This morning, Fitchburg State University hosted educators and administrators from across Massachusetts for a daylong series of discussions and workshops on Early College, a program that lets high school students experience and complete college-level coursework.

Fitchburg State President Richard S. Lapidus opened the event by citing the growth of Early College on the university’s campus, with the number of participating students growing by more than 40% in the last year. The university has formal agreements with Mount Wachusett Community College and local high schools including Athol, Fitchburg, Gardner, Leominster, Narragansett Regional, and Sizer School that create credit-bearing opportunities for students. 

Local Artist and Alum Amber Haney was a spoke to students in  English Studies Professor Kisha Tracy's Writing II class. Amber talked about Art Therapy, Art in the Public Space, and challenged students to affect their environment through their art. 

Today, Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega visited the Fitchburg State campus as part of his tour of the state's 29 public colleges and universities. During his visit, Commissioner Ortega had lunch with and listened to students, experienced an immersive classroom simulation with education students, spoke with game design students at the downtown game studio about their projects, experienced a virtual nursing simulation designed by students, and checked out facilities including the strength and conditioning laboratory at Landry Arena. 

Greek Week began today with a corn hole tournament on the quad. The week will continue with activities with different decade themes. Learn more about Greek Life here.

As part of our yearlong Community Read of Trevor Noah's Born a Crime, this event showcased the stories of students and community members through on-stage readings. Much like The Moth's storytelling events, this event encouraged heartfelt, compelling, humorous, and honest tellings of the complex and rich lives led by our peers, students, neighbors, and colleagues. Inspired by the historically and culturally rich vignettes presented in Noah's memoir, we hope this event opened us up to thoughtful consideration of who we are as a community, where we come from, and how we all ended up together.

English Studies Professor Kisha Tracy welcomed Local Storyteller, Teacher, and Alum Todd Goodwin to her Storytelling and Oral Tradition class yesterday morning. After regaling the class with some harmonica playing, a song, and lighting the imaginary campfire, Mr. Goodwin told the story of "The Rich Man's Smells."

Fitchburg State’s School of Graduate, Online and Continuing Education (SGOCE) held its second annual Graduate Education Celebration on April 3, highlighting the accomplishments of its students and faculty.

Alpha Sigma Tau are holding their yearly Swing-a-Thon fundraiser on the quad, they have been swinging since 8 a.m. yesterday, and will continue until 8 p.m. tonight for a total of 36 hours. They are swinging to raise money for the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). RAINN helps people who experienced sexual assault get the help they need to support them and give them a voice. Stop by and  join them on the quad. Fill out a rain drop or do some art and crafts, and even some outdoor games! Learn more about Alpha Sigma Tau and Greek Life here.

Fitchburg State University Student Government Association (SGA)  held a Senate & Cotton Candy session on the street level of the Hammond Building, Students could stop by, grab some cotton candy, and learn about the SGA Senate. 

Last week, Professor Elizabeth Krause from the Department of Anthropology at UMass Amherst  presented this talk that drew on ethnographic research in the Made in Italy arena across two different sectors - slow figs and fast fashion - to theorize authenticity. Presented as part of the Center for Italian Culture's "Made in Italy" series.