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Department of Information Technology

Faculty Innovation Grants (FIGs)

The Teaching, Learning, and Technology Center (TLTC), together with the IT Committee of the Faculty Senate and the Center for Faculty Development, invites proposals for the 2026-27 Faculty Innovation Grants (FIGs).  

This year’s program is focused on advancing innovation in teaching and learning in alignment with Seton Hall’s Innovation Hub and the University's 2025-30 Strategic Plan: Inspiring Great Minds to Greater Purpose. 

Projects should:
  • Foster innovative teaching practices
  • Integrate emerging technologies
  • Create transformative learning experiences that prepare students for success at Seton Hall and beyond
  • Demonstrate broad impact across programs, departments, or the wider University community 

Proposals aligned with one or more of the University’s five Strategic Pillars will receive priority consideration.

The grant period will begin in October 2026 and conclude in April 2027. During this period, faculty participants will develop, implement, assess, and share an innovative project that meaningfully incorporates creator technologies into a course, academic program, research project, or student learning experience.

Focus Areas (2026-2027)

Proposals must address one or more of the following areas:

  • AI in Teaching and Learning: Piloting the responsible use of AI for student engagement, assessment and digital literacy.
  • Experiential and Maker Learning: Using Innovation Hub tools such as 3D printing, robotics, podcasting, AR/VR or fabrication to enrich hands-on learning. Projects may use 3D printing or laser cutting/engraving to support prototyping, modeling, visualization, accessibility, research, artistic creation, engineering design, scientific inquiry, historical reconstruction, or discipline-specific problem-solving.
  • Alternative and Authentic Assessment: Developing new assessment approaches that emphasize creativity, critical thinking and real-world application.
  • Digital Storytelling and Media Creation: Designing assignments and learning experiences where students create digital artifacts (e.g., videos, podcasts, graphics, interactive media) using tools such as those found in the Adobe Creative Cloud suite. Podcasting projects may support communication, storytelling, reflection, public scholarship, interviewing, research dissemination, language learning, community engagement, or student-created media.
  • Inclusive and Equitable Innovation: Leveraging technology to improve accessibility, universal design for learning (UDL) and equitable student engagement.
  • Data-Informed Teaching and Learning: Using analytics, dashboards or visualization tools to enhance student success and inform teaching practice.
  • Interdisciplinary Projects: Faculty may propose projects that combine multiple tools or use content creation studios as environments for interdisciplinary learning, design thinking, experimentation, or collaborative problem-solving.
Successful proposals often:
  • Address an identifiable instructional, research, or programmatic need.
  • Align with the strategic plan.
  • Consider accessibility, student privacy, safety, and ethical technology use.
  • Follow University policies and procurement procedures.
  • Include a plan for assessing effectiveness.
  • Demonstrate potential for continuation, adaptation, or broader use, academic papers and presentations.
  • Clear and detailed budget.

FIGs at a Glance

  • Who can apply?
    • Full-time faculty (individuals or teams)
    • Interdisciplinary and team-based proposals encouraged for cross-disciplinary impact.

  • Funding:
    • Faculty Innovation Grants often come with a faculty stipend and budget for needed expenses. Total amount of grant money awarded will be determined by the Review Committee.

  • Key Dates:
    • Proposals due: September 18, 2026
    • Awardees notified: October 12, 2026
    • Project period: October 2026 through April 2027
    • Faculty Innovation Grant Showcase: April 2027

Submit a Proposal

 

Program Purpose

The Faculty Innovation Grant is designed to:

  • Support research through innovation
  • Provide students with opportunities to create, design, communicate, prototype, and solve problems.
  • Develop sustainable instructional models that can be repeated or expanded.
  • Promote interdisciplinary collaboration and the sharing of effective practices across the University.
  • Encourage meaningful faculty experimentation with emerging technologies.
  • Support active, experiential, and project-based learning.
Eligibility
  • The grant is open to full-time faculty members from all University colleges, schools, departments, and campuses.
  • Faculty may apply individually or as part of an interdisciplinary team. Collaborative proposals involving faculty from different disciplines are encouraged. One faculty member must serve as the project lead and primary contact.
  • Applicants do not need previous experience with the selected technology. Training and consultation will be provided as part of the grant program.
Funding

Faculty Innovation Grants often come with a faculty stipend and budget for needed expenses. A detailed budget is required. Total amount of grant money awarded will be determined by the Review Committee. The maximum award amount is based on available funding. Funding may be used for:

  • Specialized project materials and supplies
  • Student project materials
  • Faculty professional development directly related to the project
  • Other approved expenses necessary to complete the proposed work
  • If funding is requested for software or app licenses, the proposal must include a plan for continued funding. Licenses will be provided only for the duration of the grant.

All technology, software, equipment, and service purchases must follow University technology procurement, information security, accessibility, licensing, and purchasing requirements.

Grant funding may not be used for:

  • General-purpose computers or equipment
  • Technology already provided through standard University services
  • Individual subscriptions that have not completed institutional review
  • Faculty salary replacement
  • Travel or future travel that is not essential to the proposed project
  • Projects that do not include a clear instructional, research, or student-learning component

Faculty Innovation Grant Showcase

The grant cycle will conclude with an April FIG Showcase. Faculty participants will share their projects through presentations, demonstrations, posters, student-created media, interactive experiences, or displays.

The showcase will provide an opportunity to:

  • Recognize faculty innovation.
  • Highlight student work.
  • Demonstrate emerging technologies.
  • Share lessons learned.
  • Encourage interdisciplinary collaboration.
  • Identify projects that may be expanded or supported in future grant cycles.
  • A Faculty Innovation Grant Awardee badge will be shared with faculty who complete the FIG process.

Responsible Innovation

All projects must use technology in ways that are ethical, accessible, secure, and consistent with University policies. Faculty participants are responsible for protecting student information, obtaining appropriate permissions, following copyright and licensing requirements, and providing reasonable alternatives when a technology may present accessibility, health, safety, or participation barriers.

The goal of the Faculty Innovation Grant is not simply to introduce new technology. The goal is to support purposeful and sustainable teaching, learning, research, and creative practices that provide meaningful benefits to faculty, students, and the University community.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the TLT Center's Faculty Innovation Grants, please contact Renee M. Cicchino at [email protected] or at (973) 313-6249.

To apply, please complete the Faculty Innovation Grant Proposal Form.