University of New Haven facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
University of New Haven

Former names	New Haven YMCA Junior College (1920–1926) New Haven College (1926–1970)
Type	Private university
Established	1920
Academic affiliations	Space-grant
Endowment	$94 million
President	Jens Frederiksen
Academic staff	522
Administrative staff	510
Students	7,513
Undergraduates	5,023
Postgraduates	2,490
Location	West Haven, Connecticut , United States 41°17′31″N 72°57′44″W / 41.2919°N 72.9622°W / 41.2919; -72.9622
Campus	Suburban
Colors	Blue and gold
Nickname	Chargers
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division II – NE-10
Mascot	Charlie the Charger

The University of New Haven (UNH) is a private university located in West Haven, Connecticut. It has a main campus in West Haven and a graduate school campus in Orange, Connecticut. Together, these campuses cover about 122 acres. The university also has a campus in Prato, Italy. UNH is part of the Northeast-10 Conference. Its mascot is a charger, which is a type of medieval war horse.

Discovering UNH's Past

The University of New Haven started in 1920. It was first known as the New Haven YMCA Junior College. For almost 40 years, it was part of Northeastern University. During this time, it shared buildings, labs, and teachers with Yale University.

Learning and Programs at UNH

The University of New Haven offers many study programs. There are nearly 100 programs for undergraduate students. There are also 50 programs for graduate students. About one-third of students study arts and sciences. Other popular subjects include business, engineering, criminal justice, and forensic sciences.

The university is officially recognized by the New England Commission of Higher Education. This means its programs meet high quality standards. The University of New Haven is also mentioned in Princeton Review's 2024 "Best 389 Colleges" guide. In 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked the university No. 87 among "Regional Universities."

Exploring the UNH Campus

The University of New Haven has 48 buildings on its campus. This includes 14 places where students can live. One important building is the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science. The newest building is the Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation.

Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science

The Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science was opened in 1998.

The Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science opened at UNH in 1998. Henry C. Lee has been a teacher at UNH since 1975. The institute was officially opened on October 15, 2010. It has a crime scene center, labs, classrooms, and a museum. It also has a lecture hall and Lee's office.

The institute offers many lectures and classes throughout the year. Experts with real-world experience teach these classes. Topics include crime-scene photography and death investigation. They also cover blood stain analysis. The institute focuses on research, training, and education in forensic science.

UNH Sports: The Chargers

The New Haven Chargers are the university's sports teams. They compete in NCAA Division II. The Chargers have 20 sports teams. There are 8 teams for men and 12 for women. They are all part of the Northeast-10 Conference. New Haven joined this conference in 2008.

In the 2022-23 school year, the teams had a great year. They won 140 games across all 20 sports. Many athletes received awards and honors. Over 320 student-athletes were recognized for their good grades.

Varsity Teams at UNH

Club Sports at UNH

The University of New Haven also has 19 recognized club sports. These are groups of students who play sports together. They often compete against other schools.

• E-Sports (Co-ed)
• Gymnastics (Co-Ed)
• Swimming (Co-Ed)
• Softball (Women's)

Student Life and Groups

As of September 2023, the University of New Haven had 199 student clubs and organizations. These groups help students get involved and meet new friends.

Student Government

Students at UNH have two main groups that represent them. The Undergraduate Student Government Association (USGA) is for undergraduate students. The Graduate Student Council (GSC) is for graduate students. These groups help make decisions about student life.

The Charger Bulletin Newspaper

The Charger Bulletin is the official student newspaper. It has been published since 1938. Both undergraduate and graduate students write for the paper. It comes out every Wednesday when classes are in session. You can find copies around campus for free. It is also available online.

UNH Marching Band

The University of New Haven Chargers Marching Band (UNHMB) is growing very fast. It started in 2009 with only 20 members. Now, it has almost 300 members.

WNHU Radio Station

The university has its own radio station, WNHU-FM. It first started broadcasting on July 4, 1973. The WNHU studios moved to a new location in 2015. This new space includes areas for live shows and staff offices. A team of 10 students manages WNHU.

WNHU broadcasts on 88.7 FM. It is known for playing many different types of music. You can hear new music, rock, gospel, and even polka. Some people have hosted shows for many years. Many of them are UNH graduates. The New Haven Advocate has called WNHU the "Best College Radio Station" in Connecticut for over six years.

Bucknall Theater

The Bucknall Theater is named after William L. Bucknall, Jr. He loves theater and often attends shows. The theater usually has two productions each semester. It also hosts many university events. It is used as a learning space for students studying the arts, especially theater. The theater has 250 seats, each with a pull-out desk.

Black Student Union

The Black Student Union (BSU) celebrated its 50th anniversary on April 22, 2023. This was part of the annual Sankofa Ball. It happened during the university's Black and Latino Alumni Weekend.

Well-Known Alumni of UNH

The University of New Haven has about 64,000 former students. Here are some of the notable people who went to UNH:

• Ameera al-Taweel, Saudi Arabian royalty
• Steve Bedrosian, (baseball player) won an award in 1987
• Dorinda Keenan Borer (politician), current Mayor of West Haven
• Jamaal Bowman (politician)
• Thomas H. Collins, former admiral in the United States Coast Guard
• Joel S. Douglas (inventor) helped create the first at-home glucose meter
• Vivian Davis Figures (politician)
• Lubbie Harper Jr., (judge) for the Connecticut Supreme Court
• Darren M. Haynes, sportscaster for WUSA9 in Washington, DC
• Dean Lombardi, former general manager for the Los Angeles Kings hockey team
• James McCaffrey (actor)
• Nitza Morán (born 1970), member of the Senate of Puerto Rico
• Neil O'Leary (politician), former Mayor of Waterbury
• Erick Russell (politician), Connecticut State Treasurer
• Merryl Tengesdal, (Airforce Veteran)
• Dave Wallace (baseball player)

Teachers and Staff at UNH

There are about 16 students for every teacher at UNH. The average class size is 20 students. The university has nearly 510 staff members. It also has 278 full-time teachers. Many other teachers work part-time. Most full-time teachers have the highest degree in their field.

Notable Professors at UNH

• Henry C. Lee (retired, former professor of forensic science) – He worked on many famous cases. These include the JonBenét Ramsey murder and the O. J. Simpson case. He also helped with the post-9/11 investigation.
• Nikodem Popławski (professor of physics) – He is known for his idea that every black hole could be a doorway to another universe. He thinks our universe might have formed inside a black hole. He has appeared on TV shows like Through the Wormhole. Forbes magazine named him one of five scientists most likely to become the next Albert Einstein.
• Horatio Strother (assistant professor of history) – He wrote an important book about the Underground Railroad in Connecticut.