Everything New at CNU
Fresh academic year sweeps in exciting updates on campus
by Kelley McGee | August 22, 2025
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What’s new and exciting on campus? Quite a bit! If you’re a returning student or just setting foot on the Great Lawn for the very first time, here’s the scoop on some changes that have taken shape.
If you’re short on time, there’s a brand new order-ahead system for dining designed so you don't have to stand in line. Mobile ordering has been reimagined to make getting food at campus dining locations faster and easier than ever. By using the Transact Mobile Ordering app and the “Skip the Line, Captains” feature, you can save time by ordering ahead. You’ll be able to pick up your meal quickly, and head straight to class, the library or your residence hall.
You may have noticed a sparkling new addition to the campus skyline. That’s because the new Science and Engineering Research Center (SERC) is nearing completion. Progress is on track and the building dedication is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2026. Classes in the new facility are being scheduled for the Spring of 2026. The signature cupola – a gleaming addition to campus – was recently lifted into place. In addition to technologically-advanced research and teaching spaces, one of the many exciting stand-out features in the new SERC building is a cutting-edge two-story drone lab where students will be able to develop and test unmanned aircraft systems and robotics.
Ready to upgrade your workouts? The Trieshmann Health and Fitness Pavilion has just added all-new cardio and strength equipment, along with a full schedule of group fitness classes.
Here are some of the other updates you’ll find on campus, from the classrooms to common spaces:
The venerable Santoro Hall has undergone a floor to ceiling refurbishment. Incoming freshmen were welcomed to the University’s original resident hall with modern updates that include new flooring, lighting, and updated common area furniture. Santoro was built in 1994 and dedicated to then President Anthony R. Santoro and his wife, Carol.
Students can now minor in neuroscience, which is being offered within the
College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences. The minor will be a great addition to a multitude of majors, including psychology, biology, kinesiology, computer science, and cybersecurity. An electrical engineering minor is also now being offered within the School of Engineering and Computing.
- Take flight with new course
Students in the MS in
Applied Physics and Computer Science program have the opportunity to complete a concentration in cybersecurity. This concentration follows the success and growth of the undergraduate major in cybersecurity and will provide an excellent opportunity for graduate students to specialize in this area.
Fuel your body and mind with confidence!
Nutrislice is your go-to tool to help navigate nutritional and allergen information about menu items offered at The Commons and Regattas—an easy way to make informed healthy choices every day. Find it
here.
Students will receive a waived delivery fee on all Grubhub orders when they sign up as a student with their CNU email address and pay with Captains Cash. Students can pay with Captains Cash while anywhere nationwide and still receive free deliveries.
The
Captains Locker just dropped fresh hats, clothing, and drinkware—and you don’t want to miss them. Check out all the new merch in-store or online and gear up in true Captain style!
New alumni gear will launch this September! And don’t miss the 25th Anniversary CNU Football Collection, which will hit mid-October!
Work has begun on a new roof at the
Ferguson Center for the Arts, replacing its 50-year-old roof. The renovation ensures the building will remain leak-free during big storms.
Three parking lots were resurfaced to improve aesthetics and drainage. Lot M near
Klich Alumni House, Lot B known as the Visitors Lot, and Lot C1 next to the Visitors Lot were all milled, resurfaced, restriped, and repainted.
Christopher Newport will soon enter into a new agreement with the Naval ROTC (NROTC), giving students even more opportunities to train and prepare for military service and leadership with the U.S. Navy and Marines. Stay tuned for more exciting news on expanded ROTC partnerships.
- New School Partnerships and Outreach
Christopher Newport has embarked on a brand new educational partnership with Hampton City Schools (HCS). The partnership has three specific focus areas: Hampton Captains program (which began in the Spring of 2025), BizTalk, and membership to the K-16 “Cradle to Career” Task Force.
- Welcome Dean Hickey, Luter School of Business
The Joseph W. Luter, III School of Business is excited to welcome its new dean, Dr. Anna W. Hickey. Dr. Hickey most recently served as Vice Provost for Academic Administration and formerly served as Dean of the School of Leadership and Management at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Christopher Newport is proud to welcome other new faculty members to campus. Learn about the newest members of our community of scholars
here.
Dean Anna Hickey Courtesy of Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Matt Thieme