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
Meet Richard Benson, a University of New Haven police officer and a 20-year veteran of the New Haven Police Department who has long looked up to his father, a retired New Haven firefighter.
April 23, 2021
The lifeblood of the University of New Haven are the faculty and staff members who dedicate their lives to helping our students reach their goals. Periodically, we’ll introduce you to a member of the staff so you can learn more about them – beyond their day to day work.
Next up is Richard Benson, a University of New Haven police officer, who reflects on his career in law enforcement and discusses a special teacher who made a difference in his life.
Renee Chmiel: What are your favorite sports?
Richard Benson: My favorite sport to play is football. I enjoy watching football, basketball, and boxing. My favorite pro sport teams are the Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Lakers, and New York Yankees. My favorite college teams are UConn and the University of North Carolina basketball team, as well as Clemson and University of Miami football.
RC: Tell us about your career as a New Haven police officer.
RB: I served for 20 years as a New Haven police officer, retiring as a sergeant. I started my career in patrol on a walking beat implementing a community policing model. I had short stints in the detective division with Family Services and Narcotics. Shortly after those roles, I accepted a position as a School Resource Officer, and I had the pleasure of doing that for seven years. As a School Resource Officer, I served as the Police Athletic League Coordinator. I served as the detention booking officer as well as the detention supervisor after getting promoted to sergeant.
Some of my favorite memories with the New Haven Police Department are the relationships I built within the department and out in the community. Those relationships can never be replaced.
RC: What teacher was particularly influential in your life?
RB: A teacher who was very influential in my life was my middle school gym teacher, Mr. Jackson. What made Mr. Jackson so important in my life was how he nurtured me as a young Black man. Mr. Jackson cared about the kids in the community, and I remember him opening the school gym in the morning before school so that some of us kids would have something to do and, ultimately, make it to school for the day. Because to him, if we were on time for open gym in the morning, we would be on time for school.
RC: What is one new thing you’d like to try?
RB: I would love to try my hand at the game of golf. It appears to be a very challenging sport, and I welcome the challenge.
RC: What is the best career lesson you have ever learned?
RB: There are several, but the best career lesson I learned is that in the field of policing you have to be honest, trustworthy, and you must treat people with dignity and respect. I learned this from observing my father, who’s retired from the New Haven Fire Department.
RC: What kind of music do you like?
RB: I enjoy listening to gospel, old school R&B, and old school hip hop, and my favorite genre is old school R&B. Some of my favorite artists include Prince, Luther Vandross, Switch, and Dream Boy.
RC: What do you like best about working at the University of New Haven?
RB: What I like best about working at the University of New Haven is how involved and included the University Police Department is with the students, faculty, and staff.
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.