University News

Safety is the Theme of University of New Haven's Move-In Week

Throughout the last week, as the University introduced the incoming members of its Class of 2024 to 麻豆传媒 Nation and welcomed returning students back to campus, the focus was on the many public health measures that are in place to ensure the safety and well-being of all members of the University community.

August 21, 2020

By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications

Students with new dorm room keys
Students were excited to move into the University鈥檚 residence halls.
Azure Riley checks in to Bethel Hall
AJ Desjardin welcomes Azure Riley to Bethel Hall.

Azure Riley 鈥24 is looking forward to the opportunities she will have as one of the newest students at the University of New Haven. She and her family arrived on campus this week, and they helped her move into Bethel Hall.

鈥淚 am excited to be on campus,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 am excited about everything about being a student, and I am most looking forward to being on the 麻豆传媒s basketball team.鈥

Riley is one of approximately 1,500 new students 鈥 including residential, commuter, and transfer students joining the University for the new academic year. First-year and transfer residential students moved in on Wednesday and Thursday, while returning students moved in on Tuesday and Friday. In addition, new and returning students from , as determined by the state of Connecticut, have been arriving throughout the month for a state-mandated 14-day quarantine period either in quarantine space on campus or in area hotels.

'This was handled well'
Students in masks
All students wore face coverings as they moved into the residence halls.

The focus throughout the fall semester will be mitigating the risk of COVID-19 on campus and keeping the University community safe and healthy during the Fall 2020 semester. All students and their families were required to wear face coverings and practice physical distancing and encouraged to practice good personal hygiene habits throughout the Move-In Day experience.

Deana Wrenn traveled from Long Island, New York to move her daughter into her residence hall.

鈥淓verything was very organized,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 like how everyone wore masks and kept their distance. This was handled well.鈥

'I feel very comfortable on campus'
Woman with thermometer
Students and their family members had their temperatures taken when they arrived on campus.

In an effort to keep everyone safe, students were only allowed one guest with them at a time in the residence halls to ensure physical distancing. Students and their family members also had their temperatures taken when they arrived on campus. Enhanced cleaning protocols were in place throughout the week and will continue throughout the semester.

鈥淓verything went very well,鈥 said AJ Desjardin 鈥21, a resident assistant in Bethel Hall who welcomed new students. 鈥淭his is an awesome experience and our first contact with new residents. Everyone looks forward to it. It鈥檚 when our college journey begins.鈥

Throughout the rest of the weekend, the University鈥檚 newest students are participating in Charge In 鈥 a mix of in-person and virtual events 鈥 to help acclimate them to campus life, leading up to their first day of classes on Monday.

Orientation leaders
Orientation leaders welcomed new students to the University.

鈥淚 feel very comfortable on campus,鈥 said Alyssa Rylick 鈥24, a forensic science major who moved into her residence hall on Thursday. 鈥淚鈥檓 happy about all the precautions that have been taken. I鈥檓 looking forward to starting my classes and learning from professors who are the best in their fields.鈥