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Seton Hall University

Contemplative Pedagogy Leadership Seminar

Purposes of Seminar

Seton Hall University prides itself on being "a home for the mind, heart, and spirit," in other words, a place where people are valued and nurtured as holistic human beings. The university has recently recommitted to this ideal in its new Strategic Plan, which also includes among its guiding principles a commitment to building community and to interdisciplinary and interfaith dialogue and collaboration.

In support of these ideals and commitments, the SHU Contemplative Community initiative seeks to advance the use of contemplative pedagogy on our campuses. The positive outcomes of contemplative approaches to teaching and learning (e.g., enhancing mental health, prosocial behaviors, improved attention, self-regulation, and creativity among many others) have been well documented in contemporary research.

This faculty seminar will build upon other facets of the Contemplative Community initiative to enhance teaching and learning at Seton Hall, as numerous other leading universities and colleges have done, by training a team of faculty members to serve as leaders and experts in contemplative pedagogy for our university community. More specifically, this seminar will further two objectives of the SHU Contemplative Community initiative:

  • To advance the mental health and well-being of students and faculty.
  • To form holistic, humanistic professionals. This includes forming students to bring their full humanity to their professions and forming faculty to bring their humanity to their research, teaching, and service.

Seminar Learning Objectives

  • Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of contemplative practices and resources, including pedagogical approaches and resources specific to their discipline
  • Exhibit the expertise necessary to educate their colleagues in their respective schools about CP and to serve the pedagogical needs of their colleagues and the university as a whole on an ongoing basis

Program
Participants will be expected to:

  1. attend a two-hour meeting every other week in the semester to discuss research, resources, and practices of contemplative pedagogy.
  2. Present and lead discussion for one seminar session.
  3. Develop a discipline-specific resource list and training plan for their respective School or College.
  4. Attend three summer workshops to discuss progress on their training plan for their School/College and to offer one another feedback.

The schedule of meetings will be developed in consultation with the participants.

Eligibility for Seminar Participation
Participants must be full-time faculty members. We are seeking one representative from each School/College and from the library.

For additional information, contact Patrick Manning, patrick.manning1@shu.edu.