Yesterday afternoon, the Fitchburg State community gathered to celebrate the 25th anniversary of TRIO Student Support Services here on campus. Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Bayless kicked things off  by welcoming everyone to the event, and thanking some key offices/personnel that helped make the event happen. Next, to honor I Am First Day, Dean of Students Dr. Hank Parkinson enlightened attendees with some "first-gen facts." Lastly, Director of TRIO Student Support Services Elizabeth Swartz thanked both speakers, and invited everyone to look at the four-floors poster-installation in the library, and enjoy cupcakes and refreshments.

Students in General Biology Lab learn about Gel electrophoresis, a technique used to separate DNA fragments and other macromolecules by size and charge. DNA samples are loaded into wells (indentations) at one end of a gel, and an electric current is applied to pull them through the gel. DNA fragments are negatively charged, so they move towards the positive electrode. Because all DNA fragments have the same amount of charge per mass, small fragments move through the gel faster than large ones. When a gel is stained with a DNA-binding dye, the DNA fragments can be seen as bands, each representing a group of same-sized DNA fragments.

Students in Earth and Geographic Sciences Professor Jane Huang's Web GIS (Geographic Information System) course work on mapping projects. One student is mapping out all of the highest elevation points in each state. 

This afternoon, students in Technical Theater Concentration continued to put the finishing touches on the  set for the upcoming production of A Raisin in the Sun at the Wallace Theater for the Performing Arts in the McKay Complex . The student designed & student built will be completed under the tutelage of Professor Ellen (Cap) Corduan. Learn more about the production here.

Students in Biology and Chemistry Professor Lisa Grimm's Anatomy and Physiology Lab identify musculature and what it's function is.

Students in Earth and Geographic Sciences Professor Elizabeth Gordon's Oceanography class learn about physical oceanography (waves, tides, currents)  by creating their own waves in lab. One group decided to emulate a tidal wave to see how their tiny boat would fare.

Dr. Katharine Covino (English Studies) and Dr. Erin MacNeal Rehrig (Biology and Chemistry) have teamed up to teach a unique STEAM (Science, Technology, English, Art, and Math) where science and literature collide, using the book, Bloom  by  Kenneth Oppel as inspiration. Yesterday's assignment was an art project, wherein students chose a passage from the book, and painted their interpretation of  the scene.

Today, students in Professor Michael S. McCutcheon's Criminal Investigation course got to try their hands at making a moulage - a mold of a footprint used in criminal investigation. After leaving their own footprints in the ground outside of the McKay Campus School, the students made a mix of dental stone & water and filled their  prints. Once dry, they will clean them off and use to find specific landmarks unique to their print. This course enables students to understand the fundamentals of the criminal investigation process. They explore investigative techniques in crime scene search, collection and use of evidence and information. Learn more about our Criminal Justice Program here.

Each year, Fitchburg State University hosts the Staff Golden Pumpkin Costume Contest - this year's theme was TV Shows. Look closely and you will see The Brady Bunch, Hell's Kitchen, Survivor, Blues Clues, Scooby Doo, The Price is Right, Marvel TV, The Simpsons, and The Crown. Some offices went the extra mile with fully formed skits! The winning office gets bragging rights for an entire year along with the Golden Pumpkin Trophy!

Today was another beautiful day for our second Fall Open House. Open House is an ideal way for perspective students to find out everything they want to know about Fitchburg State University. Attendees toured the campus, view presentations, and had the opportunity to meet with faculty, coaches, and staff. Did you miss our Open Hoses? You can set up a campus visit here.