Dear Faculty, Administrators and Staff,

This semester marks an important moment in Seton Hall’s journey. Over the past two years, the University has undertaken a comprehensive strategic planning process, guided by community input and affirmed earlier this year by the Board of Regents. The resulting plan reflects our shared vision for Seton Hall’s future – one rooted in academic excellence, global engagement and student success.

As a reminder, all members of the University community are invited to next week’s Strategic Plan Community Launch on Monday, September 15 at 2 p.m. in Bethany Hall. This event will provide an opportunity to learn more about the plan, its priorities and the path ahead. If you haven’t already, please mark your calendars and RSVP.

In keeping with the plan’s spirit of innovation and global engagement, I am also pleased to share news of Seton Hall’s most significant expansion of its global footprint in University history: our students now have access to 57 semester-abroad campuses in 24 countries. This extraordinary growth underscores our commitment to providing transformative international experiences that prepare students to thrive in a connected world.

For more information, please take a moment to check out the Semester Abroad Programs hub which details all the opportunities available. Additionally, there will be an Ask-Me-Anything session with the Director of Study Abroad and our consortium representative in the Cafeteria on Tuesday, September 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The session is open to all faculty, staff, administrators and students. Updates about the expansion will be shared at Academic Affairs meetings this month, and any questions and inquiries may be directed to studyabroad@shu.edu.

I want to extend my gratitude to Douglas Cantelmo, Director of Study Abroad and Global Engagement, and his team for their vision and dedication in leading this transformational work. Together, the Strategic Plan and our expanding global opportunities represent the bold, forward-looking spirit that continues to define Seton Hall.

I look forward to seeing you all at Faculty Convocation this Friday, September 12 at 1 p.m.

Sincerely,
Erik

Faculty advisors are encouraged to attend the first annual Student Success Summit on Friday, September 26. Hosted by the Division of Student Services and the Office of the Provost, this half-day, interactive training will focus on academic advising best practices, with sessions on Compass (beginner and advanced), community building and defining faculty’s role in student success. Lunch will be provided. Register here.

Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology has published its August 2025 issue, highlighting the scholarship, service and ministry of the ICSST faculty and administrators and celebrating their many contributions to the Church and academy. Read the latest issue here. 

Faculty are invited to participate in the Service-Learning Integration (SLI) Program, which supports faculty in incorporating community-engaged service-learning into their Spring 2026 courses through structured Fall workshops, hands-on consultation and partnership with DOVE-affiliated organizations. Participants gain practical tools to create mission-aligned, experiential learning opportunities that foster servant leadership, ethical responsibility, and transferable professional skills in students. Find out more workshop dates, eligibility, and compensation.

When finished with your class or meeting, please reset the room for the next group by returning any moved furniture to its original layout, erasing the dry-erase boards, and removing personal items or trash. Thank you for helping us keep our classrooms ready and welcoming for everyone.

Embed a Librarian in Your Canvas Course

The University Libraries are thrilled to now offer a new service: embedded librarians! An embedded librarian is a librarian that is placed within your Canvas course; when there, they can aid you and your students by serving as a point-of-contact for library, information, or research related questions. Want a librarian to build and grade assignments or learning modules for your students? An embedded librarian can do that, too. To request a librarian for your course, just fill out this form here. Questions? Contact Lead Instruction Librarian Maria Barca at maria.barca@shu.edu.

Fall Data Workshops: Join Us This September

We have a great lineup for software training, covering State, Atlas.ti, R and more. Take a look at the schedule and save your seat for an upcoming workshop or two:

Questions? Contact data.services@shu.edu

CHDCM’s David Berman Wins City of Philadelphia’s Digital Equity Competitive Grant

David Berman, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Communication Media and the Arts in the College of Human Development, Culture, and Media, has been awarded a $1,190,000 grant from the “City of Philadelphia’s Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program” and will serve as a Co-Principal. The grant is sponsored by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and will run from 2025-2030. Professor Berman is also an "Opportunity Fund Fellow" with the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society. Additionally, in January 2025 he started as Principal for the "Between Restoration and Transformation in Pennsylvania’s Nonprofit News Ecosystem” grant, sponsored by Media, Inequality, and Change Center at the University of Pennsylvania.

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.

Upcoming Events

SHU Meditates
Thursdays, September 4 — December 11, 12:30 - 1 p.m., Microsoft Teams

Faculty Opportunities for the 2025-26 Academic Year
The following CFD faculty learning communities are opportunities for engagement as well as personal and professional development.

CFD Podcast: Faculty Matters

Videos

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

New Videos:

Upcoming TLTC Remote Workshops:

Media Services Supports Teaching, Learning and Events 
Seton Hall’s Media Services team is upgrading classrooms and event spaces with the latest audiovisual tools, Teams Room technology, and enhanced simulation lab systems to support seamless teaching, learning, and collaboration. Discover the full scope of this summer’s upgrades and how you can help keep technology running smoothly. Read more about classroom upgrades.  

Organize Your MS Teams Tiles 
Teams can be created for courses, departments or projects. To keep your dashboard organized, you can hide any Teams tiles you don’t actively use. Hidden tiles remain accessible—just scroll to the hidden section to find them, and unhide at any time. Learn how to hide MS Teams and Channels.  

Download Canvas Teacher App 
Canvas Teacher, available for iOS and Android, enables teachers to manage their courses on the go, both inside and outside the classroom. The app provides quick access to essential tasks like grading, communicating, and updating course content through Announcements, Assignments, Discussions, and Quizzes. 

Faculty Convocation Reminder
Please join us this Friday, September 12, 2025, at 1 p.m. in the University Center's Event Room for Faculty Convocation. A reception will follow immediately afterward in Bethany Hall. This special event is an excellent opportunity to welcome new faculty to the University and to recognize those being honored for promotion and tenure.

Please RSVP using this form and save the date on your calendar. I look forward to seeing you there!

2025-26 Academies and Idea Hall Applications Due September 10

Apply by September 10 for seed funding to jumpstart new and innovative ideas.

Visit the Innovation Hub page for more details, or contact Sona Patel at innovation@shu.edu if you have any questions or would like to consult about your application.