Public Safety is tracking a significant snowfall that will be arriving in our area late Sunday morning (Jan. 25). It will snow heavily throughout the day and evening eventually tapering off Monday (Jan. 26) with 10-14 inches expected statewide. A sleet and freezing rain mix is also possible along the shore. Temperatures will be in the teens and twenties.
Due to this significant winter storm and the extensive campus clean-up operations that will need to take place, all in-person day and evening classes scheduled for Monday, January 26, 2026 have been cancelled. All scheduled in-person classes will transition to being held online or remotely. Additional information on the virtual format for each class will be provided by your instructor.
Faculty have been asked to prepare for Online or Remote sessions in the event of in-person meeting cancellations. These options will be determined by the Faculty member and all questions should be directed to the Faculty teaching each course section. Faculty also have been asked to be very understanding and accommodating of the individual situations of their students who may have difficulty managing these alternative online or remote class meetings on short notice.
Please note that only essential employees, as previously determined by their respective department leaders, should report to campus. All other employees should fulfill the requirements of their role remotely.
Campus operations for residential students, unless otherwise noted, will operate as scheduled, though hours may be modified or changed based on the conditions. Separate messages will be sent from the Peterson Library, the Beckerman Recreation Center, and Dining Services regarding any changes to their normal hours of operation. The Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation will remain open for residential students to use for study space and to participate in online classes.
Off-campus students that live in the City of West Haven should abide by the city’s parking ban during inclement weather to avoid having their vehicle tagged and towed. Please check the City of West Haven’s website for further information on their snow parking ban.
The Charger Blog
What began as a class assignment for Adam Hansen ’05, ’20 MPA has become proposed legislation that would warn firefighters when entering a potentially dangerous building.
June 12, 2019
Adam Hansen ’05, ’20 MPA still remembers when Eddie Ramos, a firefighter in his hometown of Branford, was killed in a warehouse fire on Thanksgiving Day in 1996 when the roof collapsed on him. The structure was built with truss-type construction, consisting of a triangle or an organization of triangles that enables the building’s roof to support heavy loads, such as snow.
The problem, however, is that when this type of construction is exposed to fire, it can fail within approximately ten minutes.
When Hansen was working on a briefing memo to address a problem in the public domain for his "Principles of Public Administration" class, he knew that he wanted to focus on preventing deaths like Ramos’s.
"I chose a topic I was very passionate about," said Hansen, a Milford Fire Department lieutenant who studied fire science as an undergraduate at the University. "Many states dictate that any new building with truss construction in the roof or flooring assembly has to mark it at the front main entrance. That way, firefighters will see that before they enter the building."
Researching what other states, including Florida, have done to address the issue, Hansen recommended drafting and passing a bill in the Connecticut General Assembly that would require marking truss-construction buildings with a Maltese cross within 24 inches to the left of the structure’s main doorway.
"I want to make changes. I know it’s not easy. If it doesn’t pass this time, I’m not going to take my ball and go home."Adam Hansen ’05, ’20 MPA
Even after turning in his assignment, Hansen continued to push his idea forward. Hansen, who spent nearly a decade in local politics – including six years as clerk of the Branford Representative Town Meeting – had connections in local government. He sent his proposal to several lawmakers who supported it, and it has now become two proposed Connecticut General AssemblyHouse Bills.
Dr. Christy Smith, director of the University’s MPA program and the professor of Hansen’s "Principles of Public Administration" class, challenged him to identify several possible solutions to address the problem. Hansen, acknowledging that it would be expensive and difficult to pass legislation that would include all buildings, proposed the legislation to cover new commercial and industrial buildings, as well as multifamily homes.
"My goal is for students to relate what I’m teaching and apply it," said Smith. "The assignment challenges students to figure out a way to help. That’s the purpose of effective government – to fix problems in meaningful ways. It’s important to focus on solutions, not just what’s wrong."
Hansen has the support of several lawmakers, including State Representatives Ben McGorty, Robin Comey, and Sean Scanlon.
"I don’t know of any former or current students who have worked on something in the class and then taken it to the state level, so this is exciting," said Smith. "Adam is not a watcher. He’s a doer."
Hansen continues to learn about policy and politics as he advocates for the legislation. He knows that bills are not typically passed the first time, and he is unwavering in his determination to protect his fellow firefighters.
"I want to make changes," said Hansen. "I know it’s not easy. If it doesn’t pass this time, I’m not going to take my ball and go home. I’m going to keep pushing forward, because I know how hard it is to get something passed at the local level, let alone at the state or federal level."
University News
New University-wide council will advance strategic partnerships, immersive student opportunities, and innovative research, supporting the University’s strategic plan the development of its pioneering Center for Innovation and Applied Technology.
The Charger Blog
Entrepreneur David Sussman, Pompea College of Business Advisory Board Member and chief visionary officer of The Family Security Plan®, is collaborating with University of New Haven students, faculty, and staff to create a program and app that helps Chargers support each other to achieve academic, personal, and professional goals. It’s called Uccountability.
University News
Vice President for Innovation and Applied Technology Paul Lavoie will serve on the Board of Directors and as America’s Chief Manufacturing Officer for the newly launched American Manufacturing Futures Institute.