This morning, Chief of University Police Michael Cloutier conducted a Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) training session for Orientation Leaders and Resident Assistants. The course, designed and built on the Avoid, Deny, Defend (ADD) strategy developed by Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) in 2004, provides strategies, guidance, and a proven plan for ideally avoiding, surviving an active shooter event. 

Associate Vice President, Capital Planning and Maintenance Matt Lechter hosted a luncheon on the quad to thank Capital Planning and Maintenance Maintainer staff members for all their hard work this summer readying the campus for the fall semester. President Hodge and members of her Cabinet stopped by to thank them for all their work as well. 

 Our Office of Student Engagement Student Orientation Leaders moved back to campus this morning, many with help from Mom & Dad, for a week long preparation for Move In & orientation sessions for our newest Falcons coming to campus next week. 

This morning, our Fitchburg State Police Academy Recruit Officer Course (ROC) had the profound privilege of hearing from Caitlyn Tarentino, sister of fallen Auburn Ma Police  Officer Ronald Tarentino Jr.

Officer Tarentino made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty on May 22, 2016, following a traffic stop. Caitlyn shared intimate stories of her brother’s life, his unwavering dedication to public service, and what it truly means to wear the badge with honor.

Moments like this remind our recruits of the sacred duty they are stepping into—and the legacy of bravery they are bound to uphold. Thank you, Caitlyn, for sharing Officer Tarentino’s story with our future law enforcement leaders.

Honoring service, sacrifice, and the badge.

Our newest Nursing Student cohort in the START STRONG; Your Nursing Journey Begins Here program spent this morning with tours of our Nursing Foundations Labs - where they will be spending a lot of time. Nursing faculty and current students took questions about the Nursing program and what to expect in their first year.

Our newest Nursing Student cohort in the START STRONG; Your Nursing Journey Begins Here program got a chance to see what a college level Anatomy & Physiology course was like with  Biology and Chemistry Professor John Ludlam. Learn more about the program here. 

This morning, the university  welcomed members of our newest Nursing Student cohort to campus for the START STRONG; Your Nursing Journey Begins Here program. After checking in, settling in the dorm, and breakfast, President Hodge welcomed the newest Falcons. Afterward, Nursing Program Professor Karen Beaton. along with current students and faculty, began an array of activities with the students.

Last week, the Fitchburg State University Police Department hosted an Active Attack Integrated Response (AAIR) course through ALERRT (Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training).

This intensive 16-hour, two-day program brought together regional police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, and dispatchers to enhance tactical coordination during critical emergencies. The curriculum focused on integrated rescue task force concepts, unified command, and point-of-injury medical intervention.

Special thanks to the Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC), the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy (MFA), and ALERRT for facilitating this essential training. Inter-agency collaboration remains vital to ensuring the safety and preparedness of our campus and surrounding communities.