This morning saw the last session in our Summer Orientation 2022 for Incoming first year students. Our newest Falcons, after registration, began the day with welcome remarks from Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Patricia Marshall, Vice President for Student Affairs Laura Bayless, and Associate Dean for Student Development Hank Parkinson. After introduction of our Orientation Leaders, groups ventured out to the quad for some ice breaker activities, campus tours, and then on  to a day full of information sessions and activities.

Fitchburg State has long embraced the importance of supporting the city beyond the borders of campus, and this summer that included some fresh paint and a lot of artistic expression.

Several Falcons played key roles in the design and creation of a series of major public art murals that were unveiled this summer. The Community Mural Institute led the effort, which supported 12 artists in the design and creation of pieces on large public facades in the heart of the city.

There was free admission to the Fitchburg Art Museum  during this past (8/4/22), and every, Intown Fitchburg First Thursday. Among exhibits that patrons were able to enjoy for free included two by Fitchburg State University alums Bridie Wolejko and Betsy Sawyer. Sawyer's exhibit entitled Big Book: Pages for Peace is the largest book in the world dedicated to the topic of peace. It is the product of a 12-year project begun in 2004 by middle school students from the Groton-Dunstable Regional School District and Sawyer, their dynamic teacher. Hypnagogia: Bridie Wolejko’s Mixed Media Fantasies are hand-crafted mixed-media collages and objects that create dream-like images, informed by her interests in myth, magic, horror, popular culture, surrealism, architecture, and nature.

Yesterday's  Intown Fitchburg First Thursday saw the Fitchburg Cultural Alliance's  grand opening of Main Street Studios at 675 Main Street which is housed in the Fitchburg State University Theater Block. The space will offer local artists affordable studio and art gallery space. Local figures, including Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DiNatalie and University President Richard Lapidus, welcomed the new space with studio tours, refreshments, and music preformed by local performers.

Read more about the Main Street Studios here.

At today's Intown Fitchburg First Thursday, local Farmers offered fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs and cheese, artisan breads, locally made soaps and lotions, & handmade goods at Fitchburg's Upper Common. Farms at the market today included Sholan Farms, Fat Daddy's Apiary, Deer Creek Farm, Little Jimmy's Italian Ice, and more! The Farmer's Market takes place every Thursday 3 - 6 p.m. until October 27.

The Fitchburg State University Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT) met this morning in Percival Hall. Team members, including Dr. Hank Parkinson, Dean of Student Development, Rachel Graddy, Director of Disability Services, Jason Smith, Assistant Dean for Student Success for Academic Affairs, Dr. William Cummings, Director of Compliance and Title IX, and Junior Pena, Director of Student Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Programs (via zoom) discussed policies and procedures in an effort to improve the groups work and the overall Fitchburg State University community.

Mark St. Laurent gives a lesson in voice as part of our Community Music Program this afternoon in the Band Room of our Conlon Fine Arts Center. The Community Music Program offers year-round programs (individual & group lessons, cello choir, chamber music fest) to the public.

This afternoon, President Lapidus hosted an Ice Cream Social at the Lisciotti Pavilion in the Antonucci Science Center. The event was an opportunity for colleagues to gather and welcome new arrivals to campus including Provost Patricia Marshall and Dean of Health and Natural Sciences Jennifer Hanselman. President Lapidus and Special Assistant to the President Gail Doiron doled out the ice cream to an eager and grateful crowd.

Today saw the culmination of Fitchburg State University's Admissions, Marketing & Integrated Communications, Print Services departments, in partnership with officials and departments within Fitchburg, MA. The weeks long partnership enables the university to enhance our downtown presence as the city continues to grow.

Fitchburg State University's Upward Bound Summer Program students work on thank you notes to send in gratitude to their 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.