In-Person Meetings for Day Classes are Cancelled for Thursday, February 6, 2025; Classes Taking Place at 4 p.m. or later Being Held As Scheduled.
Classes Beginning at 4 p.m. or Later
Classes that begin at 4 p.m. and later today are being held as scheduled.
As environments vary in different parts of the State, commuting students should utilize their best judgement when deciding whether to come to campus and faculty are asked to be flexible in accommodating student requests during inclement weather, defining alternatives or makeup provisions as needed. Similarly, faculty members who must change their class format should notify impacted students by e-mail immediately and define what their alternate delivery approach will be.
Classes Beginning Prior to 4 p.m.
As previously announced, all in-person day classes on Thursday, February 6, 2025 are cancelled. All scheduled in-person classes beginning before 4 p.m. will transition to being held online or remotely. Additional information on the virtual format for each class will be provided by the 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 Thursday. 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 Thursday for residential students to use for study space and to participate in online classes.
Residential students should be prepared to move their vehicles, if requested, for snow removal operations.
International Student Fosters Celebration of Culture and Diversity on Two Continents
Esma Fera ’24 recently represented her home country of Kosovo at a University-wide event, sharing her culture with the Charger community. A public broadcaster from the Balkan country picked up the story, sharing Fera’s experience at the University with its audience in Kosovo.
June 6, 2022
By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications
Esma Fera ’24 (second from right) at the University’s International Festival.
Esma Fera ’24, an international student from Kosovo, is passionate about sharing her culture with the University community. She represented her home country at a University-wide event this past semester, capturing the attention of a Kosovan broadcaster and making the news in her home country.
Esma Fera ’24 at I-Fest.
Fera was among the participants who shared their culture as part of the University’s annual International Festival (I-Fest). As part of the event, members of the University community create table displays with information, interactive presentations, and activities from their home country. While discussing their country and their culture, they serve food to and answer questions from visitors.
After several of her family and friends shared a social media post that she’d be representing Kosovo, a small country in southeast Europe with a population of just under two million, at I-Fest, a journalist from Radio Television of Kosovo, the public service broadcaster in the country, reached out to Fera. When asked to share her experience at I-Fest with the people of Kosovo, Fera was excited to oblige. Radio Television of Kosovo shared the story on its Facebook page.
“All the people of Kosovo were extremely happy to see my presentation, including the traditional clothes, food, and handmade table decorations, taking place for the first time at an American university,” said Fera, a biology major. “I was receiving consistently great messages and comments from everyone, which made me feel grateful that I had something special to share about the culture.”
‘We belong in all cultures’
An I-Fest “passport” stamped at the Kosovo/Albania table.
At I-Fest, Fera was at a table representing Albania and Kosovo, since, she says, they share a language and ethnicity. She and her fellow presenters displayed unique handmade decorations that reflected their culture’s values and included specific and significant symbols and colors. They served food prepared by a local Albanian restaurant, and Fera says the byrek – a filled pastry – was very popular with attendees.
Fera presented information about her culture to attendees, discussing Kosovo’s geography, language, traditions, diversity, and history. As part of I-Fest, students also shared their cultures through musical and dance performances.
“I had a great experience sharing my program proposal at I-Fest as well as representing the University of New Haven to my community in Kosovo,” she said. “It felt great to see that everyone was trying to bring the best to the public. The food and the diverse environment, surrounded by the music at I-Fest, made us feel that we are all the same and that we belong in all cultures.”
‘How rich our Charger community is’
Esma Fera ’24 shared Kosovan traditions and culture at I-Fest.
Originally from a small town called Kamenica/Dardana, Fera says it is known to be “one of the most ecologically stable municipalities” in the country. She says hospitality is very important in Kosovo, as serving traditional food to guests is “always a must.” She’s grateful for the opportunity to share the cuisine – and so much more – as part of I-Fest.
“What I enjoyed most about being a part of I-Fest was seeing how rich our Charger community is becoming each day in terms of diversity and inclusion,” she said. “All the countries that were represented by many other international students were a reflection of their willingness to make everyone feel included and unique.”