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 Campus Health Ambassador Team (CHAT), which includes students and staff members, has been a key part of the University’s response to COVID-19, and they are continuing to remain vigilant, helping to ensure the campus remains safe.
March 29, 2022
As a physician in his home country of Brazil, Gabriel Caldato Barsotti ’23 MHA worked on the frontlines of the pandemic. He spent more than a year working in emergency rooms and intensive care units, facing what he says were “daunting” situations.
Now a candidate in the University of New Haven’s Master of Healthcare Administration program, he is a co-coordinator for the University’s Campus Health Ambassador Team (CHAT). A crucial part of the University’s ongoing response to the pandemic, CHAT assists with the University’s on-campus COVID-19 testing and compliance with student directives.
Barsotti says he is proud of the work he and his fellow ambassadors have been doing to ensure the safety of students, faculty, and staff, and he is able to draw on what he learned from his challenging yet important work in Brazil.
“On multiple occasions in Brazil, I felt utterly helpless and burnt out,” he said. “Looking back on this period, however, I feel proud of my work back home. Being a member of CHAT has allowed me to continue fighting this catastrophic pandemic by assisting the University in implementing essential COVID policies and testing.”
CHAT supervises the University’s asymptomatic COVID testing center, and ambassadors ensure the University’s COVID policies are followed. They check CoVerified and make sure Chargers are wearing the proper face coverings. (The University currently has an optional face covering policy, but face coverings are required in University COVID-19 testing and vaccine clinics, in Health Services, and on University transportation.)
“I feel proud to ensure the safety of students and employees of the University,” said Barsotti. “As an MHA candidate and a member of CHAT, I can see in real-time how healthcare management is essential to dealing with crises. So far, the burden of the pandemic has exceeded what was predicted, and this requires us to rapidly learn and adapt in terms of healthcare policies and management.”
The ambassadors have played an important role in making sure the University has been able to remain open since students returned to campus in the Fall of 2020. In addition to ensuring the health and safety of members of the University community at events, they have encouraged Chargers to get vaccinated, sharing information and ensuring that everyone is aware of policies and safety measures.
“Our CHAT student staff members play an essential role in keeping the campus community safe,” said Ric Baker, senior associate dean of students who oversees CHAT. “They provide critical support for major events and demonstrate incredible resilience and flexibility in dealing with the pandemic. I am incredibly fortunate to work with them.”
Baker oversees the ambassadors with Diane Polo ’21 MPH, the University’s new health center COVID-19 administrator. Polo, who has nearly a decade of experience working as a clinical medical assistant in primary care as well as experience in a long-term care facility as an infection control practitioner, is proud of the impact the ambassadors continue to make on campus safety.
“The CHAT ambassadors have been great to work with,” she said. “I truly applaud their hard work and commitment to keeping everyone safe throughout the pandemic. They have been so essential for the University community and are always willing to step in and help when they are needed. I believe my work experience and my education from the University have given me the skills and confidence I needed to dive into my new role.”
Dhaani Dhaani ’23 MPH, Barsotti’s CHAT co-coordinator, helps oversee the ambassadors. She, too, is a physician in her home country – India – where she worked in rural areas of New Delhi promoting sex education. She is passionate about bringing compassion and kindness to keeping Chargers safe during the pandemic – and beyond.
As a candidate in the University’s Master of Public Health program, Dhaani says the hands-on experience she has gained from her work with CHAT has been invaluable.
“This opportunity enabled me to stay connected with the campus community and provide my services during the pandemic,” she said. “It also gave me the confidence to talk freely and always be ready with a plan B. Moreover, it gave me hands-on experience working with the University community, a vital element of public health practice. I gained leadership qualities and a better understanding of how to work in stressful conditions.”
As they continue their work during the second half of the Spring semester, the ambassadors are committed to protecting the University community. While COVID cases have remained low at the University, the team will remain committed to the COVID safety measures that are in place and keeping their fellow Chargers safe.
“I always say, ‘We did it, we are doing it, and we shall continue doing it,’” said Dhaani. “But our job is still not over. We need to be cognizant to keep our campus community safe and healthy by continuing to follow the protocols and policies.”
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.