Announcing Seton Hall’s Strategic Plan: Inspiring Great Minds to Greater Purpose, 2025-30

Fifty years after the canonization of its patroness Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Seton Hall University is pleased to unveil its new strategic plan: Inspiring Great Minds to Greater Purpose.

"By relying on Mother Seton’s lessons as an educator and foundress, “Inspiring Great Minds to Greater Purpose” will enable us to advance Seton Hall in transformative ways," said Monsignor Joseph Reilly, S.T.L., president of Seton Hall, in a message to the University.

"It will engage our community through a multifaceted approach, as we are all uniquely gifted, and God calls each of us to distinct paths of growth," Monsignor Reilly added. "By embracing this wealth of experiences, we reaffirm our dedication to nurturing great minds and empowering students to discern their greater purpose."

Rooted in faith and shaped through a University-wide process that included students, faculty, administrators, staff, clergy, members of the Board and alumni, the plan outlines a vision for Seton Hall over the next five years: one that continues to deepen the University's mission and affirms its commitment to forming servant leaders guided by the mind, heart and spirit.

Guiding Values and Strategic Priorities

As a major Catholic University, Seton Hall remains committed to educating the whole person and fostering a diverse, inclusive and mission-driven environment. The plan is animated by six guiding value pairs, drawing from the enduring principles manifested in the life of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton: Faith and Hope; Trust and Integrity; Courage and Curiosity; Compassion and Service; Purpose and Resilience; and Love and Action.

Inspiring Great Minds to Greater Purpose articulates five strategic pillars to guide the University into the future:

• Strategic Priority #1: Transformational Student Experience
  This priority focuses on enhancing the student experience at Seton Hall by providing transformational learning experiences – holistic, affordable and career-building opportunities – for all students.
• Strategic Priority #2: Embracing Community, Catholic Mission and Culture
  This priority aims to more deeply and more completely integrate faith, reason and service into campus culture.
• Strategic Priority #3: Impactful Programs, Research and Innovation
  This priority harnesses space and technology to serve our faculty and students, aimed at creating impactful academic programs and research that address societal challenges.
• Strategic Priority #4: Engaging Alumni Experience and Partnerships
  This priority strengthens lifelong connections between the University, its alumni and the broader community to benefit our students.
• Strategic Priority #5: Sustainable Resources
  This priority focuses on the responsible management of our treasures (our employees, our priest community, our volunteer leadership, our campuses) to foster long-term growth.

"Amid a rapidly changing higher education landscape, this plan ensures Seton Hall remains a place where academic distinction, Catholic identity and purposeful formation will thrive. It challenges us to be bold in how we teach, lead and serve, a vision that emerged from the heart of our community through reflection and constructive dialogue," said Interim Provost Erik Lillquist, J.D.

Community-Guided Vision

The process to create a new strategic plan began in Fall 2023, building on the success of the previous strategic plan, Harvest Our Treasures, which brought meaningful progress to the University. The strategic planning process was led by Executive Vice President for Board Affairs and University Strategy Amy Newcombe, J.D., Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs and Strategic Initiatives Leigh Onimus, J.D., Executive Director for Board Affairs Bernadette McVey and Director of Advising and Technology Integration Anna Calka, Ph.D.

More than a year of planning, town halls, surveys, interviews, working groups and feedback shaped the plan that was unanimously endorsed by the Boards of Regents and Trustees, thereby affirming the direction developed by, and through, community input.

"We are grateful to everyone who dedicated their time, energy and talent to help shape the next chapter of our University's story. The insight, commitment and shared stewardship of Seton Hall’s mission from our community ensured that our plan not only reflects the priorities and challenges of today, but positions Seton Hall to also meet the aspirations of Setonians to come," said Amy Newcombe, M.Ed. ’97/J.D.

Learn more about Seton Hall’s Inspiring Great Minds to Greater Purpose, including its guiding values, strategic priorities and a downloadable brochure, on the Strategic Plan website.

Categories: Campus Life, Faith and Service