Seton Hall University is reinvigorating its South Orange campus through an exciting lineup of modernizations and strategic improvements in the coming months with the support of an $8.4 million New Jersey Higher Education Capital Facilities Grant.
In January 2026, the state awarded $108.9 million through CIF (Capital Improvement Fund) and $135.5 million through HEFT (Higher Education Facilities Trust) to 92 projects across 23 institutions, including Seton Hall University.
Significant funding will be directed toward infrastructure overhauls in McNulty Hall, the School of Law, on-campus residence halls and more. Collectively, these projects aim to modernize aging mechanical systems, improve campus spaces and enhance energy efficiency through updated building management controls.
“The funding from the state represents a significant investment in the university’s future, allowing us to address important deferred maintenance needs across our three campuses while also advancing key strategic initiatives,” said Victoria Pivovarnick, associate vice president of facilities and business affairs.
“These improvements will help ensure our campuses continue to shine and provide modern, high-quality spaces that enhance the academic experience for our students and make meaningful progress across the University.”
In August 2025, the State of New Jersey announced that $250 million in capital grant funding is being committed to higher education facility upgrades. The grant aims to address deferred maintenance while improving infrastructure across public and private colleges, including county colleges.
This funding is distributed through two key programs, the Higher Education Capital Improvement Fund (CIF) and the Higher Education Facilities Trust Fund (HEFT). CIF designates $110 million for four-year public and private institutions to support renovation, construction and technology upgrades; HEFT allocates $140 million for both public and private institutions (including county colleges), to enhance communication, laboratory, instructional and communication facilities.
These grants are part of a broader commitment by the Murphy administration, building on prior investments, including the $400 million awarded in 2023. Funding is administered by the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority (NJEFA) under state bond programs and requires legislative approval. The Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) prioritized projects addressing urgent deferred maintenance needs, plus life-safety systems, roof replacements and modernizing labs and classrooms.
The grant application was prepared through the collaborative efforts of multiple individuals representing various parts of the University. The end result was a request that identified – and made a successful case for – the need for these important improvements.
“We are grateful to our state’s leaders in the executive and legislative branches for making this significant investment in our facilities,” said Seton Hall alumnus Matthew Borowick, who heads Seton Hall’s university relations. “New Jersey’s colleges and universities are noted as some of the best in the country, but with an aging infrastructure, it is vital that such investments are made in the increasingly competitive higher education landscape.”
For Seton Hall and its students, such an investment will make a meaningful difference in the educational experience as soon as Fall 2026. By fortifying the campus’s physical and digital infrastructure — from ensuring ADA accessibility in the Law Library to supporting STEM research in McNulty Hall — this investment transforms essential maintenance into a foundation for a safer, more inclusive and technologically driven educational experience.
