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 First-Generation Student Association is a new recognized student organization at the University that aims to foster community, connection, and offer support to students who are the first in their family to go to college.
December 3, 2021
For Kelechi Kenneth-Gabriel ’23, applying to college was challenging. As the first person in her family to go to college, she found that visiting schools, knowing the right questions to ask, and understanding financial aid packages were challenges she had to figure out on her own. She used Google to help her navigate each section of the FAFSA.
When she enrolled at the University of New Haven, Kenneth-Gabriel faced new challenges, such as learning how to get involved on campus and choosing a major. Eager to help connect with and offer support to her fellow first-generation students, she helped start the University’s new First-Generation Student Association, and she now serves as its treasurer.
“The organization creates a space for first-gen students to connect with each other,” explains Kenneth-Gabriel, a criminal justice major. “It helps them realize they are not alone and that they have a community that understands their struggles.”
The First-Generation Student Association is now officially a recognized student organization (RSO) at the University. It is open to all students, including students who are not the first in their family to go to college.
Mya Oliwa ’23 serves as president of the organization. She says she often turned to her fellow first-generation students with questions, since no one else in her family had college experience that they could share with her. She hopes to extend that support to other first-generation students at the University.
“My goal, especially with the First-Generation Student Association, is for all students to feel even more welcomed and engaged at the University,” said Oliwa, a criminal justice major. “I want to help them get answers to the unknown. This is also a great way to build connections, and I look forward to offering events such as game nights, social nights, and excursions off campus.”
Approximately 40 percent of students at the University are the first in their family to go to college. The University has hosted events for first-generation students, including a recent celebration designed to connect first-generation students, faculty, and staff. It was held as part of the University’s commemoration of First-Generation Celebration Day, which was created in 2017 by the Council for Opportunity in Education and the Center for First-Generation of Success.
Elizabeth Hall ’24, who co-founded the First-Generation Student Association with Oliwa, looks forward to offering more opportunities for first-generation students through the organization. She serves as its vice president.
“This RSO is critical to the University because there are countless first-generation students in need of support,” said Hall, a psychology major. “Students may feel lost, confused, and not know where to start to create a successful future. I hope this RSO will serve as a guiding hand to them, making them excited for their future.”
The group, which meets every Thursday evening, will offer fun events to help students get to know each other. It will also offer workshops to help students learn important skills, such as interviewing, resume writing, and stress management.
Izabella Mancini ’24, a psychology major and executive assistant for the organization, is looking forward to fostering a sense of community through the RSO.
“Being a first-generation student is much like being thrown into a crowd of people where you don’t know what to do first or who to talk to,” she said. “I hope the organization brings together all first-generation students in a fun and productive way. I also hope it helps make the University even more inclusive and that it becomes a home and a safe place for first-generation students where they can get help and voice their opinions.”
Kenneth-Gabriel, the group’s treasurer, has learned even more about navigating the college application process, as well as life as a college student. She’s excited to offer her support to her fellow students, both at the University and back home.
“The First-Generation Student Association is important to have at the University because it includes a subculture of students who sometimes feel like they are not seen or supported in the way they wish to be,” she said. “Now that my sister is in her senior year of high school, I recognize that I am the blueprint for her. I am the one she relies on when she needs help.”
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.