The Boston Bruins Fan Fest Tour stopped at our Wallace Civic Center today with Bruins -centric fun for all ages. Activities included guest appearance by current and former Bruins players, Bruins mascot Blades and our own Freddy Falcon, interactive hockey games and exhibits, personalized equipment fittings for Learn to Play participants, and much more.

President Donna Hodge and her Cabinet, AKA "The Donut Party Crew", loaded up the Donut Mobile and traveled around campus to hand out doughnuts and connect with students, faculty and staff on this, the first day of class for the fall semester.

It was a perfect day for our State of the University Address and Fall Semester Picnic on the main quadrangle this morning. After welcome remarks from Professor Laura Garofoli and Krysta Lopez-Acevedo, Faculty Awards, Emeriti Faculty, Staff Awards,
and Years of Service Awards were presented by the University Cabinet. Professor Christine Dee then presented the Student Ambassadors who received their green coats from President Hodge. Last but not least, President Hodge asked the Principals of Fitchburg High School, Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School, along with Superintendent of Fitchburg Schools an Fitchburg Mayor Sam Squailia to join her and Pam McCafferty, Assoc. Vice President for Institutional Research & Planning in the signing of a Direct Admissions Memo of Understanding between Fitchburg State University and the cities high schools. The program was followed by the Fall Semester Celebration Picnic. 

Professor, Dr. Sean Goodlett welcomed our faculty, staff, current and new students to the New Student Matriculation Ceremony this morning in Weston Auditorium. Dr. Patricia Marshall, Provost and Executive Vice President convened the ceremony with Taylor Crout performing the National Anthem. Tim St. John, Dean of Students and Chief Student Affairs Officer introduced our Keynote Speaker Stephany Infante, City Councilor District E for the City of Lawrence Fitchburg State University Graduate, Class of 2016 who addressed the newest students. After the signing of the Class Book, Dr. Donna Hodge, 12th President of Fitchburg State University, led our newest falcons in the Future Falcon Pledge.

It's Orientation Week here at Fitchburg State University, President Hodge took advantage of a class photo session to meet our newest Falcons.

The Fitchburg State University Great Move In 2025 was capped off with a Welcome  BBQ. Our new arrivals got to take part in an array of activities, and had one more chance to spend time with family before they left them in their new home.

It was all hands on deck this morning for the Fitchburg State University Great Move In 2025. Our athletic teams, staff, Clubs, University Police, students, and more were spread out between Check-In at the Wallace Civic Center, and the dormitories on the main campus, all in the effort of making our newest Falcons move in process as smooth as possible. The Great Move In will be  capped off with the Falcon Nest BBQ this afternoon.

Fitchburg State University Police Chief Michael Cloutier and Sgt. Timothy Grant gave a training session about the intricacies of de-escalating various situations to our  Office of Student Development Student Orientation Leaders, and Housing and Residential Services Resident Assistants  in preparation for our upcoming Orientation Sessions where we welcome our newest Falcons. 

Fitchburg State University was honored to be part of the groundbreaking ceremony for the NewVue Communities' Fitchburg Arts Community Ribbon Cutting, a transformative downtown project that has converted long-vacant buildings into new artist live/work space. This project is the culmination of endeavors by local, state, and federal elected officials in addition to grass roots community effort. 

Our Office of Student Development Student Orientation Leaders took a break during their week-long training for a bit of friendly competition at the Orientation Leader OL-ympics.