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
Justine Bernard ’23 died this spring from injuries she sustained in a shooting in Atlanta. The University community came together on what would have been her 20th birthday to celebrate a person her friends described as “outgoing, funny, hardworking.”
October 5, 2021
Fransheli Ventura ’23 has fond memories of her friend Justine Bernard ’23. They spent many weekends together, and, whether they were taking a trip to the mall or to New York City, Ventura says she was grateful for their adventures and for their friendship.
Bernard, a psychology major, died in June from injuries she sustained in a shooting in Atlanta, where she was visiting with friends. The University community came together on September 23 – what would have been Bernard’s 20th birthday – to remember her and celebrate her life.
“It was an absolute pleasure being friends with someone as outgoing, funny, hardworking, reliable, and organized as Justine,” said Ventura as part of the ceremony.
Students, faculty, and staff gathered in the University’s Bucknall Theater to celebrate Bernard’s life – many of them wearing purple, Bernard’s favorite color. Bernard’s family members came to the University from her home state of New Jersey to attend the vigil. Ventura and Madison Manzo ’23, both dressed in purple, sang “happy birthday” to Bernard at the podium, which was also decorated in purple.
Rosemarie Lillie Macias, Ph.D., Bernard’s adviser, described her as someone who demonstrated warmth and compassion. She said Bernard had a strong interest in criminal justice and psychology and that her passing was a “tremendous loss for the field.” She credited Bernard with lifting her up during their interactions throughout the Spring 2021 semester.
“Justine had intelligence, dedication, and she was helpful to her peers and professors – all qualities that would make her a great forensic psychologist,” Dr. Macias said. “Justine brought kindness and thoughtfulness to her interactions with others. During the pandemic, Justine demonstrated not only resilience but also grace during stress.”
Bernard’s mother, Hazel Crichlow, thanked the University community for their outpouring of support. Sofia Martinez ’22, president of the University’s Undergraduate Student Government Association, presented her with a bouquet of purple flowers.
“I’ve been told that Justine envisioned for herself a future of change – one of equity and justice,” said Martinez. “We will see her lead these changes by the lives she has touched.”
Those who knew Bernard described her as someone who was kind, selfless, and who, from an early age, had a strong sense of justice. Sheahon Zenger, Ph.D., director of athletics and recreation, said that, as a kid, Bernard gave her lunch money to help those in need and regularly visited nursing homes.
“She was a young woman of vision – for how she saw the world and how she wanted it to be,” he said. “Justine will always live in our hearts and our collective souls.”
Ophelie Rowe-Allen, Ed.D., dean of students and chief student affairs officer, concluded the ceremony by saying that Bernard will “always be a Charger.”
Ventura, Bernard’s friend, says she continues to feel Bernard’s presence and draw comfort from it. Describing butterflies as “Justine’s symbol,” she told the University community that she recently looked out a window to see “the most beautiful monarch” land on the only purple flower in view. She says she finds joy in these reminders of her friend, and she encouraged the University community to leave the vigil happy, urging them to celebrate Bernard’s life and her memory.
“I know she’s with me, and I feel happy,” she said. “Being able to look back on the great times and laughs I had with Justine gives me honor that I got to experience her brightness.”
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.