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. 

For some, the breaking point is obvious, like finding our fists lodged inside plaster walls. For others, it’s when we curl our bodies up with our hands on our foreheads, fingers trying to comb through the stress. It’s the moment you realize the whole notion of “finding yourself” in college can be filled with stress. The type of learning about yourself you need to do pushes you to be your very best, but might also push you to your mental breaking point. 

This is one reason I stopped telling my friends to “have fun” on the weekends, and to take care of themselves, instead.

For me, “finding myself” has happened in conjunction with my attempts to help others succeed. Being a Human Services major and leader of a student-run mental health club called Active Minds has opened my eyes to the importance of maintaining mental wellness. The more I learn about helping others deal with their mental health, the more I learn about my own. I have learned about the many elements that can be harmful, from stress to illness and everything in-between. Being in college creates a whole new world of risks, because this is when mental productivity is most demanding.

Let me start off by saying that I am not a handyman. Before last spring break I had never touched a nail gun, used a saw, or had any reason to climb up a ladder. So why did I decide to apply to help build houses with Habitat for Humanity during my spring break? I probably couldn’t answer that question then, but I can tell you now that the trip changed my life.

We left on an early morning in March, most of us too excited to be tired. For months before, the team was preparing: bonding, fundraising like crazy, and it was finally happening. It seemed to take forever and a day to get down there, with our connecting flights and the long drive down to Laredo, Texas itself. But it was well worth it.

Once a Falcon, always a Falcon

Enjoy food, football, and fireworks as we hold our 2017 Homecoming Weekend, Friday, September 22 through Sunday, September 24.

It’s two days to celebrate your Falcon pride, reconnect with old friends, and make new memories at what will always be your university.

As you approach your senior year of high school, the most frequently asked question you get at any family gathering is, “Where are you going to college?” Adults only ask this, because either they are genuinely interested or know that this is the stereotypical question that you should ask seniors in high school. Now, adults, we know you mean well, but this question is much more weighted than you think.

Our summer orientation has two remaining sessions, with each session lasting for two days.

Session III runs June 20 & 21 and Session IV runs June 22 & 23.

Below is the two day orientation schedule.

Official check-in starts at 8:00 a.m., but feel free to arrive any time after 7:00 a.m. Checking in covers registration with the Office of Student Development (OSD), and also Housing, Parking, Food, and the One Card.

How did climate change affect the rise of the Homo Sapiens? Why did people start to farm? Why did the Vikings die out in Greenland? How are humans remaking climate change today? 

These questions, and many others, will be addressed in an upcoming course offered in our Fall 2016 semester. Today, we're excited to tell you a little more about it.   

Our "Meet the Faculty" blog series kicks off 2016 with an introduction to Dr. Natalie Karagodsky from our Biology and Chemistry Department. Dr. Karagodsky is relatively new to Fitchburg State, having joined our faculty last fall, and we want to give you the opportunity to know her a little better. 

Fitchburg State Univeristy welcomed a host of new faculty to campus at the start of the 2015 fall semester, and today we're happy to introduce you to one of our most recent additions. Our ongoing "Meet the Faculty" series presents Dr. Katharine Covino from our English Studies department.

Tell us where you completed your academic studies.