University of New Haven facts for kids
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Former names
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New Haven YMCA Junior College (1920–1926) New Haven College (1926–1970) |
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| Type | Private university |
| Established | 1920 |
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Academic affiliations
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Space-grant |
| Endowment | $94 million |
| President | Jens Frederiksen |
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Academic staff
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522 |
| Students | 9,229 |
| Undergraduates | 4,903 |
| Postgraduates | 4,326 |
| Location |
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United States
41°17′31″N 72°57′44″W / 41.2919°N 72.9622°W |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Colors | Blue and gold |
| Nickname | Chargers |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I – Northeast |
| Mascot | Charlie the Charger |
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The University of New Haven (often called UNH) is a private university located in West Haven, Connecticut, in the United States. It offers many different study programs for students.
Contents
History of UNH
The University of New Haven started in 1920. It was first known as the New Haven YMCA Junior College. For almost 40 years, it shared buildings and teachers with Yale University.
Academics and Learning at UNH
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The University of New Haven has many study options. Students can choose from 109 programs for their first degree. There are also 116 programs for advanced degrees.
Accreditation and Quality
The university is officially recognized by the New England Commission of Higher Education. This means its programs meet high quality standards. This recognition has been in place since 1948. The College of Business also received special recognition from AACSB International in 2015. This recognition was renewed in 2020.
University Rankings
In 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked UNH highly. It was ranked No. 87 among "Regional Universities North." This shows the university's strong reputation.
Campus Life and Buildings
The University of New Haven has 48 buildings on its campus. These include classrooms, labs, and student housing. There are 14 residence halls for students to live in. 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 opened at UNH in 1998. It was officially dedicated on October 15, 2010. This institute is a special place for studying crime scenes. It has labs, classrooms, and a museum. It also helps with crisis management.
Athletics: The New Haven Chargers
The sports teams at UNH are called the New Haven Chargers. They compete in college sports. The Chargers are moving to NCAA Division I on July 1, 2025. They will join the Northeast Conference (NEC).
Chargers Sports Teams
The Chargers have 20 different sports teams. There are 8 teams for men and 12 for women. The university began its move to Division I in the 2025–26 school year. They will be full Division I members by 2028–29. Before this, they competed in NCAA Division II.
Recent Athletic Achievements
In the 2022–23 school year, the Chargers had a great year. They won 140 games across all sports. Many athletes received awards for their performance. Over 320 student-athletes were also recognized for their good grades.
Student Organizations and Activities
The University of New Haven offers many ways for students to get involved. As of September 2023, there were 199 clubs and groups.
Greek Life
Students can join fraternities and sororities at the university. These are social organizations with special traditions.
Student Government
Students have a voice in how the university is run. The Undergraduate Student Government Association (USGA) is for undergraduate students. The Graduate Student Council (GSC) is for graduate students. Their offices are in Bartels Hall.
Student Newspaper
The Charger Bulletin is the university's student-run newspaper. It has been published since 1938. Students write articles about campus news and events. The paper comes out every Wednesday during classes. It is available for free on campus and online.
Marching Band
The University of New Haven Chargers Marching Band is a large group. It has about 300 members. They perform at sports events and other university functions.
University Radio Station: WNHU
The university has its own radio station, WNHU-FM. It started broadcasting on July 4, 1973. WNHU is run by a team of 10 students. It helps students learn about broadcasting. The station plays many types of music, like rock, gospel, and funk. It also has talk shows. WNHU is on 88.7 FM. It has been called the best college radio station in Connecticut for many years.
Bucknall Theater
The Bucknall Theater is named after William L. Bucknall, Jr. It hosts about two plays each semester. The theater is also used for university events. It serves as a learning space for students studying theater. It has 250 seats with pull-out desks.
Black Student Union
The Black Student Union (BSU) celebrated a big milestone on April 22, 2023. They marked their 50th anniversary. This was part of the annual Sankofa Ball.
Notable Alumni of UNH
The University of New Haven has about 64,000 former students. Many of them have achieved great things. Here are a few examples:
- Ameera al-Taweel, a member of Saudi Arabian royalty
- Steve Bedrosian (baseball), a famous baseball player
- Dorinda Keenan Borer (politician), the current mayor of West Haven, Connecticut
- Richard Borer, a former mayor of West Haven, Connecticut
- Jamaal Bowman (politician), a politician
- Thomas H. Collins, a former admiral in the United States Coast Guard
- Lubbie Harper Jr., a former judge for the Connecticut Supreme Court
- Darren M. Haynes, a sportscaster for KCAL in Los Angeles
- Dean Lombardi (hockey), a former general manager for the Los Angeles Kings hockey team
- James McCaffrey (actor)
- Nitza Morán (politician), a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico
- Neil O'Leary (politician), a former mayor of Waterbury, Connecticut
- Erick Russell (politician), the current Connecticut State Treasurer
- L. Timothy Ryan (master chef), the president of the Culinary Institute of America
- Tony Sparano (NFL coach), a former NFL coach
- Merryl Tengesdal (Air Force Veteran), the first and only Black woman to fly the U-2 spy plane for the U.S. Air Force
Faculty and Staff at UNH
The University of New Haven has a good student-to-faculty ratio. There are about 16 students for every teacher. The average class size is 20 students. The university has nearly 510 staff members. It also has 278 full-time teachers. Most of the full-time teachers have the highest degree in their field.
Notable Professors
- Henry C. Lee (retired, former professor of forensic science) – He worked on many famous crime cases. These included the JonBenét Ramsey murder and the O. J. Simpson case.
- Nikodem Popławski (professor of physics) – He is known for his idea that every black hole could be a doorway to another universe. He also suggested our universe might have formed inside a black hole.
- Horatio Strother (former assistant professor of history) – He wrote an important book about the Underground Railroad in Connecticut.
