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
Through her work with the Connecticut State Police’s K9 Training Unit, Meredith Narowski '18, '20 M.S. has helped create a groundbreaking training program that can help police train dogs to detect guns and spent shell casings. Her work has now been shared with forensic science professionals around the world.
July 31, 2020
While completing an internship with the Connecticut State Police last summer, Meredith Narowski '18, '20 M.S. focused on the K9 Training Unit, studying how police canines learn. She attended a variety of canine training sessions, including arson investigation, search and rescue, and narcotics detection, learning about the dogs’ imprinting process.
Since firearms are involved in many crimes, the Connecticut State Police wanted to also be able to train dogs to detect firearms and gunshot residue after a shot is fired. Narowski focused her research on developing a new protocol to train police canines to do just that. Her goal was to determine which post-discharge organic compounds should be chosen to train the dogs.
“I think this research will make a huge impact on canine training,” said Narowski, who earned her master’s degree in forensic technology. “These dogs will aid in the search and discovery of gunshot residue and firearms, and they can help solve cases and locate suspects. This research can also be used as a basis for further canine training that might utilize organic compounds.”
Narowski researched the organic compounds found in gunshot residue, including those that are unique to gunshot residue when they are paired together. She determined each compound’s vapor pressure, noting those that would provide a higher scent profile. Since canines are trained to detect specific scents, the higher the vapor pressure, the stronger the scent and the better for training.
“I learned so many things from this research project, but one of the biggest things was how unique every sample of gunshot residue is,” she said. “Each type of gunpowder that can be used in firearms will produce different organic compound profiles of gunshot residue once the weapon is fired, and it is truly fascinating.”
Prof. Lisa Dadio M.S., M.S.W., coordinator of the University’s M.S. in Forensic Technology program and Narowski’s internship adviser, says when the first class of gunshot detection canines graduated from the Connecticut State Police Training Unit last October, it opened the door for other agencies to train police dogs to detect gunshot residue.
“This research is crucial to the work that law enforcement does, as it allows the possibility of police canines and their handlers to locate evidence related to crimes of violence involving a firearm that may go undetected with the naked eye,” said Prof. Dadio, a retired New Haven Police Department lieutenant. “The work that Meredith and the Connecticut State Troopers completed can be shared with other agencies throughout the country. This was incredible work by a dedicated and hardworking student. The energy, passion, and dedication that Meredith put into this project was inspiring.”
The first class of four canines who graduated last fall are now working in the field, and the Connecticut State Police say the training program is the first of its kind in New England. The dogs can detect and alert their handlers to firearms and spent shell casings.
Brooke Kammrath, Ph.D., D-ABC, an associate professor of forensic science, served as Narowski’s research adviser. She says Narowski’s research has already been making a meaningful impact in the field.
“Meredith’s internship focused on the development of a scientifically-based protocol for training police dogs in the detection of firearms pre- and post-discharge, which has already been successfully implemented to train several classes of K9s,” said Dr. Kammrath, who also serves as assistant director of the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science. “Meredith surpassed all expectations for this internship, not only through her hard work and intelligence, but also with her enthusiasm and the positivity she brings to every endeavor.”
Narowski’s work has now been published and shared with forensic science professionals around the world. Her research poster was published in a recent International Association for Identification’s Identification News publication, which is sent to the forensic association’s members.
“I was so excited,” said Narowski. “I think the project is groundbreaking in the canine training field, and this meant that the research was not only noticed by the editors at the IAI, but now it can also be noticed by a whole community of people in the forensic science field. I was truly honored.”
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.