Our Office of Student Development Student Orientation Leaders, who are on campus preparing for orientation sessions for our newest Falcons, The Class of 2026, were given a presentation by Jonathan Harvey, Hildur Schilling, and Amy McGlothlin of our Music Department as part of the days training sessions and activities. The presentation stressed the importance of music in student's lives and what Fitchburg State University has to offer. Dr. Harvey noted that a recent study showed that over 70,000,000 Americans participate in a music ensemble - roughly the same number involved on some athletic endeavor.

Last week, The Caterpillar Lab of Marlborough, NH presented to third grade classes at McKay Arts Academy. The Caterpillar Lab fosters a greater appreciation and care for the complexity and beauty of our local natural history through live caterpillar educational programs, research initiatives, and photography and film projects. The Lab believes that an increased awareness of one’s local environment is the foundation on which healthy and responsible attitudes towards the broader natural systems of this world is built. 

Our Office of Student Development Student Orientation Leaders are on campus preparing for orientation sessions for our newest Falcons, The Class of 2026. This afternoon, Associate Dean for Student Development Dr. Hank Parkinson described, and then refereed a rousing game of OmniKin Ball on our Quad. Incoming first year students will participate in an overnight summer orientation session. Learn more about our Orientation Leaders, and our Summer Orientation Sessions here.

Students in the he Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC) learned Identification and Interrogation techniques from Behavioral Sciences Assistant Professor Michael S. McCutcheon. Learn more about our Criminal Justice Program here.

Yesterday afternoon saw the launch of the Michael Vincent Addorisio Collection, a new exhibit and online collection celebrating the life and legacy of a fallen World War II sailor from Fitchburg. The Michael Vincent Addorisio (Addorizzi) Family Collection, including 93 letters, postcards, and medals, depicting a military life that was tragically cut short while serving on the USS Reid during World War II. The collection is curated by the fallen sailor’s niece, Rose Anne Addorisio, and is preserved in the library archives through a collaboration with the university’s Center for Italian Culture (CIC). Ms. Addorisio is a member of the CIC’s board.

Associate Director of Student Development, Commuter and Volunteer Affairs Shane Franzen, who is also the Advisor for our Gay Straight Alliance Organization, placed Pride Flags all along the G-Level patio in observance of Pride Month.

Fitchburg State faculty is committed to improving their practice of teaching students as an evolving process, are taking part in this summer's Faculty Academy Program.

The Faculty Academy’s work is built around themes raised in “The Pedagogy of Real Talk: Engaging, Teaching, and Connecting with Students At-Promise” by Dr. Paul G. Hernandez, a nationally recognized educator and consultant who has presented at Fitchburg State.

“The pedagogy helps us connect better with students, so that ‘at risk’ students are less ‘at risk,’ and more ‘at promise,’” said Professor Sean C. Goodlett from the university’s Economics, History and Political Science Department. 

Fitchburg State students are seeing the world this summer, taking part in faculty-led programs to other continents while earning university credits.

Among the courses and destinations this su

mmer are peace studies in Ireland, communications in Greece, and culture and history courses in Verona, Italy. 

Students in the Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC) completed their first day of practical defensive training.

After a welcome from Assistant Dean for Student Success Jason Smith, and remarks from President Richard Lapidus, the inaugural Data & Student Success Conference,  began in Hammond Hall. The day-long conference featured experts from across  Fitchburg State: Academic Affairs, Admissions, Enrollment Management, IT, Registrar & Student Affairs. This conference served as an opportunity for staff to show each other how data, and data management platforms are used to better serve our students.