Fitchburg State College
Encyclopedia
Fitchburg State University, also known as Fitchburg State, is a four-year public institution of higher learning with a compact urban campus, located in the city of Fitchburg, Massachusetts
. Fitchburg State University has over 3,500 undergraduate and over 1650 graduate/continuing education students, for a total student body enrollment over 5200. The College offers Postgraduate certificate
s, Bachelor's degree
s, Master's degree
s, and MBA
s in more than 25 academic disciplines. The main campus, the McKay Campus School, and athletic fields comprise 79 acres (320,000 m²) in the city of Fitchburg; the biological study fields comprise 120 acres (490,000 m²) in the neighboring towns of Lancaster
, Leominster
, and Lunenburg
.
. Its first President was John G. Thompson (President 1895–1920). Initially a secondary education school for women (coeducation arrived in 1911), the Normal School was not authorized to grant Bachelor degrees until 1930, after the presidency of William D. Parkinson (1920–1927), and during Dr. Charles M. Herlihy's (1927–1945) tenure. In 1932, that authorization was extended to all academic disciplines in Education. At the same time, the name was changed to State Teachers College at Fitchburg. Dr. Charles M. Herlihy's died while in office and was followed by Dr. William J. Sanders (1945–1950) and Ellis F. White (1950–1953).
During Ralph H. Weston's (1953–1963) presidency of the college, the Education program was the primary focus. That changed in 1960, when the school changed its name to State College at Fitchburg and added degree programs outside of Education. In 1965, the College's name evolved into Fitchburg State College. James J. Hammond (1963–1975) and Dr. Vincent J. Mara (1975–2003) were the next two presidents of the school and added many buildings to the campus, most notably what are now called the Hammond Building and Mara Village. More recently, a new west wing was added to the Mara compound.
In the past five years, since Robert V. Antonucci (2003–present) became president, the college has focused on enhancing its buildings and grounds as well as its programs. The school has focused on renovations and rehabilitation of underused buildings and areas as opposed to extensive building, even though there has been some. One notable building is the 3500 square feet (325.2 m²) campus police station (2008). A new science building and renovation of the Condike Science building is in the works with construction slated to begin in 2011.
Continuing Education at Fitchburg State University began in 1915, with the first summer courses offered through the College. Twenty years later, its first graduate programs were established. In July 2010, the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate voted to grant Fitchburg state university status and change its name to Fitchburg State University. The measure was signed into law by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick on July 28, 2010.
The Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library is the main library on campus with over 1 million books, rolls of microfiche, journals, and periodicals, on four floors. It has an extensive collection of children's and young adults books. The Library holds many special collections from notable alumni, faculty, and local residents. These special collections include works from Robert Cormier
, well-known author for young adults, and R. A. Salvatore, a prolific fantasy writer, well-known for his Forgotten Realms
novels and The DemonWars Saga
. There are works by Richard Kent, former music teacher for whom Kent Recital Hall was named, Ernst Fandreyer's translation of Gauss' proof, works by William Wolkovich-Valkavicius, as well as papers by John Ellis Van Courtland Moon, former professor of history.
Aubuchon Hall, Mara Village, and Russell Towers are the three suite halls. Each suite has a common living room area, four to six rooms, and a bathroom. Aubuchon Hall and Mara Village have "locked off" suites: A key is needed to get into the suites. Aubuchon is home to the office of Housing and Residential Services, which is located on the first floor. Russell is home to the Student Health Service, which provides students with two nurse practitioners and a physician during the week. Recently, the Campus Mail Center moved to the bottom floor of the Mara Village Commons Building located within the Mara complex.
There are two apartment-style residence halls on campus: the Townhouse Apartments and the North Street Apartments. Because of their layout, both of these halls are usually reserved for upperclassmen. Each one of the 33 Townhouses is equipped with a combination living room/kitchen area, one-and-a-half baths, and individual bedrooms. The North Street Apartment building was acquired in the summer of 2007 and consists of six apartments. Each apartment has a living room area, bathroom, and kitchen.
Herlihy Hall is the smallest, and oldest, of the college's current residence halls but has the largest rooms. It houses 150 students in a normal dormitory style (one long corridor with rooms off it), and has the luxury of being connected to the dining commons.
Mara Village was recently expanded and opened for the fall 2009 semester. The $12 million expansion added 125 beds and allows 50% of the undergraduate population to live on campus.
The campus has also adopted Cedar Street Home as a residence hall. Previously, this building from 1900 was a nursing home. The university bought it in 2005 and currently rents the single rooms to girls from sororities.
Chartwells and is buffet
style. In the summer of 2006, it had a $4 million renovation.
, through campus, and then to the MBTA Commuter Rail
stop. The loop takes about 15 minutes.
The MBTA Commuter Rail
stop closest to the college is the Fitchburg
stop on the Fitchburg Line
. The line ends at North Station and is about an hour and a half ride. It is wheelchair accessible and a short walk from campus.
A new addition to transportation on and off campus is the collaboration between the school and the Montachusett Regional Transit Authority
(MART). Faculty, staff and students can ride any of the bus routes in Fitchburg or Leominster
free of charge.
. This translates to the requirement that a student take at least 4 classes per semester to be considered a full-time student. In most cases, 5 classes per semester are required for a student to complete their major within 4 years.
The most competitive majors at Fitchburg State are Nursing
, Communications Media
(including Film and Video Production), Education
, Business Administration, and Industrial Technology
. The Industrial Technology department, along with the English
department, have hosted the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival
Region 1 festival from 2006 to 2009.
, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
, the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education, the Council for Standards in Human Service Education, and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Individual programs have been accredited by the Massachusetts Department of Education, the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification, the Interstate Certification Compact of Educational Personnel, the State Board of Registration in Nursing, the Board of Higher Education, and the Commonwealth Honors Program.
U.S. News and World Report ranked Fitchburg State College as a Universities–Master's (North) school, third tier (highest ranked Massachusetts State College)
, Basketball
, Soccer, Football
, and ice hockey
. Women's sports offered are Basketball
, Soccer, Softball
, Field Hockey
, and Lacrosse
. Cross Country
and Track & Field are offered for both men and women.
each semester. These sports are only students on campus versus other students on campus. The chosen sports can differ from year to year. In the past, they have included, Basketball
, Dodgeball
, Flag Football
, Floor Hockey
, Kickball
, Soccer (indoor and outdoor), Softball
, Swimming
, Ultimate Frisbee, and Volleyball
.
club is the largest club on campus. Other organizations include the Anime
Club, Biology
Club, English
Club, Falcon Players (Drama
Club), FSC Habitat for Humanity, FSC EMS (Rescue Squad
), GEO Club, Math Club, MASSPIRG at FSC, Fitchburg Activities Board (FAB), Martial Arts
Club, Nursing Student Association (NSA), Pi Mu Epsilon
Mathematics
Honor Society, Psychology
Club, Student Government Association (SGA), Filmmaker's Society, Model United Nations Team, and the Table Top Gaming Club and the Fitchburg State University Business Society.
and Sigma Tau Gamma
, while the recognized sororities are Phi Sigma Sigma
, Sigma Sigma Sigma
, and Alpha Sigma Tau
.
.
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Fitchburg is the third largest city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,318 at the 2010 census. Fitchburg is home to Fitchburg State University as well as 17 public and private elementary and high schools.- History :...
. Fitchburg State University has over 3,500 undergraduate and over 1650 graduate/continuing education students, for a total student body enrollment over 5200. The College offers Postgraduate certificate
Postgraduate certificate
A postgraduate certificate generally is the credential awarded to an individual upon completion of a higher education postgraduate program designed to provide students with specialized knowledge that is less extensive than a postgraduate diploma or Master's degree...
s, Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
s, Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
s, and MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
s in more than 25 academic disciplines. The main campus, the McKay Campus School, and athletic fields comprise 79 acres (320,000 m²) in the city of Fitchburg; the biological study fields comprise 120 acres (490,000 m²) in the neighboring towns of Lancaster
Lancaster, Massachusetts
Lancaster is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, in the United States. Incorporated in 1653, Lancaster is the oldest town in Worcester County...
, Leominster
Leominster, Massachusetts
Leominster is a city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the second-largest city in Worcester County, with a population of 40,759 at the 2010 census. Leominster is located north of Worcester and west of Boston. Both Route 2 and Route 12 pass through Leominster. Interstate 190,...
, and Lunenburg
Lunenburg, Massachusetts
Lunenburg is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,086 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Lunenburg, please see the article Lunenburg , Massachusetts....
.
History
Fitchburg State University was founded as the State Normal School in Fitchburg in 1894 by the state legislatureMassachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
. Its first President was John G. Thompson (President 1895–1920). Initially a secondary education school for women (coeducation arrived in 1911), the Normal School was not authorized to grant Bachelor degrees until 1930, after the presidency of William D. Parkinson (1920–1927), and during Dr. Charles M. Herlihy's (1927–1945) tenure. In 1932, that authorization was extended to all academic disciplines in Education. At the same time, the name was changed to State Teachers College at Fitchburg. Dr. Charles M. Herlihy's died while in office and was followed by Dr. William J. Sanders (1945–1950) and Ellis F. White (1950–1953).
During Ralph H. Weston's (1953–1963) presidency of the college, the Education program was the primary focus. That changed in 1960, when the school changed its name to State College at Fitchburg and added degree programs outside of Education. In 1965, the College's name evolved into Fitchburg State College. James J. Hammond (1963–1975) and Dr. Vincent J. Mara (1975–2003) were the next two presidents of the school and added many buildings to the campus, most notably what are now called the Hammond Building and Mara Village. More recently, a new west wing was added to the Mara compound.
In the past five years, since Robert V. Antonucci (2003–present) became president, the college has focused on enhancing its buildings and grounds as well as its programs. The school has focused on renovations and rehabilitation of underused buildings and areas as opposed to extensive building, even though there has been some. One notable building is the 3500 square feet (325.2 m²) campus police station (2008). A new science building and renovation of the Condike Science building is in the works with construction slated to begin in 2011.
Continuing Education at Fitchburg State University began in 1915, with the first summer courses offered through the College. Twenty years later, its first graduate programs were established. In July 2010, the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate voted to grant Fitchburg state university status and change its name to Fitchburg State University. The measure was signed into law by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick on July 28, 2010.
Campus
The college originally housed students in buildings that are now surrounding the alumni quad.Campus Buildings
- The Hammond Campus Center contains the Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library, the main campus center, the Game Room, the Underground, the Follet Bookstore, and the Hammond Eatery. The third floor houses the student services center which includes the tutor center, math center, writing center, disability services, and counseling services, among others.
The Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library is the main library on campus with over 1 million books, rolls of microfiche, journals, and periodicals, on four floors. It has an extensive collection of children's and young adults books. The Library holds many special collections from notable alumni, faculty, and local residents. These special collections include works from Robert Cormier
Robert Cormier
Robert Edmund Cormier was an American author, columnist and reporter, known for his deeply pessimistic, downbeat literature. His most popular works include I Am the Cheese, After the First Death, We All Fall Down and The Chocolate War, all of which have won awards. The Chocolate War was challenged...
, well-known author for young adults, and R. A. Salvatore, a prolific fantasy writer, well-known for his Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
novels and The DemonWars Saga
The DemonWars Saga
The DemonWars Saga is a series of seven novels written by R.A. Salvatore. The series is set in the world of Corona, principally in the kingdoms of Honce-the-Bear and Behren, and amongst the nomadic To-gai-ru. The Saga is separated into two trilogies bridged by a single book, Mortalis...
. There are works by Richard Kent, former music teacher for whom Kent Recital Hall was named, Ernst Fandreyer's translation of Gauss' proof, works by William Wolkovich-Valkavicius, as well as papers by John Ellis Van Courtland Moon, former professor of history.
- Thompson Hall, built in 1896, was the college's original building. It is now primarily a classroom building. It is home to the Nursing Department and its laboratories, including a 10-bed mock hospital which is fully equipped to be used in case of an emergency on campus. When the Hammond Campus Center was built, a tunnel that ran to the former Palmer House dormitory was made into a thoroughfare between the second level of the new building and the basement of Thompson Hall.
- Edgerly Hall was first used as “an eighth-grade model and practice school,” which made it one of the first junior high schools in America. It is now home to the Computer ScienceComputer scienceComputer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
and MathematicsMathematicsMathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
departments, plus computer labs and classrooms.
- Percival Hall is directly across the Quad from Edgerly and is the home of the Behavioral Science department, including PsychologyPsychologyPsychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, SociologySociologySociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
, and Criminal JusticeCriminal justiceCriminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts...
It also houses Percival Auditorium, which seats 400, and classrooms.
- Miller Hall sits near Percival Hall and Thompson Hall, and houses offices for the EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and HistoryHistoryHistory is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
departments.
- The Anthony Building is the student service center on campus, hosting offices for Admissions, Financial Aid, Student Accounts, Graduate and Continuing Education, Registrar, and the OneCard office.
- The Dupont Facilities Building houses the schools maintenance department.
- The Condike Science Building houses science classrooms, laboratories and departmental offices, as well as a 135-seat lecture hall.
- The Conlon Arts Building is actually two buildings connected by an enclosed walkway. One building is home to the large communicationsCommunication studiesCommunication Studies is an academic field that deals with processes of communication, commonly defined as the sharing of symbols over distances in space and time. Hence, communication studies encompasses a wide range of topics and contexts ranging from face-to-face conversation to speeches to mass...
/media and industrial technologyIndustrial artsIndustrial Arts is an umbrella term originally conceived in the late 19th century to describe educational programs which featured fabrication of objects in wood and/or metal using a variety of hand, power, or machine tools...
departments and home to the school's Information TechnologyInformation technologyInformation technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
office. This section of the building includes large video and film production resources, a large photography and graphic arts department, and metal, wood, and theatrical scene shops. The other part contains a 280-seat lecture hall, the offices of the fine arts faculty, as well as art/music studios and classrooms.
Residence halls
The campus has six residence halls, three of which have rooms in suites, two are designated as apartment-style living, and one has a normal dormitory layout.Aubuchon Hall, Mara Village, and Russell Towers are the three suite halls. Each suite has a common living room area, four to six rooms, and a bathroom. Aubuchon Hall and Mara Village have "locked off" suites: A key is needed to get into the suites. Aubuchon is home to the office of Housing and Residential Services, which is located on the first floor. Russell is home to the Student Health Service, which provides students with two nurse practitioners and a physician during the week. Recently, the Campus Mail Center moved to the bottom floor of the Mara Village Commons Building located within the Mara complex.
There are two apartment-style residence halls on campus: the Townhouse Apartments and the North Street Apartments. Because of their layout, both of these halls are usually reserved for upperclassmen. Each one of the 33 Townhouses is equipped with a combination living room/kitchen area, one-and-a-half baths, and individual bedrooms. The North Street Apartment building was acquired in the summer of 2007 and consists of six apartments. Each apartment has a living room area, bathroom, and kitchen.
Herlihy Hall is the smallest, and oldest, of the college's current residence halls but has the largest rooms. It houses 150 students in a normal dormitory style (one long corridor with rooms off it), and has the luxury of being connected to the dining commons.
Mara Village was recently expanded and opened for the fall 2009 semester. The $12 million expansion added 125 beds and allows 50% of the undergraduate population to live on campus.
The campus has also adopted Cedar Street Home as a residence hall. Previously, this building from 1900 was a nursing home. The university bought it in 2005 and currently rents the single rooms to girls from sororities.
Dining facilities
Holmes Dining Commons, often referred to as "Daka," is the main dining facility on campus. It spans North Street, the main road through campus, and lets foot traffic easily move from one side of the street. It is run by the foodserviceFoodservice
Food Service or catering industry defines those businesses, institutions, and companies responsible for any meal prepared outside the home...
Chartwells and is buffet
Buffet
A buffet is a system of serving meals in which food is placed in a public area where the diners generally serve themselves. Buffets are offered at various places including hotels and many social events...
style. In the summer of 2006, it had a $4 million renovation.
Transportation
Transportation around Fitchburg State University's campus is usually accomplished through walking. Also, there is a shuttle bus that goes from the Wallace Civic CenterWallace Civic Center
The George R. Wallace Jr. Civic Center, more commonly known as the Wallace Civic Center, or just simply the Civic Center, is a 1,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. It hosts various local concerts and sporting events for the area...
, through campus, and then to the MBTA Commuter Rail
MBTA Commuter Rail
The MBTA Commuter Rail serves as the regional rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in the United States. It is operated under contract by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company a joint partnership of Veolia Transportation, Bombardier Transportation and Alternate...
stop. The loop takes about 15 minutes.
The MBTA Commuter Rail
MBTA Commuter Rail
The MBTA Commuter Rail serves as the regional rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in the United States. It is operated under contract by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company a joint partnership of Veolia Transportation, Bombardier Transportation and Alternate...
stop closest to the college is the Fitchburg
Fitchburg (MBTA station)
Fitchburg is a passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Fitchburg Line, located at 100 Main St., Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and is the northern terminus for Fitchburg Line trains...
stop on the Fitchburg Line
Fitchburg Line
The Fitchburg Line is an MBTA line that runs from Boston's North Station to Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The line is along the tracks of the former Fitchburg Railroad, which was a railroad line across northern Massachusetts, United States, leading to and through the Hoosac Tunnel. It is one of the...
. The line ends at North Station and is about an hour and a half ride. It is wheelchair accessible and a short walk from campus.
A new addition to transportation on and off campus is the collaboration between the school and the Montachusett Regional Transit Authority
Montachusett Regional Transit Authority
The Montachusett Regional Transit Authority is one of Massachusetts' regional transit authorities. It is a public, non-profit organization in Massachusetts, charged with providing public transportation to an area consisting of the cities of Fitchburg, Leominster and Gardner, and the adjoining...
(MART). Faculty, staff and students can ride any of the bus routes in Fitchburg or Leominster
Leominster, Massachusetts
Leominster is a city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the second-largest city in Worcester County, with a population of 40,759 at the 2010 census. Leominster is located north of Worcester and west of Boston. Both Route 2 and Route 12 pass through Leominster. Interstate 190,...
free of charge.
Academics
Fitchburg State employs the Carnegie ruleCarnegie rule
The Carnegie rule is a rule of thumb suggesting how much outside-of-classroom studytime is required to succeed in a typical college course. Typically the Carnegie Rule is reported as...
. This translates to the requirement that a student take at least 4 classes per semester to be considered a full-time student. In most cases, 5 classes per semester are required for a student to complete their major within 4 years.
The most competitive majors at Fitchburg State are Nursing
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
, Communications Media
Communication studies
Communication Studies is an academic field that deals with processes of communication, commonly defined as the sharing of symbols over distances in space and time. Hence, communication studies encompasses a wide range of topics and contexts ranging from face-to-face conversation to speeches to mass...
(including Film and Video Production), Education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, Business Administration, and Industrial Technology
Industrial technology
Industrial technology is the field concerned with the application of basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of industrial engineers and managers...
. The Industrial Technology department, along with the English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
department, have hosted the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival
Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival
The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival is a national theatre program dedicated to the improvement of collegiate theatre in the United States...
Region 1 festival from 2006 to 2009.
Majors and Concentrations
Fitchburg State University offers 56 undergraduate majors and concentrations in the departments of Biology, Business Administration, Communication Studies, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Earth Science, Economics, Elementary Education, English, Exercise & Sport Science, Geography, History, Human Services, Industrial Technology, Interdisciplinary Studies, Mathematics, Middle School Education, Nursing, Political Science, Psychology, Secondary Education, Sociology, Special Education, Technology Education, and Pre-Professional Programs.Rankings and Accreditations
Fitchburg State University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and CollegesNew England Association of Schools and Colleges
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. is the U.S. regional accreditation association providing educational accreditation for all levels of education, from pre-kindergarten to the doctoral level, in the six-state New England region. It also provides accreditation for some...
, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education is an autonomous nursing education accrediting agency that contributes to the improvement of the public's health. The CCNE is recognized by the U.S...
, the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education, the Council for Standards in Human Service Education, and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Individual programs have been accredited by the Massachusetts Department of Education, the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification, the Interstate Certification Compact of Educational Personnel, the State Board of Registration in Nursing, the Board of Higher Education, and the Commonwealth Honors Program.
U.S. News and World Report ranked Fitchburg State College as a Universities–Master's (North) school, third tier (highest ranked Massachusetts State College)
College Teams
University is currently ranked as an NCAA Division III college. It offers men's BaseballBaseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, Basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, Soccer, Football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, and ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
. Women's sports offered are Basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, Soccer, Softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
, Field Hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
, and Lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
. Cross Country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
and Track & Field are offered for both men and women.
Intramural Sports
Fitchburg State University also offers a selection of intramural sportsIntramural sports
Intramural sports or intramurals are recreational sports organized within a set geographic area. The term derives from the Latin words intra muros meaning "within walls", and was used to indicate sports matches and contests that took place among teams from "within the walls" of an ancient city...
each semester. These sports are only students on campus versus other students on campus. The chosen sports can differ from year to year. In the past, they have included, Basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, Dodgeball
Dodgeball
Dodgeball is any of a variety of games in which players try to hit other players on the opposing team with balls while avoiding being hit themselves. This article is about a well-known form of team sport with modified rules that is often played in physical education classes and has been featured...
, Flag Football
Flag football
Flag football is a version of Canadian football or American football that is popular worldwide. The basic rules of the game are similar to those of the mainstream game , but instead of tackling players to the ground, the defensive team must remove a flag or flag belt from the ball carrier to end...
, Floor Hockey
Road hockey
Street hockey is a variation of the sport of ice hockey where the game is played on foot or with inline skates or roller skates. The object of the game is to score more goals than the opposing team by shooting a ball or puck into the opposing team's net...
, Kickball
Kickball
Kickball is a playground game and competitive league game, similar to baseball, invented in the United States in the first half of the 20th Century. Kickball may also be known as kick baseball, base soccer, soccer-base, or soccer-baseball...
, Soccer (indoor and outdoor), Softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
, Swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
, Ultimate Frisbee, and Volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
.
Organizations
Fitchburg State University recognizes over 60 student clubs and organizations, including the student-run newspaper, The Point, and the student-run radio station, WXPL (91.3 FM). Currently the DanceDance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
club is the largest club on campus. Other organizations include the Anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
Club, Biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
Club, English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
Club, Falcon Players (Drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
Club), FSC Habitat for Humanity, FSC EMS (Rescue Squad
Rescue squad
A rescue company is a public service organization that uses specialized equipment and knowledge to rescue people. There are two typical applications: squads that rescue trapped people, and squads that rescue people who are having medical emergencies....
), GEO Club, Math Club, MASSPIRG at FSC, Fitchburg Activities Board (FAB), Martial Arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
Club, Nursing Student Association (NSA), Pi Mu Epsilon
Pi Mu Epsilon
Pi Mu Epsilon is the U.S. honorary national mathematics society.The society was founded at Syracuse University on May 25, 1914, by Professor Edward Drake Roe, Jr, and currently has chapters at 337 institutions across the nation.-Goals:...
Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
Honor Society, Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
Club, Student Government Association (SGA), Filmmaker's Society, Model United Nations Team, and the Table Top Gaming Club and the Fitchburg State University Business Society.
Greek life
FSU is home to two fraternities and three sororities. Approximately 4-5% of undergraduate students are affiliated with fraternities and sororities recognized by the College. The recognized fraternities on campus are Sigma PiSigma Pi
Sigma Pi is an international college secret and social fraternity founded in 1897 at Vincennes University. Sigma Pi International fraternity currently has 127 chapters and 4 colonies in the United States and Canada and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee...
and Sigma Tau Gamma
Sigma Tau Gamma
Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity also named "Sig Tau" or "the Knights" is a U.S. all-male college secret-social fraternity founded on June 28, 1920 at University of Central Missouri...
, while the recognized sororities are Phi Sigma Sigma
Phi Sigma Sigma
Phi Sigma Sigma , colloquially known as "Phi Sig," was the first collegiate nonsectarian fraternity, welcoming women of all faiths and backgrounds...
, Sigma Sigma Sigma
Sigma Sigma Sigma
Sigma Sigma Sigma , also known as Tri Sigma, is a national American women’s sorority with membership of more than 100,000 members. Sigma Sigma Sigma is a member of the National Panhellenic Conference and hosts chapters on more than 110 college campuses and 89 alumnae chapters in communities all...
, and Alpha Sigma Tau
Alpha Sigma Tau
Alpha Sigma Tau is a national Panhellenic sorority founded on November 4, 1899, at Michigan State Normal College...
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Notable alumni
- Robert CormierRobert CormierRobert Edmund Cormier was an American author, columnist and reporter, known for his deeply pessimistic, downbeat literature. His most popular works include I Am the Cheese, After the First Death, We All Fall Down and The Chocolate War, all of which have won awards. The Chocolate War was challenged...
, author - Paul CoynePaul CoynePaul J. Coyne is an American film and television editor and producer.-Early life:Coyne grew up in Milford, Massachusetts, and always thought he would someday become an artist. His earliest memory is of viewing a re-release of Jay North's Zebra in the Kitchen, at the Milford Cinemas...
, TV producer/editor - Jonathan EgstadJonathan EgstadJonathan D. Egstad is an Academy Award-winning special-effects designer and software developer. He was born October 21, 1965 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. He is an alumnus of Fitchburg State College. He currently lives in the San Francisco Bay area with his wife and two sons...
, special effects creator - Jennifer L. FlanaganJennifer FlanaganJennifer L. Flanagan is the Massachusetts State Senator for the Worcester and Middlesex district, which includes her hometown of Leominster. She is a Democrat who has served since 2009, and was elected to a second term in 2010. From 2005 to 2009 she was the Massachusetts State Representative for...
, member of the Mass. House of RepresentativesMassachusetts House of RepresentativesThe Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms... - Joe GurneyJoe GurneyJoe Gurney is a retired American ice hockey player.-Professional career:Gurney played his college hockey at Fitchburg State University. As a member of the Falcons, Gurney's set several Fitchburg State Falcons records with 108 goals, 132 assists, 240 points, 13 game winning goals, 19 power play...
, professional hockey player - Bert JacobsBert JacobsBert Jacobs was a football manager from the Netherlands, who played for HFC Haarlem. Born in Zandvoort, he started a career as a football coach as a 27-year old when he became the head coach of Velox from Utrecht...
, co-founder of Life is Good - Patrick O'Brien DemseyPatrick O'Brien DemseyPatrick O’Brien Demsey is an American actor.-Life and career:Demsey was born in Danvers, Massachusetts. His parents are Gene and Gail Demsey; he has an older brother, Christopher, and a younger brother, Michael...
, actor - Peter H. ReynoldsPeter H. ReynoldsPeter Hamilton Reynolds is an author and illustrator of children's books and is the Founder of the educational media company FableVision.Reynolds was born in 1961 in Canada with his identical twin brother, Paul who serves as FableVision's CEO, as well as a selectman in the town of Dedham,...
, author and illustrator - R. A. Salvatore, fantasy writer
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