Dear Faculty, Administrators and Staff,

Seton Hall’s commitment to instructional excellence is central to our mission and to our students’ success. Our faculty play the most significant role in advancing that success through daily engagement in the classroom and beyond. To support excellence in teaching and learning, we are expanding our partnership with the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE), in collaboration with the Center for Faculty Development, to provide access to the ACUE Commons.

The ACUE Commons is a professional learning community offering practical and concise development opportunities. It includes Quick Study courses on current topics such as AI in Higher Education and Deliberative Dialogue, expert-led events, and curated resources designed to help you expand your repertoire of teaching practices to maintain an engaging learning environment. Faculty who have completed ACUE’s Effective Teaching Practices course will also have continued access to its full set of modules and strategies. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity - please look for an invitation from support@acue.org to activate your account and join the ACUE Commons virtual teaching community. For additional information, please contact Mary Balkun or Sona Patel.

As part of our ongoing efforts to advance faculty development across teaching and research, I am also pleased to announce that the 2026 University Research Council (URC) application cycle is now open! We invite you to explore this opportunity to receive support for your research endeavors. Program guidelines and the application form are available on the University Research Council sub-page of the OGRS website. The  URC offers assistance for 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.

See the URC website for submission guidelines and the application.. Questions and submissions may be emailed to grantsoffice@shu.edu.

Sincerely,
Erik

At the suggestion of Fr. Brian Muzas, the Dean of Students Office has updated the University Resources list. You can also download and print the list from the site.

This is a great companion piece to what we shared earlier that you will find helpful in working with students – Campus Support for Students.

As cold weather  approaches, the Office of International Programs (OIP) is launching a Winter Gear Collection Drive to support our international students who may be experiencing their first winter in the U.S., as well as any Seton Hall community members who might need winter gear. We invite students, faculty, and staff to contribute new or gently used winter items.

Collection Dates: October 9–17
Drop-off Location: OIP Office, Jubilee Hall 231–234
Donations can be left  at any time during office hours (Monday through Friday 8:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.). Please ensure items are in good, clean, and wearable condition.

Distribution Dates: October 20–22 (International Students ONLY); October 23-31 (SHU Community). Please come to OIP, Jubilee 231-234 during Office Hours to pick up the winter gear.

Seton Hall’s pre-law students are starting the year strong with the Pre-Professional Advising Center’s (P-PAC) exciting launch of expanded services for the pre-law community. More than 200 students attended the kickoff event, where they connected with advisers, explored resources, and joined a growing network of aspiring legal professionals. Director Chantal Vergara and new pre-law adviser Madelyn Ferrans shared their vision for a supportive, opportunity-filled pre-law experience at Seton Hall. Read more.

October Workshop Schedule Available

Join University Libraries for academic and data workshops on topics ranging from Copyright to Python, a popular programming language.

Celebrate Faculty Authors

View the latest faculty authored titles on display in SHU’s eRepository. This year’s titles range from “A Hybrid Approach to Teaching Chinese Through Digital Humanities, CALL, and Project-Based Learning” by Dongdong Chen Ph.D. to “An Interdisciplinary Pedagogical Model for Catholic Studies: Rooted in Vatican II, Growing Through the 21st Century” by Ines Murzaku Ph.D. and Joseph Rice Ph.D.

Have a book or book chapter you would like to add?  Contact Natalie Lau, Scholarly Communications Librarian, natalie.lau@shu.edu.

On September 26, 2025, the Division of Student Services and the Office of the Provost hosted the first annual Student Success Summit, an interactive half-day training designed to share ideas and explore best practices in advising to better support our students. Participants engaged in collaborative discussions and learning sessions focused on enhancing the student experience.

Session notes and presentation materials are available on the Compass Faculty SharePoint site for those who wish to review or revisit the content.

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.

Now available:

ACUE Commons Portal
This faculty development resource is available to all faculty at the university. It includes on-demand resources, Quick Study courses, expert-led events, and continued access to ETP course content for faculty who have previously completed it.

Upcoming Events

Weekly Events

Faculty Lunch-Time Meet-up:
October 15, 1 - 2 p. m.
October 21, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Location: Faculty section of the Pirate Dining Room

SHU Meditates
Thursday, October 16
12:30 - 1 p.m., in Teams

Faculty Opportunities for the 2025-26 Academic Year:
Time Machines Project 2025-26

The following faculty learning communities are opportunities for engagement as well as personal and professional development.

CFD Podcast: Faculty Matters

Videos

New Video: Gen AI Birds of a Feather 1

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

Upcoming TLTC Remote Workshops:

Call for Proposals: 2025–26 Faculty Innovation Grants 
The Teaching, Learning and Technology Center (TLTC), in partnership with the Faculty Senate IT Committee and the Center for Faculty Development, invites full-time faculty to apply for the 2025–26 Faculty Innovation Grants (FIGs). These grants provide funding and recognition for creative projects that advance teaching and learning across disciplines. Proposals are due October 24, 2025. Explore proposal guidelines and apply today!

Secure Your Online Exams in Canvas  
Canvas includes several tools to support the integrity of your assessments. Use features such as question banks, answer shuffling, time limits and one-question-at-a-time delivery to reduce cheating. You can also set quiz availability windows, limit result visibility and add an academic honesty statement to encourage accountability. Learn more about Canvas quiz settings. 

Seton Hall Expands Virtual Reality Opportunities 
Seton Hall’s TLTC has expanded virtual reality (VR) resources to enhance teaching and learning through immersive, real-world simulations. Faculty and staff can request access to VR headsets and carts by completing the Virtual Reality Request Form.

Seton Hall Blood Drive, October 21

We are seeking donors for Seton Hall's October 21 Blood Drive with the American Red Cross, supported by a Service Project in Professor Naatus' Principles of Marketing course. Donating blood saves lives, and with the current shortage, there’s no better time to make a difference. Please email mary.naatus@shu.edu if you have any questions.

2026 BIG EAST Undergraduate Research Poster Symposium

The Office of the Provost is looking for five student applicants who will represent Seton Hall at the 2026 BIG EAST Undergraduate Research Poster Symposium. Selected students will be supported for overnight travel to present their research at Madison Square Garden on Saturday March 14, 2026. As an added bonus, all competing students will receive one complimentary ticket to the Men’s Basketball Conference Championship Game held in the evening. Winners of the competition will be announced at the game and will receive medals. To apply for the award, students should complete a brief application by November 4, 2025.