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
Members of the University of New Haven community joined lawmakers and state leaders to announce the allocation of $2.7 million in funding to launch the Connecticut Campus Mental Health Program and to take part in a discussion about the importance of emotional health and well-being.
December 16, 2021
Elizabeth Sirett ’22 is a firm believer in the importance of taking care of one’s mental health. Sirett, who has suffered from anxiety, says “I would not be where I am today without counseling and psychological services.”
Sirett recently spoke at an event held at the University of New Haven during which Governor Ned Lamont announced the launch of a new program that will dedicate up to $2.7 million in Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funding to colleges and universities across the state to help them respond to the ongoing student mental health challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Likening mental health to the weather, Sirett spoke to attendees about the importance of checking in with one’s “personal weather report.” She says that mental health is “just as important” as physical health, and that the pandemic has only added to students’ mental health challenges.
“I believe our experiences and environment are directly related to our mental health,” said Sirett, a mathematics major. “Take a physical scenario in which a turtle were to be placed in a desert. I think we can agree it would have a difficult time adapting based on what it knows, which may lead to stress. Students entering the new and unfamiliar climate of a college campus can have a similar experience.”
The Connecticut Campus Mental Health Program (CCAMHP) will provide awards to higher education institutions to support innovative and evidence-based strategies that expand access to care, increase education and awareness of mental health programs and services, and enhance the knowledge of students and staff to enable them to better support students. It is particularly focused on serving underserved and minority students.
“In particular, Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), and other underrepresented students are experiencing increasing mental health issues because of the unique barriers and challenges they face,” said Ophelie Rowe-Allen, Ed.D., dean of students at the University. “This initiative will help universities be more progressive in their approach to integrating mental health well-being into the classroom, curriculum, and other academic and co-curricular settings.
“The University of New Haven welcomes this opportunity to explore creating new well-being initiatives,” she continued. “This will help students develop the resilience and coping skills they need to manage the challenges they will encounter now and in the future, and to succeed both personally and academically."
Expected to benefit more than 130,000 undergraduate students at more than two dozen colleges and universities in Connecticut, the program’s funding will be administered by the State Office of Higher Education.
In Fall 2020, more than a third of college students reported symptoms of depression and anxiety. Many institutions of higher education in Connecticut report that counseling centers have seen a significant increase in demand from students.
“The COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating toll on the mental health of college and university students that, left unchecked, could have significant long-term ramifications on their overall well-being,” said Gov. Lamont. “This funding is an important step forward in ensuring our institutions of higher learning are equipped to provide every ounce of support possible to students in need after a distressful school year.”
The event, which included local and state leaders, University staff, and representatives from the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, included a discussion on the prevalence of mental health challenges and the importance of addressing them – particularly among college students. Nearly three out of four college and university presidents have identified student mental health as a pressing issue for the current academic year.
“We recognize that the ongoing impact of COVID-19, unrest and division across our nation, and social media have created challenges and obstacles that, frankly, older generations did not experience as college students,” said Sheahon Zenger, Ph.D., athletics director for the University. “Our continuing charge is ensuring that, as educators, we continue to raise awareness and understanding to the importance of protecting our mental health and the resources that are available to enable all of our students to thrive in and out of the classroom.”
“There are so many social and academic pressures on students,” added Prof. Dorinda Borer, a Connecticut State Representative, an adjunct professor at the University, and the mother of a college student. “We see complications in their education for mental health reasons.”
Sirett, the math major, believes it is critical to prioritize mental health, and that the University’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is an “invaluable resource” that has helped her and countless other students.
“We are self-doubtful, insecure, prideful, creative, beautiful people who are still learning,” she said. “Education in college can go far beyond the classroom setting and can involve serious self-growth. I see the potential for counseling to better the lives of many more students. Imagine how impactful it would be to meet more students’ needs and give them the rich soil, sunlight, and water that anything so organically beautiful will need to grow and expand.”
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.