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
In honor of Veterans Day, meet two remarkable members of the University of New Haven’s veteran community who have recently transitioned from full-time service members to full-time students.
November 10, 2020
Serving in the U.S. Coast Guard brought Raymond Hernandez ’24 all over the country and beyond, enabling him to be a part of several important and impactful missions. He is now preparing for his next mission as a student at the University of New Haven.
Originally planning to pursue a career as a physical therapist, Hernandez decided to instead join the U.S. Coast Guard. He has been stationed from Boston to California to Alaska, where he served twice – most recently as a command chief on the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley. He completed his career as training program coordinator in New Haven, earning the rank of chief.
As a servicemember, he responded to hurricanes, the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and provided security detail for President Obama’s inauguration. He officially retired this past September.
“My journey in the Coast Guard was such a blessed adventure,” he said. “I saw so many places, created lifelong bonds, and left with a feeling of true accomplishment.”
Now a business management major at the University of New Haven, Hernandez is preparing for the next chapter in his life – a career in the field of esports. Hernandez has been passionate about video games since he was eight years old, beginning with an Atari and later exploring other systems such as Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox.
As assistant coach of the University’s varsity esports team, Hernandez is combining his gaming, military, and leadership backgrounds. He’s excited to be a part of a rapidly growing field, and to be learning, coaching, and mentoring in “The Stable,” the University’s state-of-the-art esports training and competition space in the new Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation.
“I am naturally a competitive person, and I gravitated toward that genre of gaming,” he said. “I want to help get the best from our esports athletes, both academically and in the field of gaming. There is a feeling of pure joy when you know you can pay it forward and instill that into the next generation of student athletes – not only in the gaming market, but especially, in the market of life.”
Hernandez is one of more than 300 members of the University’s veteran community. His classmate Zack Gelissen ’23 served in the U.S. Navy from 2015-2019. Stationed primarily in Norfolk and Chesapeake, Virginia, he was a master-at-arms, which is a military police member trained in counterterrorism. While on active duty, he achieved the rank of an E-5 petty officer second class. He is now studying criminal justice at the University.
“I have always had a great deal of respect and admiration for the law enforcement community as a whole,” he said. “I knew I wanted to go into the field when I enlisted and began working in law enforcement at age 20.”
A full-time student, Gelissen also works full-time in security at Danbury Hospital – an especially challenging role during the coronavirus global pandemic. He aspires to eventually work for a federal agency such as the Drug Enforcement Administration or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
“Even before the pandemic, the job was very physically and emotionally taxing,” he said. “All my professors at the University have been very understanding of my schedule, and they have made sure I could attend class and get my assignments done.”
Hernandez, too, has been grateful for the support he has received at the University as he transitioned from a military career to the role of student and coach.
“I have been amazed by everyone’s positive attitude during the pandemic and by the University’s safety protocols,” he said. “I am living my dream. The staff, professors, and students have created a warm and genuine atmosphere that enabled me to transition easily from a member of the military to a student.”
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.