Hello! I would like to say first and foremost that it's a pleasure to be able to document and share my experiences abroad with the Fitchburg State community!

My name is Jordan Malachi, currently a junior Communications Media Film/Video student. Throughout these posts I am documenting my sophomore year of college spent studying abroad at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.

Cybersecurity is a hot and fast growing field. The National Science Foundation (NSF) and Computing Research Association (CRA) predicted that three areas of computer science were primed for exponential growth where the number of jobs available would vastly outnumber the number of qualified people to fill them. One of those areas, cybersecurity, has already hit that point.

As the market for cloud computing services is growing at a rapid speed, so is the demand for cybersecurity. Not only are the government and large enterprises facing this problem, but small businesses are now also facing a cybersecurity threat that they are ill-prepared to meet. In fact, as noted [1], small businesses are especially unprepared for the growing cybersecurity issues faced by small and medium businesses (SMB).

What is the CCAC?

Saturday will mark seven months since beginning my new journey as an academic and career coach at the Career Counseling and Advising Center (CCAC). Like many of the students I work with, I am getting used to a new campus. I am navigating various offices and I am fortunate enough to be working in a newly merged set of departments. The CCAC was created about a year and a half ago when the Career Counseling Center and Advising Center became one entity.

It’s 2018 and at least 30 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder in the U.S. alone*. There are people in our own college community who suffer from eating disorders, and you may know someone who does even if you can’t tell by their behavior or weight. 

As a Communications Media student, I always kept internship on my mind from the get-go. The Internship Program serves as a capstone experience for all Communications Media students. Required for graduation, the 12-credit program typically takes place during a student’s final semester. Students first undergo a portfolio defense process, presenting work which best exhibits their respective talents and interests.

Flu season may be ending but there are plenty of reasons to take advantage of Health Services on campus. 

Your physical health and well-being are the cornerstones of your success, and our professional staff can assist you in a number of ways to ensure quality, confidential medical care.

Health Services will also coordinate ongoing care with your primary care provider if needed. 

The Fitchburg Anti-Violence Education (FAVE) mission is to create a safe and respectful campus community for all, free from interpersonal and relationship violence, sexual assault, and stalking. FAVE does this by promoting healthy relationships through education and programming while empowering and supporting those affected by violence.

Sometime bfore I enrolled here, someone named Jairo Hernandez started an American Sign Language (ASL) club on campus. It was an overnight success and they ended up having to meet multiple times a week because their group was so large. 

Professor Kelly Morgan in the Communications Media department began implementing ASL language courses and now we have an entire minor in deaf studies. And it’s thriving. The deaf studies minor includes six classes; four levels of ASL classes, which count as a foreign language requirement, and two classes in deaf studies.

Whether you’re an incoming freshman, a transfer, or an active student, joining a Greek organization on campus can be really intimidating. I was nervous meeting all the girls, even though I had gotten to know some of them over the last year. In the fall, recruitment is called “rush," which is basically two weeks of nonstop events and activities. This process helps you find the sorority that best suits you and your personality. The most common phrase I heard during rush was “trust the process,” which is so incredibly true. You might walk in thinking you want one sorority and then at the end of the two weeks go in a totally different direction. But don’t worry…trust the process.

Every fall we host Open House events for prospective students. These campus visits are the best way for you to experience what life at Fitchburg State is all about. 

It’s about finding the right fit

Everyone should feel a sense of belonging at their school of choice. The Open House is a great way to come to campus and see how Fitchburg State feels to you.