Today, Fitchburg State University is hosting the 11th Annual  Mental Health & Law Enforcement Conference. This day-long event is designed for Police, First Responders, Emergency Service providers, Department of Mental Health, NAMI, Justice System partners, and other interested parties to come together and focus on mental health issues in their respective professions.

Fitchburg State University's Upward Bound Summer Program students, assisted by staff, work on their resumes for impending area internships. Upward Bound provides academic support through tutoring services, educational and college preparatory workshops, and cultural field trips stressing academic development, The program serves high school students from Fitchburg and Leominster for the duration of their high school career and beyond. The 6-week summer residential program gives students an opportunity to live on the Fitchburg State University campus and experience life as a college student. Students attend academic classes in the morning, participate in community service worksites in the afternoon, are engaged in a variety of entertaining workshops in the evening and have the option of attending college visits and cultural trips on the weekend.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) held a three hour interactive course in Basic Shelter Operations (BSO) here on the Fitchburg State University campus today. This course, led by Allen R. Phillips,  provided a high-level introduction to basic shelter operations, and was developed in collaboration with MEMA, MA Department of Public Health, DelValle Institute, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and the Western Region Homeland Security Council to provide a common vision and guiding principles to improve shelter coordination, support, and information sharing across Massachusetts.

Today was the first day of the Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) Upward Bound Math & Science (UBMS) Summer Academy being hosted here on the Fitchburg State University Campus. Here, students worked together during their orientation to traverse a "minefield" being facilitated by a member of Paradigm Shift, a student development group that works with TRIO programs like UBMS. This program is administered by MWCC to serve high school students from Athol, Winchendon, and Gardner to prepare them for college and STEM careers. 

Yesterday, the 5th Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC) were given the opportunity to experience the interview process with Sherborn Police Chief Tom Galvin. Chief Galvin, who has run this program each year, first has the Recruit Officers write their own set of interview questions and practice the interview process on each other. Following that, Chief Galvin, assisted this year by Sterling Police  Sergeant Steven Fugere preformed his own interview and then debriefed each student and gave them feedback to better hone their interview skills. For many students, this was their first experience with the interview process.

Our newest Falcons, the Class of 2026, began the second day of their Summer Orientation 2022 (Session Three), with some ice breaker activities and major-centric academic presentations. Afterward, they met with Department Deans & Chairs, and Academic Advising at the Holmes Dining Common. These first year students got a chance to go over their schedules as well as learn more about their chosen majors.

Our Orientation Leaders flash a 3 to signify the third session in our Summer Orientation 2022 for Incoming first year students. Our newest Falcons, the Class of 2026, began the day with welcome remarks from Associate Dean for Student Development Hank Parkinson, Vice President for Student Affairs Laura Bayless, and Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Catherine Canney. After some more introductions and directions, groups ventured out to the quad for some ice breaker activities, then to a day full of information sessions and activities.

Students in our Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC) completed week five of the program with today's Defensive Training session.