This morning, on this National Coffee with a Cop Day, the Fitchburg State University community had the chance to meet with Chief Michael Cloutier and members  of the Fitchburg State University Police as they hosted Coffee with a Cop in the Falcon Hub. Fitchburg State University Police therapy dog Officer Zara was there as well. The mission of Coffee with a Cop is to break down the barriers between police officers and the citizens they serve.

This morning, students in our at our Adult Learning in the Fitchburg Area (ALFA) program were at Fitchburg Access Television (FATV) podcast studio for their Build-A-Podcast course. This hands-on course introduces participants to the fundamentals of podcasting, from idea development to recording and sharing a finished episode. Students will learn how to use the Fitchburg Access Television podcast studio, explore storytelling techniques, and gain basic audio editing and graphic design skills. By the end of the course, participants will have created and shared their own short podcast project with the option to share their work on FATV’s public channel. 

Yesterday afternoon, Selma Martey, Coordinator of Student Belonging in our Center for Diversity and Inclusiveness, and the Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Board Members welcomed attendees to the annual LGBTQ+ Flag Presentation and Flag Raising at Alumni Plaza in honor of LGBTQ+ History Month.  

Yesterday, Biology Prof.  Christopher Picone  and the BioChem Club headed out for their annual Rindge Road cleanup. Hands-on science goes beyond the lab—it’s about taking care of the environment right in our own backyards. Shoutout to the team for giving back and keeping our local community clean and beautiful.

This morning, as part of the university's You FIT Here! Fitchburg Your Story program, Fitchburg State University School of Education and English Studies programs held a Teach-In at Abolitionist Park. Professors Danette Day and  Kisha Tracy taught their  How to Build Community, and  Global Middle Ages  courses in Abolitionist Park. This is a two-day program involving other academic schools and professors.

Krysta López, Director of Student Belonging in our Center for Diversity and Inclusiveness hosted a Flag Raising Ceremony on the Alumni Quad (between Hammond Hall and Thompson Hall) this afternoon in to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month. Our annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration of the contributions and influence of the Hispanic and Latinx/a/o community to our history and culture is observed with a series of entertaining and informative events September 15 - October 15.

This morning President Hodge, Fitchburg State University Police Chief Michael Cloutier, members of the University Police, Fitchburg Police Department,  university faculty and staff, local dignitaries, and more joined with Fitchburg Fire Department (FFD) at their North Street Headquarters, adjacent to the university, to commemorate lives lost during the attacks on 9/11/2001. The ceremony was held at the 9/11 memorial outside Fire Department headquarters - a piece of a steel beam from the North Tower of the World Trade Center anchors the memorial.

This morning, Fitchburg State University Police Chief Michael Cloutier and Fitchburg Fire Department Assistant Chief Patrick Haverty co-hosted a joint disaster preparedness exercise alongside partners from the Fitchburg Police Department and Fitchburg Public Schools.

Today’s scenario focused on a coordinated, multi-agency response to a simulated gas leak near a local elementary school.

True emergency readiness requires breaking down operational silos. By training side-by-side with our city partners, emergency responders, and school officials, we ensure our entire community is prepared, connected, and safe.

President Donna Hodge and her Cabinet, AKA "The Donut Party Crew", loaded up the Donut Mobile and traveled around campus to hand out doughnuts and connect with students, faculty and staff on this, the first day of class for the fall semester.

After welcome remarks from Professor Laura Garofoli, Faculty Awards, Emeriti Faculty, Staff Awards, and Years of Service Awards were presented by the University Cabinet. Professor Christine Dee then presented the Student Ambassadors who received their green coats. President Donna Hodge then anchored her third annual State of the University address in the theme of "possibility,", delivering an inspiring speech to students, faculty, staff in Weston Auditorium. The program was followed by the Fall Semester Celebration. Read the full article here.