Below is a statement sent to all University of New Haven faculty and students by U. New Haven Pres. Steven Kaplan.

Dear Members of the University Community,

Out of an abundance of caution, I have made the decision to suspend all in-person classes and exams through the remainder of the week, leading up to the start of spring break on March 14. In addition, in-person classes on March 23 and 24 have been cancelled. This situation will be monitored, and more information will be forthcoming about the exact date that classes will resume.

Faculty members will be asked to develop alternative means of instruction delivery and will reschedule exams. To the extent that alternative delivery is not immediately available, a plan for making up the classwork will be developed. Students will be notified of those developments.

Non-essential employees should expect to work from home beginning on Wednesday, March 11.

All currently scheduled events and athletic contests are cancelled as of 6 p.m. today, Monday, March 9 through March 24. In the meantime, we will evaluate ongoing developments and make a determination about events and athletic contests beyond March 24.

Residence halls will close as of 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10. Those who need extra time to make travel accommodations must leave the residence halls by noon on Wednesday, March 11. Students with special circumstances should contact the Office of Residential Life.

While there currently are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on our campus, these decisions were made after learning that individuals on our campus may have been exposed to a confirmed case of the virus after attending an out-of-state conference.

Based on current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and recommendations, I believe suspending classes at this time is the most prudent step to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the safety and well-being of the entire University community.

The CDC continues to advise those who believe they have come in contact with anyone who has been exposed to COVID-19 to monitor themselves for any signs of illness and to take their temperature twice daily. Should you become ill, you should self-isolate and seek medical care ASAP for evaluation and testing. You should call your primary care physician before to going to the office and notify Human Resources at 203.932.7297 or 203.610.1889. Individuals who do seek medical care must also contact the University’s Health Services Office at 203.932.7079. For additional information, please visit www.cdc.gov.

At this time, we are cancelling university-sponsored travel until further notice, and we are continuing to advise against non-essential personal travel.

Thank you in advance for your patience and flexibility as we navigate this challenging and ever-evolving situation.

Please monitor the University website at www.newhaven.edu or myCharger for further developments and announcements.

With best wishes,

Steven H. Kaplan, Ph.D.
President