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.  

Summer Orientation 2026: Session 2 is officially underway! We are so excited to welcome our next wave of incoming students and their families for the second of our three summer orientation sessions this morning! After checking in, our newest Falcons made their way to Weston Auditorium for an unforgettable start to their journey. They received a boisterous, high-energy welcome from Dean of Students Tim St. John, followed by Associate Director of Student Development Angelo M. Prevosto, who introduced our incredible team of Orientation Leaders! These OLs are fired up and ready to guide our new students through two days packed with info sessions, activities, and Falcon pride.

And just like that, Session 2 is officially LIVE! Our incredible Student Engagement staff and Orientation Leaders were bright, early, and ready to roll for this morning’s Summer Orientation Session 2 Check-In out on the Hammond Hall Plaza! Every single 'T' was crossed, every 'I' dotted, and the energy was absolutely unmatched. We are 100% ready to welcome our newest Falcons and their families to the flock today!  

Yesterday, we sent off our newest Falcons (and their amazing families & friends) in style. Before heading out, everyone grabbed a sweet frozen treat, scored a fresh "Falcons Flock Together" tee, and caught some final laughs with our incredible Orientation Leaders.  We had the absolute best time welcoming you to the nest. Safe travels home, and we’ll see you all at Move-In! 

Our Orientation Coordinators were bright, early, and ready to show off their talons this morning to kick off the second day of our first Summer Orientation session! To start the day, FYE Coordinator and Psychological Science Department Chair Dr. Laura Garofoli took the stage to discuss Academic Transitions. Dr. Garofoli gave our incoming Falcons crucial insights into the real differences between high school and college life, dropping invaluable tips and advice to help them navigate the exciting transition ahead. 

Lunchtime looked a little different depending on your flock. While our Future Falcons headed over to the Holmes Dining Commons for their First-Year Falcon Profile Lunch & Resource Fair, their Parents & Families took over the Falcon Pub! For our Students: The Holmes Dining Commons hosted the First-Year Falcon Profile Lunch & Resource Fair, giving incoming students a chance to network with peers and explore the vital campus resources available to support their academic journey. For our Families: The Falcon Pub provided a space for parents and supporters to connect with one another, while engaging in meaningful dialogue with our Academic Deans and University Cabinet members about student success and institutional support. A huge thank you to our leadership team and campus partners for fostering these important connections! 

Building connections from Day One. Community is at the heart of the Fitchburg State University experience. This morning our Orientation Leaders brought our incoming students out to the quad for icebreaker activities designed to help them build lasting peer connections right out of the gate. These engaging breaks are strategically woven throughout the day between our academic and resources information sessions. At the same time, we are hosting concurrent sessions specifically tailored for Parents & Families to ensure they feel fully equipped, informed, and supported as their student transitions to college life. 

Summer Orientation 2026: Session 1 is officially underway! We are so excited to welcome our incoming students and their families for the first of our three summer orientation sessions this morning!  After checking in, our newest Falcons made their way to Weston Auditorium for an unforgettable start to their journey. They received a boisterous, high-energy welcome from Dean of Students Timothy St. John, followed by Assistant Director of Student Development Angelo M. Prevosto, who introduced our incredible team of Orientation Leaders! These OLs are ready to guide our new students through a day packed with info sessions, activities, and Falcon pride. Welcome to the flock! 

The hype team is officially BACK! Our Office of Student Engagement Student Orientation Leaders (OLs) have returned to campus to prepare for our incoming Falcons! As part of their intensive week-long training, our OLs went on a speed-dating-style deep dive with support teams on campus. They met with TRIO, Counseling Services, Disability Services, the ACT Center, Housing & Res Life, Athletics & Rec, IT, the Center for Diversity & Inclusiveness, the CARE Team, and more. Why? Because when our new students arrive with questions, this team will have ALL the answers. They are locked, loaded, and ready to make your transition to college life legendary!