It was bittersweet as the Fitchburg State University bid a fond farewell to long-time Materials Management employee Kevin Kelley, Storekeeper IV, who is retiring after 42 years with the university. Kevin touched so many during his tenure and this afternoon saw the result of this good will as so many gathered in the Falcon Hub to share how much he will be missed. Good luck Kevin!

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.

 Members of the Fitchburg State University Marketing & Integrated Communications department, and Director of the Crocker Center for Civic Engagement Dr. William Cortezia, visited university partner Fitchburg Art Museum this morning for an in-depth tour and luncheon meeting with Museum Director Nick Capasso, and Marketing Manager Christian Lopez. The tour included the The 86th Regional Exhibition of Art and Craft, two exhibits by Fitchburg State University alums Bridie Wolejko and Betsy Sawyer. Sawyer's exhibit entitled Big Book: Pages for Peace  & Hypnagogia: Bridie Wolejko’s Mixed Media Fantasies, the always popular Discover Egypt exhibit, and Evoking Eleanor - Eleanor Norcross 1854 – 1923 :Artist, Collector, and Museum Founder. 

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.

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.

Associate Director of Student Development, Commuter and Volunteer Affairs Shane Franzen, who is also the Advisor for our Gay Straight Alliance Organization, placed Pride Flags all along the G-Level patio in observance of Pride Month.

After a welcome from Assistant Dean for Student Success Jason Smith, and remarks from President Richard Lapidus, the inaugural Data & Student Success Conference,  began in Hammond Hall. The day-long conference featured experts from across  Fitchburg State: Academic Affairs, Admissions, Enrollment Management, IT, Registrar & Student Affairs. This conference served as an opportunity for staff to show each other how data, and data management platforms are used to better serve our students.

As students embark on their first day of final exams, the Office of Student Development set up a grill and gave away hot dogs to mark the day. Not to be outdone, Counseling Services offered ice cream sundaes. Check out the photos!

Today at the North Street Bistro was the fourth, and last, Staff Appreciation event which was held simultaneously at the McKay Café. Staff were treated to a beverage, and a snack, with their tickets entered into a prize raffle.

Just ahead of tomorrow's Earth Day, a group of faculty, students, and staff gathered at the McKay Campus School parking lot and prepared to pick up trash on Rindge Rd.