2026
Noon – 1:30 p.m., Chapel of the Immaculate Conception
Join us as we celebrate and give thanks for our exceptional faculty at a special Mass honoring St. Thomas Aquinas, patron saint of university professors. Faculty will receive a special blessing at the conclusion of Mass, followed by a luncheon in appreciation of all you do for our students and community. All are welcome. Please register by Friday, January 23 if you plan to attend lunch.

Pre-College Summer Programs: 25% Employee Discount
Seton Hall is offering a variety of engaging Pre-College Summer Programs for high school students — and members of the Seton Hall community receive a 25% discount for dependent children. Students can explore hands-on courses in areas like STEM, entrepreneurship, investing, health sciences, sports media and more.

Learn more and register on the Pre-College Programs page using promo code Precollege25 at checkout. For questions, contact ceps@shu.edu