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
The behind-the-scenes work of facilities employees is crucial to maintaining and cleaning campus for the ultimate return of students, and, in the meantime, the local emergency personnel who are calling campus home as they respond to COVID-19.
April 16, 2020
John Litevich IV, a facilities assistant at the University of New Haven, and his colleagues have been working around the clock throughout the coronavirus global pandemic.
While students are now learning remotely and most University employees are working from home, facilities staff members have been on campus day and night.
“I’ve seen an incredible sense of professionalism from my coworkers,” said Litevich, who works third shift. “It’s encouraging to see people step up to the plate in uncertain times like this. It is rewarding to know we can play a small role in the fight against this pandemic.”
Facilities played a critical role in supporting a program the Office of Residential Life developed with local health officials that enabled resident students, if they chose to, to return to the residence halls last month to retrieve their belongings. Facilities staff members were on campus to help students and parents in each residence hall, and they continued to clean and disinfect the buildings as students moved out.
“Their work included the personal touch they provided to parents and students by being the face of the University during the six-day move-out program,” said Louis Annino, associate vice president of facilities.
He noted one specific example in which a facilities staff member ran into a student and father who were on campus during the last move-out time slot one day during the move-out program. They explained they were hoping to retrieve a piece of mail sent by the student’s grandmother, but the mailbox key had already been returned. The facilities staff member took the student’s name, and, the next day, located the key and retrieved the note from the mailbox. A second facilities staff member brought the envelope to a UPS store and personally paid to send the letter to the student. Once receiving the letter, Annino said, the very grateful student wrote an email to share their gratitude.
“I am incredibly proud of this group for their teamwork, dedication, and commitment to the mission of this University,” Annino said.
While they were helping resident students move out of their rooms, facilities staff learned the University would be making the residence halls available to provide temporary housing to local first responders in need. They didn’t miss a beat as they began preparing 300 beds in several residence halls for emergency responders.
“It is during times like this when the people behind the scenes are as critical as those in the spotlight,” said Rich Rutherford, director of facilities. “We are all in this together, and the teamwork I see among all members of this department is incredible. I can’t be prouder of our facilities staff for stepping up.”
Facilities staff members have also pared back building operations and services to save energy and operating costs, since there are fewer people on campus.
Safety continues to be of paramount importance to facilities staff members as they work. They have been wearing gloves and masks and keeping their distance from one another. In some cases, they have had to make some changes to the ways they do their jobs.
“Typically, we have two people riding in a golf cart at one time, but not anymore,” said Gerald Enright, manager of Facilities maintenance. “Staff members have come up with ways to work separately and to adapt to get everything done. We’ve been very busy, and our work has not stopped.”
Paul Herard, a custodial manager, says he is very proud of how his colleagues have responded to the challenges they have faced as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and he is grateful for their dedication to the University and local communities.
“I have heard many of my colleagues comment on the pride that getting the buildings ready for first responders gives them,” he said. “Everyone is working as a team more than ever. This is an amazing group of people.”
We've launched the Charge Ahead Student Support Fund in an effort to raise financial assistance for our students for such necessities as remote learning technology, food, housing, medical expenses, and other emergency needs. Please click here to make a contribution that will assist those in our University community who need our support.
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.