Dear Faculty, Administrators and Staff,

As we prepare to welcome students for the start of the fall semester, I encourage our campus community to join in the many opportunities to greet and support our newest Pirates

Creating Connections for Our Graduate Students
The Office of Graduate Affairs welcomes all new and returning graduate students to its Fall 2026 Welcome Receptions, where students can connect with fellow classmates, meet the Graduate Affairs team, and enjoy light refreshments in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. Receptions will be held:

On Thursday, August 20, incoming graduate students are encouraged to attend a virtual University-wide Graduate Orientation. Held at 6 p.m., the evening is designed to enable new graduate students to become familiar with the resources and services available at Seton Hall that will support and help facilitate their studies.

Undergraduate Welcome Weekend
Our undergraduate community will also come together for Welcome Weekend 2026, taking place August 28–30, with new student move-in scheduled for August 26–27. A highlight of the weekend is New Student Convocation on Sunday, August 30, at 2 p.m. in the Recreation Center’s Field House.

This annual academic tradition marks the beginning of our newest undergraduates' journey at Seton Hall and reflects our shared commitment to their success.

Thank you to the faculty, staff, and administrators whose dedication helps make these first experiences so meaningful. View the full Welcome Weekend schedule.

Sincerely,
Erik

We are pleased to continue our partnership with the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) to offer faculty the opportunity to participate in the Effective Teaching Practices course during the 2026–27 academic year. The 25-week course is fully online with content delivered in an asynchronous and video-rich format facilitated by ACUE.  All interested faculty should complete the ACUE Interest Form by Monday, August 10 in order to schedule an info session. Please note that the cohort is limited to 33 participants. Learn more about the program on the ACUE website.

Monday, August 3, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Refine your instructional materials with hands-on support at the Innovation Hub. By the end of this session, participants will be able to identify common design and clarity issues in digital course materials and apply accessibility and formatting best practices to at least one digital artifact. Faculty interested in attending are encouraged to register.

New Database Spotlight – Explore NewsBank

NewsBank consolidates current and archived information from thousands of newspapers, videos, broadcast transcripts, periodicals and government documents. Specific collections include the Newark Star-Ledger (archive and current editions), Aggregated DEI Collections (African American Newspapers, Asian Life, Civil Rights in America, Hispanic Life, LBGTQ+ Life in America, etc.); Global Resources (Access World News, etc.); and “Hot Topics” (Early American Newspapers).

Help Shape the Year Ahead!

We're planning next year's Student Success Summit, along with other student success initiatives, and would value your feedback. The purpose of the Student Success Summit is to bring Academic Affairs and Student Services together to share practical strategies, campus resources, and effective use of systems and tools that support coordinated student outreach and improve retention. Please take less than 5 minutes to share your feedback and help us develop future sessions that best support your work. Share your feedback.

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.

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.

New Faculty Orientation
August 17 and 18, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Chancellor's Suite

Chairs Retreat
August 19, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Chancellor's Suite

Podcast: Faculty Matters

Videos

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

Bring Your Ideas to Life with 3D Printing
The Maker Studio in the Innovation Hub provides 3D printing services for faculty, staff and students. From academic projects to innovative prototypes, submit your design through the 3D Printer Request Form and bring your ideas to life. Start your 3D printing project.

Create, Record and Share with the Content Creation Studios
The Content Creation Studios in the Innovation Hub provide professional-quality spaces for podcasting, video production and self-service recording. Whether you're developing course content, producing a podcast or creating University communications, the studios offer the tools and support to produce polished, professional content. Reserve your studio session.

The Innovation Hub Production Studio Goes Mobile
The Digital Media Team has launched a mobile production system that brings professional-quality video production and live streaming to classrooms, events and locations across the University, expanding the reach of the Innovation Hub Production Studio. Learn more about mobile production services.

Sabbatical Acknowledgement Form
The Office of the Provost is delighted to announce the 2026-27 Sabbatical Application Process. Submit the Sabbatical Acknowledgment Form by August 12 to indicate that you are anticipating submitting a Sabbatical Application. Based on the information provided, you will be sent the link to the application in Faculty Success. If you have questions regarding this form, please contact Kaerielle Larsen in the Office of the Provost.

Reminder: Call for Academies and Idea Hall Applications
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.

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.