Winter Orientation was held in the Hammond Center this morning to welcome our newest Falcons to campus. After registration, the day began with welcome remarks from Dean for Student Development Hank Parkinson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Patricia Marshall, Vice President for Student Affairs Laura Bayless, and our Student Orientation Leaders. Students and their families heard presentations from various student services departments including Commuter Affairs, Housing and Residential Services, Wellness & Counseling Services, Academic Coaching and Tutoring Center,  Career Services and Advising (CSA), Student Accounts, University Police, and Community Health Connections, Welcome to the flock!

Yesterday afternoon, the Fitchburg State community gathered to celebrate the 25th anniversary of TRIO Student Support Services here on campus. Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Bayless kicked things off  by welcoming everyone to the event, and thanking some key offices/personnel that helped make the event happen. Next, to honor I Am First Day, Dean of Students Dr. Hank Parkinson enlightened attendees with some "first-gen facts." Lastly, Director of TRIO Student Support Services Elizabeth Swartz thanked both speakers, and invited everyone to look at the four-floors poster-installation in the library, and enjoy cupcakes and refreshments.

Today was another beautiful day for our second Fall Open House. Open House is an ideal way for perspective students to find out everything they want to know about Fitchburg State University. Attendees toured the campus, view presentations, and had the opportunity to meet with faculty, coaches, and staff. Did you miss our Open Hoses? You can set up a campus visit here.

This morning, Assistant Professor Eileen Kirk and Assistant Professor Lilian Bobea hosted three Boston Municipal Court judges at a guest lecture on criminal justice in room 133 of the Antonucci Science Center. Associate Justice David J. Breen, Associate Justice Lisa Ann Grant and Associate Justice Myong J. Joun (who was recently nominated to the federal bench by the Biden Administration) discussed their wide-ranging criminal justice experiences including civil rights cases, their work in the district attorney's office and in public defense.

Today was a beautiful day for the first installment of our  Fall Open House. It's an ideal way for perspective students to find out everything they want to know about Fitchburg State University. Attendees toured the campus, and had the opportunity to meet with faculty, coaches, and staff. Our next Fall Open House. will be held on Saturday, Oct. 29. Learn more here, and register online!

Professor Joshua Spero welcomed The Washington Center Representative Ms. LeeAnn Williams for an Internship Session in Percival. Students, in-person and online, learned about internship opportunities at The Washington Center.

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.

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!

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.

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.