Don’t be surprised if your next encounter with the UNH Police includes a few head scratches and some vigorous tail wagging. In July, the department adopted a female golden lab puppy from Hero Pups, a volunteer organization in Stratham, New Hampshire, that trains service dogs for veterans and first responders. Named Charlee by children at the UNH Child Study and Development Center, the puppy joins the force as a comfort dog for students and other members of the campus community.

"Another fall, another turned page..." (Wallace Stegner)

The effects of climate change are becoming more apparent, from the rapidly warming Gulf of Maine to more frequent and severe storms and the increase of invasive turf seaweed. UNH researchers have found that these environmental developments are contributing to the transformation of the seafloor to a lower, patchier seascape dominated by shrub-like seaweed which could impact species habitats and the structure of the food web.

I AM AN ACCIDENTAL PROFESSOR. I come from a little place called Mechanicsville, Virginia. My mother was the only daughter of a woman who had 13 brothers and sisters. She raised me as a single mother for part of my life before she remarried. My stepfather — I just call him my father — was an accountant, and my mom worked for the phone company.

In the most recent rankings, UNH athletics earned an NCAA Graduation Success Rate score of 96 percent — a mark matched only by Cornell among all land grant universities and significantly above the national average of 88 percent. Nine teams were ranked first in their sport, and seven — field hockey, women’s lacrosse, gymnastics, men’s skiing, women’s skiing, women’s soccer and swimming and diving — earned perfect scores, with 100 percent of their student-athletes earning diplomas within six years of matriculation.

In August, the football team did something it hadn’t done in the last two decades: The Wildcats practiced under the watchful eyes of a head coach other than Sean McDonnell ’78.

On Aug. 26, McDonnell announced to his team that he was taking a leave of absence to deal with health issues. Ricky Santos ’07, a four-year starting quarterback and one of the greatest Wildcat players ever under McDonnell’s tutelage, took over the program on an interim basis.

Six years as editor of UNH Magazine have given me the opportunity to share a variety of stories: some fun, others inspiring, and many — I hope — thought-provoking. But I don’t think we’ve ever put out an issue that has felt quite so consequential as the one in your hands.

One in four families spends more than 10 percent of their income on child care, according to a 2016 report from Carsey School of Public Policy. Low-income families spend 19.8 percent, or nearly double that. The lack of affordable and accessable childcare is a nationwide crisis that Camilla Marcus and her team strives to combat in New York City. 

Over the next several decades, Americas population will become significantly older and more diverse. Women are expected to have fewer children and life expectancies are expected to rise. The US Census Bureau projected that the population is expected to grow to more 400 million by 2058. America is likely to add about 2.3 million people per year however, between 2040 and 2060, that number is expected to fall to 1.6 million.