Dear Faculty, Administrators and Staff,

I'm delighted to highlight an exciting initiative recently launched by the Office of the President: the Idea Hall. Aligned with Goal 4 of the Harvest Our Treasures strategic plan, the Idea Hall embodies our commitment to fostering creativity and meaningful partnerships across academic and non-academic divisions. You can find more information on this program and how to apply here.

I'm also pleased to announce the launch of the third round of Academies applications. The Academies program offers up to three years of flexible funding and freedom to pursue projects that align with various faculty goals, encompassing teaching, scholarship, diversity, mission and service. We invite projects addressing diverse faculty goals, with a special focus on initiatives promoting grant submissions, graduate program development, and advancing international efforts. You can find more information on this program and how to apply here.

 I encourage each of you to consider taking advantage of these opportunities so that we collectively nurture an environment that encourages forward-thinking approaches and collaborative excellence. Should you have any questions, please reach out to innovation@shu.edu. The deadline for submitting applications for both programs is Thursday, January 25, 2024. 

In the meantime, stay tuned for an upcoming announcement on the Innovation Hub, your go-to destination for exploring the Idea Hall, the Academies and other forthcoming programs as we continue to develop new initiatives aimed at better serving our community. 

Warmly,

Erik

Please note the lecture and book signing with renowned economist and Nobel laureate Edmund Phelps planned for this Thursday, December 7 has been postponed. A new date will be announced soon.

On Thursday, December 14 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in Fahy Hall, Room 7, please join us the final UAC meeting for the semester which will include a peer-review workshop with lunch. We are grateful for your continued participation as we finalize our assessment peer evaluations and prepare for our speaker series this spring. All are welcome. Please RSVP to assessment@shu.edu if you would like to attend.

For more information about UAC and if you are interested in serving on this committee, please visit the Office of the Assessment website.

The Office of Graduate Affairs hosted a wine and cheese social for our graduate students, coinciding with the University's tree lighting event. Set in the Jubilee Hall 4th Floor Atrium, attendees enjoyed light food and drinks while overlooking the holiday festivities. Christopher Cuccia, Associate Provost for Academic and Graduate Affairs, highlighted the event's embodiment of community spirit and commitment to enhancing the graduate experience. The gathering provided a platform for students to engage with peers and the wider University community. Additionally, the office distributed Seton Hall-branded stockings on the green, showcasing various graduate programs and fostering connections with students and the Seton Hall community.

The Language of Legacy: Mandarin Professor and Collector Wang Fangyu Left Lasting Brushstrokes
Delve into the captivating life of an academic pioneer and art connoisseur. Discover his groundbreaking contributions to language education and his unparalleled collection housed at Walsh Gallery. Uncover the legacy of a visionary whose impact echoes through time. Read more about Wangfang Yu.

Award and Proposals: Year to Date Update
Our dedicated faculty and researchers have been hard at work securing grants and conducting research across different disciplines. Awards received are in total of $7.8 million with an expectation of receiving nearly $2.5 million during the December – January – February period. Proposals are currently running at about $6 million. View the OGRS 2023 Annual Report, which is now available here.

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

Events

Digital HumAnIties: Texts and Technology in the Classroom 
Thursday, Dec. 7, 3 - 4 p.m., in Teams

SHU Meditates
Thursday, Dec. 7, 12:30 - 1 p.m., in Teams.

Diversity Film Series: No More Smoke Signals
Monday, Dec. 11, 5 - 7 p.m.; FH 129

Winter Writing Retreat
January 2 - 5, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., in Teams

Announcements

Contemplative Practices Seminar, Spring 2024
Applications are being accepted

Faculty Seminar on Challenging Racism and Teaching for Inclusivity, Spring 2024 
Applications are being accepted

Videos of past CFD events can be found here: 
http://blogs.shu.edu/centerforfacultydevelopment/

Reminder: Adobe Creative Project Proposal
The Adobe Creative Project Faculty Innovation Grants (FIG) focus on the use of an Adobe Creative Cloud tool to enhance digital literacy skills in the classroom. Proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis through January 5, 2024. Learn how to submit a grant proposal.

Export and Archive Your Blackboard Content (Remote)
Thursday, December 7, 1-2 p.m.
In preparation for the move to Canvas, this session will guide you through the step-by-step process of exporting your Blackboard organization content, course materials, and/or grade center. Export your content by December 21 to ensure that you have a secure backup and the flexibility to use your content outside of the Blackboard environment. Register for the Blackboard Content Export workshop.

One-Day, In-Person Canvas Bootcamp
Join the TLTC for a comprehensive, one-day bootcamp designed to equip you with the essential tools for effective teaching in the Canvas environment. In this training, you'll engage in hands-on sessions that cover everything you need to get started in Canvas, including course content and assignments, tests, grading, group work, and more. The bootcamp will be offered from 9 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. in the TLTC Learning Studio:

Communication, Cosmopolis, and Contemporary Education: Lecture on December 6
Join Francesca Zaccaron, visiting Toth Lonergan Endowed Professor with the Center for Catholic Studies, for this semester’s public lecture, “Communication, Cosmopolis, and Contemporary Education”, taking place on Wednesday December 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Walsh Library Beck Rooms. Through personal reflection and professional expertise, Zaccaron will offer philosophical insights on communication in today’s classrooms—its role, its challenges, and our practical response. Light refreshments will be served. Click here to register.

Buccino Leadership Institute Faculty Fellow Application: Applications Due December 8
The work of Buccino Leadership Institute (BLI) Faculty Fellows is core to the day-to-day learning experiences of undergraduate students enrolled in the Institute. Faculty Fellows are part-time, annual appointments (to be renewed based on funding and at the discretion of the Institute’s Executive Director) that engage in and support the learning, mentoring and research activities of the Institute. Learn more and apply.

Nominations for Researcher, Teacher, Adjunct Faculty of the Year
The nomination process for the faculty excellence awards is underway, upholding our tradition of honoring exceptional faculty by acknowledging a Researcher of the Year, a Teacher of the Year, and an Adjunct of the Year from each school or college. Additionally, we will recognize a university-wide Teacher, Researcher, and Adjunct of the Year. Recently, we have expanded these awards to include recognition for Excellence and Innovation in Teaching 21st-Century Skills and Excellence in Service-Learning.  

Deans will designate college Researchers, Teachers, and Adjuncts of the Year and submit nominations for the Excellence and Innovation in Teaching 21st-Century Skills and Excellence in Service Learning Awards to the Assistant Provost for Academic Excellence and Assessment by January 31, 2024. We encourage Deans to solicit nominations from departments, especially in the case of adjunct faculty, setting pre-deadlines for these nominations. For more information about the requirements and eligibility for all awards, click here.

The Hospitality of Advent: Sign Up for Daily Meditations from ICSST!
Join the School of Theology for annual meditation series, this year themed The Hospitality of Advent. Explore and consider how Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, and other great figures of the Gospels and Church tradition welcomed Jesus into their hearts. Sign up today to receive reflections authored by the ICSST community, delivered via e-mail from the first Sunday of Advent, December 3, through Christmas Eve. Learn more and subscribe.