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Fitchburg State University

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This article is for the state college in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. For other uses see FSC (disambiguation)
Fitchburg State College
Fitchburg State College seal
TypePublic
Established1894
Endowment$9.2 million
PresidentDr. Robert V. Antonucci
Academic staff
171 full-time
Students5,201
Undergraduates3,522
Postgraduates1,679
Location
Fitchburg
,
MA
,
USA
CampusUrban, 31 acres (0.1 km²) main campus
213 acres (0.9km²) total
ColorsGreen and Gold
NicknameFalcons
AffiliationsMcKay Campus School
Servicemembers Opportunity College
MascotFalcor
Websitehttp://www.fsc.edu/

Fitchburg State College, is a four year public institution of higher learning located in the city of Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Fitchburg State College has over 3300 undergraduate and 1670 graduate/continuing education students, for a total student body enrollment of 5049. The College offers Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study, Bachelors, Masters, and MBAs in more than 20 academic disciplines. The main campus, 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.

History

Established in 1894 by an act of the Massachusetts Legislature, the State Normal School in Fitchburg opened in temporary quarters in the old high school building on Academy Street. Principal John G. Thompson, aided by a teaching staff of three, implemented a two-year teacher training program for women that had forty-six participants. In December 1896, the school expanded into a new building, known as Thompson Hall, and set up the State Schools of Observation and Practice in city buildings on Day Street and Highland Avenue.

In the next decade the school was a trendsetter for programs in Education. The Edgerly School opened, originally as an eighth-grade model and practice school, and then in 1910, it became one of the first junior high schools in the United States. The following year the school initiated the first practical arts teacher training course in the country for men.

In 1930, the State Normal School was authorized to offer a bachelor's degree in practical arts, and in 1932, when it became the State Teachers College at Fitchburg, four-year degrees were offered in all areas of education.

Under the auspices of the State Division of University Extension summer courses were first offered in 1915, marking the beginning of the college's commitment to Continuing Education programs. In 1935, the college was also authorized to establish graduate programs and in 1954 the first evening courses were offered.

In 1960, the college changed its name and expanded its mission. The State College at Fitchburg diversified its programs to include degrees in disciplines other than education. In 1965, its name was officially changed to Fitchburg State College, which today offers forty-nine undergraduate degree programs in eighteen academic departments, twenty Masters Degree programs, five Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study programs, and seven Graduate Certificate programs. Enrollment is up to 3,100 full-time and 4,000 part-time students which include 1,100 matriculated graduate students. The campus has expanded from a single structure on High Street to thirty-two buildings on ninety acres, becoming the educational center for the Montachusett region. The college proudly offers traditional and nontraditional programs to serve the educational needs of its students as undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education students. [1]

Ranking

U.S. News and World Report Universities–Master's (North), third tier [1] (highest ranked Massachusetts State College)

Buildings

The school originally housed students in buildings that are now surrounding the quad. The Hammond Center, which houses the library, many offices and the mailroom sits on the site of a former dormitory.

Main Campus

  • Hammond Campus Center/Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library: Main building that house the Library, main campus center, mail room, on campus Cafe' and offices for various staff.
  • Percival Hall: Houses classroom and the department of Behavioral Science, as well as the Percival Auditorium.
  • Thompson Hall: The college's original building (1896), is now primarily a classroom building. It is also home to the Nursing Department and its laboratories.
  • Edgerly Hall: home to the college's computer operations--both the on-campus communications network and the Computer Science Department.
  • The Dupont Facilities Building: Houses the facilities staff for the school, and includes a unused green smokestack that rises more than 200 feet in the air.
  • The Parkinson Gymnasium: Shut down after the new Rec Center was opened in 2000, the Parkinson Gym was renovated and reopened in 2004.
  • Holmes Dining Center: (often referred to as "Daka") spans Pearl St, the main road through campus and lets foot traffic easily move from one side of the street (near the public safety build/main dorms) to the other (into the quad and most academic buildings). Newly renovated in 2006.
  • The Weston Auditorium: The 800 seat home for most large performances and the school’s drama classes.
  • The Condike Science Building: Houses science classrooms, laboratories and departmental offices, Condike has a 135-seat lecture hall.
  • The Conlin Building: Home to the large Communications department. Conlon is actually two buildings connected by an enclosed walkway. One part is home to the Communications/Media and Industrial Technology departments, Information Technology and Print Services. This section includes large video and film production resources and a large Photography and Graphic Arts Departments. The other part contains a 280-seat lecture hall and the offices of the fine arts faculty.
  • The Anthony Building: In the old days was the industrial arts building. Today it houses Shipping and Receiving, the Treasurer's Office, Financial Aid and Health Services.
  • Sanders Administration Building: Houses much of the administrative offices such as the President's Office, Admissions, Registrar, Academic Affairs, Graduate and Continuing Education, Student Affairs, Human Resources, Public Relations, and Cultural Affairs.

Dormitories

The campus consists of 3 major dormitories:

  • Aubuchon [2] - The 11-story Aubuchon dormitory houses about 380 students. Each 20-room floor has a television, laundry facilities, and a kitchen area. The first floor features a full kitchen, lounge, and study area.
  • Russell Towers [3] - Russell's 36 suites divided among four towers makes it the kind of residence hall that encourages a strong sense of community.
  • Herlihey Hall [4] - Herlihy is the smallest of the college's five residence halls. It is home to about 150 students.
  • Mara Village [5] - The newest (1989) of the residence halls, Mara Village is actually a series of eight buildings, seven of which house about 45 students each and one that serves as a common building. Each suite, home to from four to nine people, is designed with double bedrooms, a living room, and bath.
  • Townhouse Apartments [6] - Each of the 33 townhouse apartments is equipped with a combination living room/kitchen area, one and a half baths and individual bedrooms for each student.

Student Activities

Organizations

Fitchburg State College recognizes over 60 student clubs and organizations, including:

  • Biology Club
  • Dance Club
  • English Club
  • FSC Habitat for Humanity
  • First Responders (Rescue Squad)
  • Geography Club
  • MASSPIRG at FSC Group)Math Club
  • Nursing Student Association (NSA)
  
  • The Point (Student Newspaper)
  • Psychology Club
  • Residence Hall Association (RHA)
  • Society of Motion Picture & Television
  • STANCE (Peer Educators)
  • Student Government Association (SGA)
  • WXPL (Student Radio Station)

A full list of clubs and organizations can be found here: FSC Student Clubs & Organizations

Greek life

FSC is home to two fraternities and three sororities. Approximately 4-5% of undergraduate students are affiliated with fraternities and sororities recognized by the College.

Fraternities

 

Sororities

Athletics

File:Fscfalcon.jpg

Fitchburg State College currently offers the following sports programs that compete in NCAA Division III:

  • Baseball
  • Men's Basketball
  • Men's Soccer
  • Football
  • Ice Hockey
  • Cross Country (M/W)
  • Track & Field (M/W)
  
  • Women's Basketball
  • Women's Soccer
  • Softball
  • Field Hockey
  • Women’s Lacrosse

Tunnels

The older buildings that still exist on campus were originally connected through a series of underground tunnels. The main tunnels lead from the basement of the Thompson building (one of the original college building) outward to Percival and Edgerly Halls. (the tunnel to Percival was partially filled with water and by 2003 was locked) Rumors of further tunnels could not be proven. These tunnels run just below ground level, in the case of the Edgerly tunnel there are ground level windows built into the quad. When the Hammond Campus Center was built a (possibly existing) tunnel was made into a thoroughfare between the second level of the new building and the basement of Thompson. This new tunnel was wider and brighter than the others (the older ones are cramped with steam pipes and minimal lighting) and included built-in benches and classrooms. While these tunnels are often well used (especially in the winter) there are few signs or directions around campus.Making it easy to get lost. Most students find these tunnels mostly by accident or by word of mouth. As of 2007 all the tunnels (except the Hammond/Thompson) were locked up and closed off to students.

Notable Alumni

  1. ^ "Fitchburg State College History". Fitcburg State College. Retrieved 2007-3-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ^ http://www.fsc.edu/community/aboutus/virtualtour/virtual_tour_aubuchon.html
  3. ^ http://www.fsc.edu/community/aboutus/virtualtour/virtual_tour_russell.html
  4. ^ http://www.fsc.edu/community/aboutus/virtualtour/virtual_tour_herlihy.html
  5. ^ http://www.fsc.edu/aboutus/virtualtour/virtual_tour_mara.html
  6. ^ http://www.fsc.edu/aboutus/virtualtour/virtual_tour_townhouse.html
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