Seton Hall University has received an $8.4 million grant from the New Jersey Higher Education Capital Facilities Grant to modernize and upgrade its South Orange campus. The funding is part of a larger state initiative that awarded $108.9 million through the Capital Improvement Fund (CIF) and $135.5 million through the Higher Education Facilities Trust Fund (HEFT) to 92 projects at 23 institutions.
The university will use this grant to overhaul infrastructure in several key areas, including McNulty Hall, the School of Law, and on-campus residence halls. Planned improvements focus on updating mechanical systems, enhancing energy efficiency with new building management controls, and improving overall campus spaces.
Victoria Pivovarnick, associate vice president of Facilities and Business Affairs at Seton Hall, said, “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. 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, New Jersey announced a total of $250 million in capital grants for higher education facility upgrades statewide. The CIF program dedicates $110 million for renovation, construction, and technology upgrades at four-year public and private institutions. HEFT provides $140 million for both public and private colleges—including county colleges—to improve laboratory spaces, instructional areas, and communication facilities.
These efforts are part of a broader strategy by the Murphy Administration to address aging infrastructure in higher education settings. In 2023 alone, $400 million was distributed for similar purposes. Grants are managed by the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority under state bond programs with legislative oversight. The Office of the Secretary of Higher Education prioritized projects that target deferred maintenance issues as well as safety systems and classroom modernization.
Matthew Borowick ‘89/MBA ’94, head of Seton Hall’s University Relations, said: “We are grateful to our State’s leaders in the executive and legislative branches for making this significant investment in our facilities. 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.”
Seton Hall expects these improvements to impact students by Fall 2026. Projects include enhancing ADA accessibility in the Law Library and supporting STEM research capabilities in McNulty Hall.
