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
Faculty members from across the University are joining School of Health Sciences public health researchers in sharing their expertise in areas ranging from the economy and technology to travel and tourism to examine the global impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
February 10, 2020
As the coronavirus continues to spread, the resulting concerns in China and around the world are having a ripple effect beyond public health.
The virus, which has killed hundreds of people and sickened tens of thousands more – mostly in mainland China – has prompted evacuations, quarantines, and fears of the virus spreading. While, there have been some cases of the virus being reported in the United States, public health experts in Connecticut report there are no cases in the state and the that the risk of transmission of coronavirus in Connecticut – and across the country – remains low. Still, they advise vigilance.
"The coronavirus outbreak is a major test of our global public health infrastructure and response," said Summer McGee, Ph.D., dean of the University’s School of Health Sciences. "Americans should be prudent in terms of not traveling to infected areas, not panicked. We have much more to fear from our seasonal influenza deaths and illness than from this virus halfway around the world."
The response to the coronavirus has drawn experts outside the public health field to help address its impact.
"Until the disease appears to be waning, financial markets may pause, especially regarding companies that depend on China for production."Patrick Gourley, Ph.D.
Vahid Behzadan, Ph.D., assistant professor of computer science at the University, recently spoke with Forbes about the possible role that artificial intelligence (AI) could have in helping to contain the outbreak.
Dr. Behzadan cited research being conducted by Dr. Marzieh Soltanolkottabi, a visiting assistant professor in the University’s Tagliatela College of Engineering, which focuses on the use of machine learning to evaluate and optimize strategies for "social distancing (quarantine) between communities, cities, and countries to control the spread of epidemics."
"My research group is collaborating with Dr. Soltanolkottabi in developing methods for enhancement of vaccination strategies that leverage recent advances in AI, particularly in reinforcement learning techniques," Dr. Behzadan said.
After the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global public health emergency, public health officials outlined several recommendations to help respond to the spread of the virus, including reviewing preparedness plans, accelerating the development of a vaccine, and containing the spread of misinformation.
The spread of the virus – and, especially, misinformation – could impact on the health of the tourism industry, says Jan Jones, Ph.D., a lecturer in the University’s Hospitality and Tourism department, who was quoted in a recent Yahoo Singapore story about the WHO declaring a global public health emergency over the spread of coronavirus.
"The WHO alert is going to have a profound effect on all areas of the tourism industry globally," she said. "People will initially panic and think that all travel should stop because typically people don’t get as informed as they could be on the topic."
"Americans should be prudent in terms of not traveling to infected areas, not panicked."Summer McGee, Ph.D.
It isn’t just the threat of a drop in tourism that could impact the global economy.
Patrick Gourley, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics, points out that China is a crucial part of the international supply chain for products that are distributed around the world, and the coronavirus outbreak and resulting quarantines have the potential to disrupt the supply chain.
"China is the key player in the international supply chain for thousands upon thousands of goods," Gourley told EE Times. "‘Made in China’ has become so ubiquitous it is the expectation for many of the durable products American consumers buy on a daily basis."
Gourley also raised a second financial-related concern that is more nebulous.
"China has learned that cooperation and transparency are in their long-term interest," he told EE Times. "At the same time, there is still a question of how transparent China is willing to be. Until the disease appears to be waning, financial markets may pause, especially regarding companies that depend on China for production."
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.