Bridging campus life and community engagement. As part of Fitchburg State University's orientation programming, incoming students participate in the "Tour of Fitchburg"—a popular activity designed to introduce our newest Falcons to the cultural, historical, and recreational landmarks of our host city. Led by student Orientation Leaders, the tour included visits to Hollis Hills Farm, the Fitchburg Art Museum, and Coggshall Park. Notably, Coggshall Park was established in 1894, marking a shared, 132-year legacy of community presence alongside the university's own founding year. We are proud to connect our students with local institutions and foster a strong sense of civic pride from their very first week on campus. 

Our 9th Recruit Officer Course (ROC) is learning that real police work requires sharp minds just as much as sharp tactical skills. This week, Drill Instructor Lt. John Boucher of the Ashburnham Police Department traded his command voice for a slide deck, leading the academy through their intensive Report Writing course. In law enforcement, a report is easily one of the most critical, high-stakes tools an officer possesses. It’s the official blueprint of an incident—and a well-written report can make or break a case long before it ever reaches a courtroom. Our recruits are putting in the hours to ensure their documentation is flawless, objective, and ironclad. 

And that is an official WRAP on Summer Orientation 2026! A massive, Wachusett mountain-sized shoutout to our phenomenal Student Engagement staff and rockstar Orientation Leaders! From Session 1 to the final moments of Session 3, this team kept the energy at an absolute 10/10, bringing the hype and welcoming our newest Falcons and their families with open arms. They’ve walked the miles, answered a million questions, and showed the Class of 2030 what Falcon Pride is truly about. We couldn't have completed the flock without you! 

 Roll out the red carpet—Upward Bound just went Hollywood! For their final Thursday meeting, our Upward Bound program completely switched things up by hosting an exclusive red carpet screening of the documentary, "Beyond the Athlete". The film shines a spotlight on the dedication and stories of three phenomenal Fitchburg State student-athletes: Matthew Drayton 🏀, Elijah Zaire "EZ" McKnight 🏈, Samantha Wozniak 📣. Following the screening, the crowd got a behind-the-scenes look with an exclusive panel discussion. Director Skye Goba '26, Co-Producer Cassie Israelson '26, current graduate student/former UB staff Elijah Zaire "EZ" McKnight, and Samantha Wozniak '26 answered questions about the filmmaking process and share what it’s really like to be a Falcon!  

Summer Orientation 2026: Session 3 Welcome in Weston. The energy on campus this morning is absolutely electric as we welcome our incoming students and families for Summer Orientation Session 3. Our newest Falcons kicked off their day in Weston Auditorium, getting a warm and high-energy welcome from Dean of Students Tim St. John. Afterward, Associate Director of Student Development Angelo M. Prevosto introduced the incredible team of Orientation Leaders who will be by our students' sides every step of the way. These OLs are ready to guide everyone through an unforgettable two days packed with connection, critical info sessions, and a whole lot of Falcon pride. 

Building the foundation for success from Day One! Our newest Falcons officially took over the Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library to create their official Falcon Profiles! This is the digital key to their entire Fitchburg State journey. It takes a village to launch a Falcon, and we had an incredible cross-campus dream team on hand to help them navigate their new digital footprint:

 Saving the best for last—Session 3 is officially LIVE! Our incredible Student Engagement staff and Orientation Leaders were ready to absolutely crush this morning’s Summer Orientation Session 3 Check-In out on the Hammond Hall Plaza! Covering all bases, and Sweating the small stuff - the energy for our final summer session is completely unmatched. We are 100% ready to welcome our latest wave of newest Falcons and their families to the flock today! 

And just like that, Summer Orientation Session 2 is in the books! This afternoon, we sent off our second wave of newest Falcons (and their amazing families & friends) in true Fitchburg State style! Before heading out, everyone:

 As part of our Summer Orientation sessions, our newest students are exploring the endless possibilities waiting for them at Fitchburg State through our "Oh the Places You Will Go!" track!  This session introduces our incoming Falcons to life-changing opportunities that extend way beyond the traditional classroom:

Falcons giving back! One of our favorite orientation traditions is Falcon's Choice, where our newest students get to customize their day by picking two of four awesome activities: Tour De Fitchburg, Fitchburg in the Arts, Wellness, or a Service Project! For the Falcons who chose the Service Project, it was all about immediate impact. They rolled up their sleeves to pack hygiene and laundry kits for our on-campus food and necessity pantry, the Falcon Bazaar. Even better? Representatives from the local United Way, Habitat for Humanity, and Big Brothers Big Sisters were on hand to chat with students about how they can keep the volunteer spirit alive throughout their college careers.