Dear Faculty, Administrators and Staff,

In line with the University’s new strategic plan, Inspiring Great Minds to Greater Purpose, we aim to provide students with opportunities and support to engage in research and transformational learning experience. As such, I would like to announce the call for student applicants who will represent Seton Hall University at the 2026 BIG EAST Undergraduate Research Poster Symposium.

This competition invites the 11 universities in the BIG EAST Conference to send a team of five standout student projects to compete in a high-caliber program with an atmosphere of excitement and innovation. This is an opportunity for mentors to have their top scholars share their research among leading research mentors in the BIG EAST Conference.

Student researchers from all undergraduate programs and disciplines are eligible to apply. Please encourage your students to complete a brief application explaining their research by November 4, 2025. To be selected, applicants must have prior research presentation experience at internal and/or external venues and a written statement of commitment from their mentor. Priority will be given to projects that demonstrate research excellence at Seton Hall. Team members will be announced in December and will receive weekly individual and team coaching in preparation for their presentation beginning in January.

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. 

Good luck!

Sincerely,
Erik

This past week, the Seton Hall community recently honored faculty at two special traditions: our annual Faculty Convocation, recognizing newly promoted and tenured faculty and distinguished award recipients, and the Promotion Reception, celebrating colleagues who achieved promotion and tenure in 2025–26 in a more intimate setting. Both offered a chance to connect, share accomplishments and extend our gratitude for the dedication and scholarship that strengthen Seton Hall. View photos from both events.

Professional Advising Center (P-PAC) has launched dedicated pre-law advising and services to support students preparing for law school and legal careers. Building on the success of P-PAC’s pre-health programming, the new pre-law track offers one-on-one advising, LSAT preparation, application guidance, workshops, and professional networking opportunities. The initiative also welcomes Madelyn S. Ferrans, J.D., as the University’s first full-time Pre-Law Advisor, who brings more than 15 years of experience as a lawyer, educator and mentor. Read more.

A new step-by-step video training is now available to help faculty update their web profiles in Faculty Success, making it even easier to update and showcase your work on the Seton Hall website with our new integration. Thank you to across our campuses who have already begun showcasing their scholarship and achievements through Faculty Success. View the training to learn more.

Rapido Replaces ILLiad for Seamless Interlibrary Loans

Exciting news—University Libraries’ interlibrary loan system, ILLiad, just changed over to a more enhanced, user-friendly product called Rapido. Rapido is a next-generation resource sharing system that provides a seamless experience for patrons to request articles, book chapters and  books that are not owned here at Seton Hall from other libraries. Requesting an interlibrary loan through Rapido is easy and free for students, faculty and staff. Once you have found the resource you need on our library website (library.shu.edu), if it is not available through our physical or digital collections, you will choose Access Options, Check ILL, then “Get It” in Rapido. Questions?  Contact David Frank, Access Services Librarian at david.frank@shu.edu.

New Walsh Gallery Exhibit Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Canonization

Walsh Gallery, in partnership with The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, presents One of Us: The Making of an American Saint. Discover the story of Mother Seton's path to becoming the first American-born Saint. Visit Walsh Gallery to see this special installation that introduces the individuals involved in Mother Seton’s path to sainthood and the story of the official canonization effort. In addition, discover how Seton Hall students have reinforced their faith by traveling to Livorno, the city where Mother Seton first began exploring Catholicism. Walsh Gallery is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and is located on the ground floor of Walsh Library. Questions? Contact Emily Handlin, Walsh Gallery Director at emily.handlin@shu.edu.

Arts and Sciences Names Jessica Cottrell, Ph.D., Researcher of the Year

Jessica Cottrell, Ph.D., Department of Biological Sciences, has had a profound impact on student learning and research through her dedication to mentoring undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on, experiential research. Under her guidance, students have successfully completed theses, research projects, and publications, gaining invaluable skills and experience. Professor Cottrell serves as department chair and remains an active and productive scholar. Her development of innovative research models has advanced experimental methods in her discipline, and her work on bone disease and fracture healing holds promise for future therapeutic interventions.

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

Diversity Reading Series: October 10, 10-11 a.m.: The Serviceberry, in Teams

News from the Library

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 recordings here.

Upcoming TLTC Remote Workshops:

Seton Hall Launches Redesigned Digital Badging Platform 
The TLTC has launched SHU Badges, a redesigned platform to create, issue, and share verified digital credentials showcasing academic, professional, and extracurricular achievements. Discover new features: 

Setting Canvas Due Dates Supports Student Success  
Adding due dates to assignments in Canvas helps students stay organized, manage deadlines, and engage more effectively with coursework. Explore helpful guides:

Student Success Summit: Friday, September 26

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.