This morning, President Lapidus hosted a Welcome Back & Employee Recognition Celebration at the Kent Recital Hall. Prior to the presentations,  colleagues gathered outside the Antonucci Science Complex, where they had the opportunity to reconnect after the summer, and before the start of the fall semester next week.

Fitchburg State University Athletics  Fitchburg State Football Team are on campus and are  preparing to face Dean at their first game of the season September 2, at 7 p.m. at the newly renovated Elliot Field. 

Chief of University Police Michael Cloutier invited our Residents Assistants, and Housing and Residential Services staff, to tour University Police facilities. Along with lunch and meeting the University Police staff, students and staff got to try out equipment, see what it's like to perform a sobriety test with "drunk" goggles, meet Odin, our therapy dog, and so much more!

Today, all of our  Student Development Orientation Leaders (Summer & Fall) moved back to campus and started training for next weeks Move In, Orientation, and Welcome Events for our new and returning Falcons. Orientation Leaders took part in some team building exercises this afternoon including "Drop the Tarp", and "Up and Over."

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Patricia Marshall, along with other Academic Affairs Leadership, took a break from Day 1 of a two day New Faculty & Librarian Orientation - Promoting Faculty Success program, for a casual luncheon with the newest Fitchburg State University Faculty.

 Members of the Fitchburg State University Marketing & Integrated Communications department, and Director of the Crocker Center for Civic Engagement Dr. William Cortezia, visited university partner Fitchburg Art Museum this morning for an in-depth tour and luncheon meeting with Museum Director Nick Capasso, and Marketing Manager Christian Lopez. The tour included the The 86th Regional Exhibition of Art and Craft, two exhibits by Fitchburg State University alums Bridie Wolejko and Betsy Sawyer. Sawyer's exhibit entitled Big Book: Pages for Peace  & Hypnagogia: Bridie Wolejko’s Mixed Media Fantasies, the always popular Discover Egypt exhibit, and Evoking Eleanor - Eleanor Norcross 1854 – 1923 :Artist, Collector, and Museum Founder. 

Head Football Coach Scott Sperone invited Director of Counseling Services/Assistant Dean, Student Affairs Dr. Robert Hynes to speak with the players at this morning's team meeting. After introducing new team members, and letting the team know that he calls the games and is the "Voice of the Falcons", Dr. Hynes and told the players about the services available to them through the Counseling Services Center.

Today, Sgt. Justin Starkus of the Auburn MA Police Department instructed the 5th Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC) how to administer a breathalyzer exam after an OUI stop. After extensive instructions and quizzing, the recruits were tasked with successfully completing all the steps legally necessary to perform the breathalyzer test. Sgt. Starkus reviewed the completed tests for procedural accuracy.

Fitchburg State University Athletics Head Strength & Conditioning Coach David Jenkerson Jr. ran members of the Fitchburg State Football Team through a warm up & workout this morning at the Carmelita Landry Fitness Center. The team is preparing to face Dean at their first game of the season September 2, at 7 p.m. at the newly renovated Elliot Field.

This afternoon, our newest Falcons, the Class of 2026, met with Department Deans & Chairs, and Academic Advising at their Summer Orientation 2022.These first year students got a chance to go over their schedules as well as learn more about their chosen majors.