Weather Closure: Tuesday, January 26 Open or Close Alert Message
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Due to continued winter weather impacts and slow overnight recovery conditions, Western New England University will remain closed on Tuesday. All classes, offices, and in-person activities are canceled for the day. We expect to resume normal operations on Wednesday morning, and will provide updates should conditions change.

Campus Services During the Closure

While most in-person activities will pause, essential services will remain available for students living on campus. The following services are expected to remain open or staffed:

  • Residence Halls (RDs/RAs on duty)
  • Dining (modified hours as needed)
  • Public Safety
  • Facilities/Housekeeping
  • University Operator
  • Health Services (TBD by Director)

Students living on campus should continue to expect regular support from Residence Life and Public Safety.

Classes and Remote Work

Students

All offices and in-person activities are canceled for the day. In-person classes are canceled but may be held remotely at the discretion of faculty. Faculty will communicate directly, so please check your email and course site for updates. 

Classes that are already scheduled to be fully remote will continue as usual unless otherwise communicated by your instructor. 

Staff
Staff who are able to work remotely should coordinate with supervisors as appropriate. Staff whose work requires on-campus presence should follow supervisor guidance.

Staying Informed
The University’s Inclement Weather Policy is available on the WNE website via the homepage banner. Any changes or reopening information will be shared through WNE Alert, email, and the University website.

Thank you for your flexibility and cooperation as we work to ensure the safety of our campus community.  A special THANK YOU to the Facilities and Public Safety teams for all their hard work and dedication during this significant storm!

Forensic Biology students working in a lab.
College of Arts & Sciences

Forensic Biology

Crucial Role in Crime Investigation

Did you know that some of the most important work in criminal justice is carried on behind the scenes in crime labs? Criminal forensic biologists analyze evidence from crime scenes and work hand-in-hand with law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. They study the fundamentals of DNA, fingerprints, and other biological evidence to offer assistance in convicting the guilty and exonerating the innocent. You can play a part in this important work as a Forensic Biology major at Western New England University.

Why Choose Forensic Biology?

This fascinating field uses investigative techniques and tools to explore many applications of analyzing biological evidence. Forensic biologists help us find clues to events that occurred in the recent or distant past. They play an important role in piecing together the clues to give prosecutors the corroborative evidence needed to get criminals off the street. They are also critical in helping us to identify the organic remains that are key to tracing human history through anthropology, the origins and evolution of plant life through botany, or the path of infectious disease outbreaks through pathology or entomology.

1,000+ internship sponsors
96% Class of ’24 employed/attending graduate or professional school within 6 months of graduation

What Will You Study?

Our Forensic Biology curriculum will provide you with the theoretical background, practical skills, and scientific techniques utilized in modern crime laboratories. This is accomplished through coursework heavily augmented by practical laboratory experiences at the Center for the Sciences and Pharmacy and/or professional internships. Required science coursework includes general biology, microbiology, cell biology, genetics, recombinant DNA/fingerprinting, general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and physics. In addition, you will complete coursework in the areas of ethics and criminal investigation. Students are also required to provide expert testimony in the courtroom at our School of Law.

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Unique Learning Opportunities

Forensic Biology student

Internships and Field Work

Western New England University students in the Forensic Biology major have internship opportunities to work in lab settings and conduct independent research in order to hone their crime lab investigative techniques. Our students have interned at organizations including the Brigham & Women's Hospital Morgue, the Connecticut Controlled Substance and Toxicology Lab, Con-Test Laboratories, Suffolk County (NY) Crime Lab, the Connecticut State Police Forensic Lab, the Maine State Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory, Northeastern Correctional Center, Suffolk Crime Lab, and many other sites.

Study Abroad

Study Abroad: Become a Global Citizen

Today’s workforce needs professionals who see the big picture. Western New England University will help you to become a student of world cultures and histories as they relate to your studies, while making valuable contributions in your explorations. Whether you participate in a faculty-led summer seminar course or spend a semester at an international university, the experience will broaden your horizons and help you compete in the global landscape.

Study Abroad

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