For the second time this year, Fitchburg State University welcomed an international delegation to learn more about its groundbreaking police program and its mission to respond to evolving community needs in the profession.

This afternoon, Student Development held Rock the Block XXV on Highland Ave & on the Main Quad. Rock the Block gives students a chance to connect with over 150 Clubs, Organizations, Departments and Non-Profits. There are a plethora of activities, including a water slide, dinner, dunk tank, ice cream truck, club demonstrations, free stuff and so much more!

Lisa Lane McCarty, Director of the Fitchburg State University Police Program, program staff, and the 6th Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC) held a walk-through for tomorrow morning's Police Program Graduation: 6th ROC -  highlighted with the unveiling of the class video. Expected at the ceremony are President Lapidus, local dignitaries, members of police departments from across Massachusetts, as well as proud family members.

This morning, Somerville Police Department Detective Mario Oliveira (Ret.) shared his poignant story, “Surviving the Unthinkable”, with the 6th Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC). On November 2, 2010, while assigned to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives Boston Field office as a Task Force Agent, Detective Oliveira was shot six times at point blank range while serving a Federal arrest warrant. 

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Patricia Marshall stopped into this afternoon's Career Services and Advising (CSA) New Transfer Student Meet-Up in the Welcome Center at our Admissions Office. This served as an opportunity to meet fellow transfer students, learn about Fitchburg State resources, and get any questions  answered.

This afternoon, Chief of University Police Michael Cloutier conducted a Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) for Teacher Candidates in our Education Programs. 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 surviving an active shooter event. 

Students, along with Assistant Professor, Film and Video, Rachelle A. Dermer, had a boisterous discussion during their Short Film Story Development course. The course is an intensive film/video course that examines short film story development in detail. Students will work to gain a solid understanding of the principles of cinematic storytelling and put that knowledge into practice by writing several short screenplays. Specifically, students will study short screenplay plot structure, character development, writing for mise-en-scéne, and dialogue.

Today, President Lapidus hosted a Welcome Back & Recognition Day for our returning faculty.  The day began with colleagues gathering outside the Antonucci Science Complex, where they had the opportunity to reconnect after the summer, and before the start of the fall semester tomorrow.

Director for Student Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Programs Junior Peña, and Student Leaders in the Center for Diversity and Inclusiveness (CDI) facilitated the “I am Fitchburg State” student panel during fall orientation this morning and afternoon. Students spoke about their fears before getting to campus, overcoming challenges, and managing the stresses of college life.