Dear Faculty, Administrators and Staff,

As we prepare to welcome our students and families to campus for the start of a new academic year, the energy is already building across our community. This week marks several important first steps in preparing for a successful semester.

We are pleased to welcome 34 new full-time faculty members to our Pirate family. Yesterday and today, our new faculty are participating in a two-day orientation designed to welcome them to our community, connect them with essential resources, provide comprehensive information that will support their successful transition to the university, and be a starting point for the many relationships they will build throughout the year.

Tomorrow, August 19, our Department Chairs will gather for a workshop to set the foundation for another productive academic year. Our chairs play a vital role in supporting our colleges and schools, and we are grateful for the leadership of both our returning and new chairs.

Also, on August 19–20, the law school will welcome incoming and transfer law students for J.D. Orientation. This important experience gives students an opportunity to meet their professors and classmates, become familiar with the resources available to them, and begin preparing for the journey ahead.

These orientations and gatherings are essential first steps in building connection, community, and momentum for the year ahead. Thank you to everyone who has contributed time, energy, and care to making these experiences possible. Together, we are well on our way to a strong start to a new academic year.

Sincerely,
Erik

Students experiencing stress, anxiety, personal challenges, or other concerns often show signs in the classroom before they seek help elsewhere. Faculty are uniquely positioned to notice changes in attendance, engagement, participation, or academic performance.

To help faculty feel confident responding to these situations, we offer the Ready to Care online training module. In less than 30 minutes, faculty can learn how to recognize signs of concern, have supportive conversations, and connect students with appropriate resources. Anyone completing the module receives a magnet or sticker to display, as well as a digital badge, all to show students you are available to help.

One resource you may wish to share with students is Uwill, the University's free virtual counseling and wellness platform available through CAPS.

Access the Ready to Care module online and help ensure every student knows support is available.

DSS is excited to share that AIM was upgraded over the summer. The updated interface features enhanced accessibility features and improved functionality for all users. Additionally, the overall process for reviewing student accommodations and submitting your alternative testing agreement (now called “course instruction template”) remains similar. To help with the transition, DSS has created an updated AIM Guide for Faculty and AIM Video Tutorials which are available under Faculty Resources on the DSS website. If you have any questions about the updates or AIM overall, please don’t hesitate to contact DSS directly at dss@shu.edu or (973) 313-6003. 

The call for applications is still 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. Visit the Innovation in Action page or contact Sona Patel at innovation@shu.edu with questions or if you’d like to consult about your application.

Embedding A Faculty Librarian Into Your Course(s)

The University Libraries offers faculty a helpful option to encourage student engagement and research support. Adding a Librarian to your course also allows the Librarian to integrate research guides and other library tools to an active course shell(s). Teaching faculty are also welcome to add a Liaison Librarian (listed by subject specialization) to any course(s) by filling out the request form. For additional information please feel free to contact us via e-mail for access to the University Libraries appointment site.

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.

Faculty Learning Communities For 2026-27
Learning communities are opportunities for faculty to come together for a semester or the academic year around a topic of interest. The following are being offered this academic year:

Explore each learning community being offered this summer, the call for proposals and application deadlines on the CFD website: 

Write Club
Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the summer
10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Fahy Hall, Room 245 or Microsoft Teams
Contact email Mary Balkun for Teams access.

Chairs Workshop
August 19, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., University Center, Chancellor's Suite

Podcast: Faculty Matters

Videos

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

Ready Your Courses for Fall 2026

Merge Your Cross-Listed Courses
If you haven’t yet requested to combine your cross-listed Canvas course shells, it’s not too late. Submit a Canvas Support ticket under Common Services in the Technology Self-Service Portal. Once merged, students who enroll during the add/drop period will be automatically added to the new cross-listed Team and Canvas course shell.

Complete the Canvas Start-of-Semester Checklist 
Make sure your course is student-ready with the Canvas Start-of-Semester Checklist. It walks you through importing materials, updating deadlines and building modules.

Prepare Your Syllabus and Course Resources
Use the Canvas Syllabus tool to give students one place to access course policies, resources and upcoming coursework. Adobe Express Learning Kits also provide ready-to-use resources for common assignment types to support course planning. Faculty and staff who need access can self-enroll in Adobe Creative Cloud.

Activate Your Microsoft Teams for Fall 2026 Courses
Alongside Canvas course shells, a Team has been created for every Fall 2026 course. Using Microsoft Teams allows you to seamlessly integrate chat and video conferencing features into your classes without having to manually manage membership. Be sure to activate your course’s Team before the semester starts.

Drop in for Faculty Support 
The Instructional Design team is available to help with Canvas, course design and instructional technology. Faculty can also attend upcoming drop-in consultations on the South Orange and Law School campuses for personalized support. View upcoming consultations or connect with your Instructional Design Liaison. 

Faculty Innovation Grants Now Accepting Proposals 
Applications are now open for the 2026-27 Faculty Innovation Grants (FIGs). The grants support faculty projects that advance teaching, learning, research and creative practice through the purposeful use of emerging technologies. Full-time faculty may apply individually or as part of an interdisciplinary team. Proposals are due September 18. Review the guidelines and apply. 

Looking Ahead: Upcoming Events

Sabbatical Application Process Update
The 2026-27 Sabbatical Application Process is underway. Faculty who anticipate submitting a sabbatical application should complete the Sabbatical Acknowledgment Form if they have not already done so. Workflows will launch at the end of August for faculty who have submitted the acknowledgment form and are eligible. Once the workflow is launched, applicants will receive an email with a link to the application in Faculty Success.

Questions regarding the acknowledgment form or the sabbatical application process may be directed to Kaerielle Larsen in the Office of the Provost.

Interested in Building Global Partnerships?
If you are traveling to an international conference, participating in study abroad programming, or engaging with international institutions and would like to explore partnership opportunities on behalf of Seton Hall, we want to hear from you. Please reach out to Associate Provost Mary Naatus at mary.naatus@shu.edu.

Faculty CV Upload Reminder
As part of Seton Hall University's ongoing commitment to accreditation and continuous improvement, and in accordance with recommendations from our Middle States review, the University is maintaining a centralized record of faculty curriculum vitae (CVs).

We kindly ask all faculty members to upload their most current CV to Faculty Success at their earliest convenience. Maintaining up-to-date CVs helps support accreditation efforts, institutional reporting, and the accurate representation of faculty accomplishments.

Instructions:

Please note that your CV will also be displayed on your Faculty Web Profile. Thank you for your assistance and cooperation.

Required: International Travel Reporting Form
All faculty and staff traveling internationally on behalf of Seton Hall University are asked to complete the University's International Travel Reporting Form through the Office of Business Affairs. Submission is mandatory for insurance purposes (please submit prior to departure). Complete the form.