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
A new grant and a proposed project endeavor to create exciting new opportunities for current and future students while helping to fuel Connecticut’s innovation and tech-talent pipeline.
May 2, 2024
For Timothy Fraedrich ’25, majoring in computer science with a concentration in game design and development isn’t only enabling him to study something he’s passionate about. It’s also laying the foundation for him to pursue his dream career. He says he’s always been “amazed” by what games have to offer, and he dreams of helping to create a game that people around the world will enjoy.
As a Charger, Fraedrich has had exciting opportunities to build his skills – including the unique opportunity to earn a certification from Unity, a video game software development company based in California. The University, in collaboration with Unity, is endeavoring to integrate the company’s framework and certifications into its in-demand bachelor’s degree in computer science with a concentration in game design and development (BSCS-G2D).
This collaboration is already creating invaluable opportunities for students such as Fraedrich. He had the materials he needed to prepare for the exam – including a prep course and a practice exam – available to him free of charge. The certification will make students more marketable as they apply for jobs, and the skills they develop will ensure they are prepared to excel in their careers.
“Through working on personal projects, taking my courses, and doing the entire courseware, I was able to feel adequately prepared for the exam,” Fraedrich said. “Having the certification shows employers I am familiar with Unity as an entire system and engine, and not just a programmer who happens to be running their code in Unity.”
The University has been awarded a grant from the State of Connecticut, funded by the New England Board of Higher Education and Business-Higher Education Forum, as part of the state’s Tech Talent Accelerator (TTA). The workforce development initiative aims to help Connecticut reach its economic potential and close the skills gap in in-demand technology fields. The University’s was among seven technology education programs in the state to be selected in 2022 as part of an initiative to rapidly increase the competitiveness of the state’s postsecondary institutions and to meet growing business demand for tech skills, and is among a dozen institutions to receive funding during the second cycle of the grant.
The funds will be used to strategically refine the BSCS-G2D curriculum in collaboration with SphereGen, Arsome, and Pleiadian, leading companies in the field with which the University has relationships. They will also develop, implement, and assess industry-recognized instructional materials, credentials, and certificates, enhancing students’ educational opportunities at the University.
Mehdi Mekni, Ph.D., coordinator of the University’s undergraduate program in computer science who also leads the University’s game design and development concentration, hopes the proposed project will attract new students to the program. He’s excited about how the University’s collaboration with Unity is already powering students’ education and career preparation.
“I'm thrilled to witness how integrating Unity certifications into our BSCS-G2D has empowered our students,” he said. “By blending academic rigor with industry-recognized certifications, we've equipped talented individuals with the tools they need to hit the ground running in their careers.”
The idea is to bridge the gap between education and employment, growing Connecticut’s technology sectors, fueling innovation, and establishing a pipeline of skilled professionals. The proposed project would strengthen the University’s position as a hub for game design and development education while helping to address the growing need for skilled professionals in the field. It would also endeavor to increase diversity and inclusion in the field, particularly among underrepresented populations.
The proposed project would establish critical collaborations with community colleges to create more pathways for students to continue their education at four-year schools such as the University of New Haven. It would also co-create curriculum modules that would focus on competencies that are increasingly important in technology, such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data analytics. Dr. Mekni also imagines creating new opportunities for workforce development through a gaming-focused state conference and career fair.
“This initiative not only enhances students’ academic journeys but also propels them toward success in the dynamic field of game design and development,” said Dr. Mekni. “None of this would have been possible without the support of the Tech Talent Accelerator funds and our invaluable collaborators, including Unity Technologies, Pleiadian Systems Corporation, SphereGen, and Arsome, all of whom have been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition.”
For Fraedrich, the computer science major, the support of the Tech Talent Accelerator program and the University’s collaboration with Unity have already created rewarding and important educational opportunities that have been preparing him for the career of his dreams. It’s a field that needs his talent, and thanks to the University and initiatives supported by the state’s Tech Talent Accelerator, he is receiving the tools he needs to excel.
“My courses learning Unity have been my favorite during my time as a computer science student,” he said. “I would love to become a game developer or Unity developer once I graduate, and these courses have taught me everything I would need to know to do so.”
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.