Dear Faculty, Administrators and Staff,

We are pleased to announce several key organizational changes within the Office of the Provost, effective July 1. These changes reflect transitions of staff to other positions outside of Academic Affairs and are part of our ongoing efforts to enhance our academic programs, support faculty development, and strengthen our commitment to student success. 

We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the outgoing members of our team who have served with dedication and distinction, particularly Amy Newcombe and Bernadette McVey. Their contributions have been invaluable in advancing our academic mission, and we look forward to working with them in their new capacities in Board Affairs.

Announcing promotions, new roles and transitions:

Katia Passerini, Ph.D. - Provost and Senior Executive Vice President

Katia will return to the role of Provost and will continue to serve the Office of the President as Senior Executive Vice President in key strategic initiatives with particular focus on coordination and collaboration around the teams working on the next ambitious strategic plan. She will also foster alignment across administrative units that interface closely with Academic Affairs. 

Erik Lillquist, J.D. - Deputy Provost, Chief Administrative Officer, and Executive Vice President 

Erik will return to leading administrative processes, act as Deputy Provost (focusing on our academic and mission-related issues), and work on process improvement across units, in close collaboration with human resources, information technology and the Division of Finance.

Leigh Onimus, J.D. - Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs and Strategic Initiatives

Leigh has provided exemplary leadership throughout the Middle States Self-Study process and most recently serving part-time as Executive Director of University Accreditation Strategy working directly with the Interim President. On July 15, she will move to a full-time position in the Provost’s Office, serving as key resource on Academic Affairs matters, strategic initiatives related to rankings and accreditation, and will support the development of new academic priorities across the University.   

Sona Patel, Ph.D. - Assistant Provost for Academic Excellence and Assessment

Sona has served as the Interim Assistant Provost for Academic Excellence and Assessment. She will continue in her full-time role with a focus on academic program innovation, coordination, accreditation, and assessment. In this capacity, she will continue efforts to promote and implement new programs and to cultivate a culture of continuous improvement. She will also lead strategic initiatives such as the Academies and Idea Hall that support interdisciplinary research and teaching innovation.

Jamie Pukl-Werbel, J.D. - Assistant Provost for Faculty Affairs 

Jamie will expand her current role as Special Advisor into a permanent role focused on Faculty Affairs. Specifically, she will continue the important task of fostering the completion and update of the University Guides and other important processes and procedures.  Jamie will also continue in her role at Seton Hall Law, teaching courses on Ethics and Trial Advocacy and supervising the Experiential Learning curriculum.

Kurt Rotthoff, Ph.D. - Associate Provost for Strategy and Finance

Kurt will continue the work he performed as the Interim Associate Provost for Strategy and Finance, following two years as a Special Advisor to the Provost on Institutional Effectiveness. In this role, he focuses on academic administration in the areas of University policy, budget and finance, human resources and long-term strategies, where he focuses on using data-driven outcomes to assess projects for the strategic use of university resources. 

As previously announced, Father Gerald Buonopane will be joining us as the Vice Provost for Academics and Catholic Identity. 

These changes mark an exciting new chapter for the Office of the Provost. We are confident that these organizational adjustments will enhance our ability to support our faculty, staff and students, and to achieve our strategic goals. We look forward to the continued growth and success of our academic community. The best is yet to come. 

Thank you for your support and cooperation during this transition.

Sincerely,
Erik

Deadline: September 13, 2024
The Academies program offers 1-2 years of flexible funding for faculty to pursue projects that develop interdisciplinary curricula or scholarship, or projects that align with university goals, such as enhancing diversity and inclusion, increasing grant submissions, and expanding graduate programs. This initiative also supports projects that improve the integration of mission, service, and other experiential learning opportunities within programs and curricula, including advancing international efforts. Learn more and apply.

Deadline: September 13, 2024
The Idea Hall is a mechanism for supporting innovative ideas that extend beyond academic units. The initiative also offers 1-2 years of funding for administrators, staff, and faculty to propose collaborative projects that span across multiple divisions. By improving, enriching and cultivating cross-divisional partnerships, this initiative intends to promote innovative ideas that improve student retention, optimize use of facilities, and integrate service learning into the student experience. Learn more and apply.

Explore the Idea Hall, the Academies and our other initiatives at our new centralized hub for innovation—the Innovation Hub. Should you have any questions or would like a consultation regarding your applications, please contact Sona Patel at innovation@shu.edu.

Independence Day is a federal holiday commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the establishment of the United States as a sovereign nation. As we prepare to celebrate on July 4, it is important to remember the cornerstones of democracy which include freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech, among others. These freedoms grant humans the basic right to express their opinion, and to speak freely about any matter without government restraint. This is important as this expression allows for the exchange of ideas and change in society.

To further prepare for Independence Day, here are a few resources:

Digitized NJ Politicians Papers Now Available
The Archives & Special Collections Center  was awarded a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, a branch of the National Archives, to support the collections from pathbreaking New Jersey politicians.  Three of these collections are now available for scholars and include Arthur A. Quinn, early 20th century labor leader; Richard Hughes, the first Catholic governor of New Jersey; and Bernard Shanley, Chief of Staff to President Eisenhower. Links to these document collections and more are available here.

Faculty Spotlight

Beth Jameson, Ph.D., RN, CNL, CSN-NJ, FASN 
College of Nursing 

Beth Jameson is a stellar nurse researcher who serves as an exemplary role model for the conduct of rigorous nursing research to our students and is a strong asset to our College of Nursing. Her research grant activities are extensive. She is co-principal investigator on a grant funded by the World Health Organization for the Development of the Implementation Guidance for School Health Services ($67,000), a CDC COVID-19 grant funded by the Virginia School Nurse Association ($100,000), and a co-researcher on the National Nursing Workforce Study ($135,000), funded by the National Association of School Nursing. Additional research grant initiatives include serving as the principal investigator of the Development of the Workload Instrument for School Nursing, and co-researcher for the Northeast Pennsylvania School Health Needs Assessment ($100,000), funded through the Moses Taylor Foundation in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Additional research grant initiatives include a nationwide cross-sectional study to examine the association between district-level school nursing staffing characteristics and school districts’ provision of health services for children with chronic illness, and the development of clinical guidelines for Type I Diabetes for School Nursing.

Follow the CFD blog to find out about upcoming events and initiatives. We also welcome your suggestions for workshops, speakers, and other events.

Please complete the CFD annual survey, if you have not yet done so.

New ID:
Faculty who would like access to UC 201, the Faculty Lounge, will need an updated ID. The ID office is located in Duffy Hall.

Calls for Participants

University Teaching Fellows Program

Seminar on Contemplative Pedagogy and AI

Experiential Faculty Fellows program 2024-25

Mission Partners Program, 2024-25

AI Resources

How do I Consider Options that May Increase the Likelihood that Students Will Follow my Generative AI Course Policy?

How Do I (Re)design Assignments and Assessments in an AI-Impacted World?

Actionable strategies to evaluate students’ AI writing use: A free guide from Turnitin

Watch Our Videos:

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

Seton Hall Joins AAC&U's Inaugural AI Institute
Seton Hall University has been selected to participate in the American Association of Colleges and Universities’ inaugural Institute on AI, Pedagogy, and the Curriculum. This prestigious initiative engages faculty and administrators from various academic institutions in developing AI action plans to enhance educational experiences across classrooms, curricula, and campuses. Learn more.

Canvas Discussions and Announcements Redesign
On July 20, 2024, Canvas will automatically update the user experience for Discussions and Announcements. If your summer session course extends to or beyond this date, we recommend enabling the Discussions/Announcements Redesign option before your class begins to maintain a consistent user experience. Learn how to enable the new features.

Online Teaching Level 2 Certificate
The Level 2 OTC courses expand on Level 1 concepts through a five-module, asynchronous series. You'll learn to build a Canvas course shell, ensure teaching transparency, develop engaging lectures, create an instructor presence with technology, and copy content in Canvas. Complete the course, assignments, and Capstone Project by August 8, 2024, to earn the Level 2 Certificate. Enroll in the Level 2 OTC courses. 

2024 Program Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes Form: Due July 1
The form can be accessed from the Office of Assessment’s website under Forms and Documents. Please contact assessment@shu.edu  with any questions as you complete your assessment report. Assessment reports are due to your Dean’s Office by July 1.