Fitchburg State University has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 NCTE National Intellectual Freedom Award, presented by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and SLATE (Support for the Learning and Teaching of English). Established in 1997, the annual award honors individuals, groups, or institutions that merit recognition for advancing the cause of intellectual freedom and standing against educational censorship. Fitchburg State was selected by a subcommittee of the NCTE Committee Against Censorship for its comprehensive, campus-wide commitment to defending free expression and maintaining equitable access to diverse literature and research. “Intellectual freedom is not just an abstract principle at Fitchburg State, it is a core value woven into our classrooms, our archives, and our engagement with the community,” said Fitchburg State University President Donna Hodge. “At a time when access to diverse stories and vital information faces unprecedented challenges, we are deeply honored to receive this recognition from NCTE. It reflects the courageous work of our faculty, librarians, students, and community partners who stand up every day for open inquiry and the freedom to read.” The university will be honored during the NCTE Annual Convention in Philadelphia from Nov. 19-22. "At a moment when so many institutions are restricting access to diverse stories and perspectives, I am so proud to stand with and represent Fitchburg State University,” said Professor of English Studies Katharine Covino, the faculty member who nominated Fitchburg State. “Our long history as a campus that values and promotes intellectual freedom means that today we are able to continue an empowering tradition of liberatory education, equitable access, and justice-oriented coursework." The university’s selection highlights a broad range of sustained anti-censorship initiatives across faculty, staff, students, and the local community: The university’s Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library leads annual Banned Books Week activities, hosts inclusive community programming like Drag Queen Story Time events, and convened a panel of local public librarians to discuss hyper-local censorship pressures. The library also launched dedicated guides for government data preservation to safeguard open research access. Through the Adult Learning in the Fitchburg Area (ALFA) program, older adults collaborate with undergraduate students to examine challenged literature. Participants analyze historical patterns of censorship using primary sources from the university’s archives, including the papers of local author Robert Cormier, whose novel, The Chocolate War remains a touchstone in discussions on free expression. In spring 2025, the campus launched "Scholars on Tap," a student-led Teach-In addressing censorship, democracy, and information access. Additionally, Fitchburg State faculty have authored 10 open-access, equity-focused textbooks through the grant-funded ROTEL initiative, helping break down financial barriers to learning materials. Pre-service teachers in the English Studies and education departments write and publish book rationales directly for the NCTE anti-censorship database. Communication Law & Ethics students regularly host public forums on censorship, canceled media, and First Amendment rights in partnership with the Society of Philosophers in America. Grounded in a landmark institutional legacy — Antonelli v. Hammond (1970), a U.S. District Court case that protected student press from prior restraint — Fitchburg State students continue to lead on free expression issues. Recently, an undergraduate honors student presented research on middle and secondary school English classroom censorship alongside faculty at the national NCTE conference. By embedding anti-censorship principles across curriculum design, archival preservation, and public forums, Fitchburg State University continues to foster an environment where open inquiry and diverse perspectives are actively defended. About Fitchburg State University Fitchburg State University is a public institution dedicated to integrating high-quality professional programs with strong liberal arts and sciences studies. Founded in 1894, the university now has more than 30 undergraduate programs and 22 master's degree programs, and 6,000 full and part-time students.

Anything is possible at Fitchburg State University. Fitchburg State President Donna Hodge anchored her third annual State of the University address in the theme of "possibility" on Wednesday, delivering an inspiring speech to students, faculty, staff, and community members gathered in Weston Auditorium. Hodge’s annual address focused on opportunity, strategic choices, and sustainable growth. Grounding her message in the dedication of the campus community, President Hodge outlined how two years of targeted efforts to stabilize leadership, enrollment, and institutional finances have positioned the university to operate from a place of renewed strength rather than crisis. "Year one was grounded in service. Year two was about momentum. And now we begin year three: possibility," said President Hodge. "Possibility isn't wishful thinking, and it certainly isn't a declaration that we've arrived. We have momentum, but we also have real work ahead. What's changed is our capacity to do that work." Her address highlighted institutional success in boosting enrollment of incoming students and improved retention rates for current students. Academic programs have successfully earned renewed accreditation, and students continue to perform well on crucial licensure exams - including a 100% pass rate for nursing students on the competitive NCLEX exam. "Ours is a story about refusing to assume that the current condition of something determines its future," said President Hodge. "This fall gives us the clearest evidence yet that our enrollment trajectory is changing. Our incoming class is already more than 220 students larger than last fall’s class, an increase of 39 percent." Looking ahead, President Hodge called for institutional discipline, emphasizing that future success will rely on prioritizing quality and execution over sheer expansion. "Possibility isn’t permission for us to do everything. It's the responsibility to choose well," said Hodge. "Massachusetts made a choice generations ago rooted in a profoundly democratic idea: Talent is broadly distributed. Opportunity should be, too. That’s the public good of Fitchburg State University." Her address also included the announcement that Fitchburg State has been designated a Purple Heart Campus, expanding upon its success in recruiting and supporting military and veteran students - another rapidly growing population on campus. “Today, less than two years into a new institutional strategy for strengthening recruitment and support for veterans and military-connected families, enrollment among these student populations has more than doubled,” said Hodge, who invited FSU alumnus and veteran Andres Crespo to the stage to read the official proclamation. She also shared that Fitchburg State will receive the National Intellectual Freedom Award this November from the National Council of Teachers of English. Nominated by Fitchburg State faculty member Katharine Covino of the English Studies Department, the award recognizes a university-wide dedication to intellectual freedom across its classrooms, libraries, archives, public programming, and community partnerships. “Intellectual freedom isn’t simply something we’ve chosen to defend in this moment,” said Hodge. “We do choose to defend it, but what’s so special about this recognition is that it’s part of our institutional inheritance.” The event was streamed by FATV and may be viewed online. The university’s start-of-semester celebrations began earlier Wednesday with the new student matriculation ceremony, where new first-year and transfer students formally began their educational journeys. The keynote speaker for the event was 2014 Fitchburg State alumna Red Shaydez — a Boston Music Award-winning hip-hop artist, educator, community activist, and voting member of the Recording Academy. Reflecting on her journey from arriving as an out-of-place transfer student in 2010 to returning as matriculation speaker 14 years later, Shaydez shared how resilience, unexpected support, and adaptability shaped her career. “If there's one thing I hope you take with you this morning, it's this: You don't have to have your entire life figured out today,” said Shaydez. “In fact, I'd encourage you not to put that pressure on yourself. Your major matters. Your goals matter. But your ability to adapt matters, too. The people you meet here matter. The conversations you have matter. The risks you take matter. The moments where someone believes in you matter. And the moments where you choose to believe in yourself matter just as much.” Shaydez went on to tell the students that even when the dots don't connect today, trust that they are still forming a picture. “One day, you'll look back and realize every chapter – even the ones that felt like setbacks – helped shape the person you became,” said Shaydez. “Fourteen years ago, I was sitting exactly where you are wondering what my future would look like. Today, I have the incredible privilege of standing here because Fitchburg State believed in me, challenged me, introduced me to lifelong friends, lifelong mentors, and opportunities that continue to shape my life even now.”

Welcome to a new academic year at Fitchburg State University. To our new students: You are not simply arriving on a campus. You’re joining a community that believes in your ability, your potential, and the future you are here to build. To our returning students: Welcome back to our FSU. You bring experience, energy, and a growing sense of possibility. This university is stronger because you are part of it. And to our faculty, librarians, staff, coaches, alumni, families, friends, and partners: Thank you for creating the conditions in which our students can learn, stretch, stumble, recover, and succeed. A new academic year is full of possibilities. It offers a chance to ask a better question, form an unexpected friendship, discover a new direction, or find the courage to keep going even when the path is difficult. At Fitchburg State, education isn’t something that happens only in a classroom. It happens across our community — and in laboratories, studios, residence halls, libraries, athletic fields, internships, performances, and conversations that change how we see the world and one another. Our first and most important promise is academic. We’re here to provide an excellent education that prepares our students for meaningful work, engaged citizenship, and lives of purpose. But we also make another promise: You will not do this alone. Ask for help. Offer help. Get involved. Take your work seriously, but leave room for curiosity and joy. JOY! Speak to someone you don’t yet know. Try something that challenges you. Remember that growth rarely happens without some discomfort. Most of all, remember this: You belong at Fitchburg State University. Your voice, your story, and your dreams of possibility have a place here. Let’s begin this year with ambition, generosity, and confidence in what we will accomplish together. Welcome home, Falcons. Let’s get to work. Onward! Dr. Donna Hodge President

The course is set, the wait is over, and the premier tournament of the season is officially back. For the first time since 2019, Fitchburg State University is hosting its signature Golf Tournament on Monday, Sept. 28 at the scenic Oak Hill Country Club, 840 Oak Hill Road, in Fitchburg. "Bringing this tournament back is another way we’re strengthening the foundation around Falcon athletics and investing directly in the student-athlete experience," said Fitchburg State President Donna Hodge. "The funds raised will help us improve the spaces where our students train and compete, while bringing alumni, partners, and friends of the university together around a shared commitment to their success. I’m especially pleased to see this tradition return here in Fitchburg." Golfers, alumni, local business leaders, and Falcon supporters are invited to secure their spots for an exciting day featuring an 18-hole scramble format, high-value networking, and a community celebration. Participants can join as individual players, assemble a full team of four, or support the event through various sponsorship tiers. Every swing on the course directly empowers Falcon athletics. Net proceeds from this year’s tournament will fuel transformative athletic initiatives across the campus, funding necessary facility upgrades, essential infrastructure remodeling, and enriched student-athlete experiences. These investments ensure Fitchburg State teams have the modern resources required to excel both in competition and in the classroom. Whether competing on the fairways or connecting with local partners, involvement in this tournament represents a direct investment in the next generation of student-athlete leaders. “The return of our signature golf tournament marks an incredible moment of momentum for Fitchburg State and our local partners,” said Fitchburg State Dean of Institutional Advancement Dr. David P. Weiss. “Oak Hill Country Club provides the perfect backdrop to bring together alumni, business leaders, and supporters who share a passion for our university’s mission.” Registration is now open for individual golfers, full foursomes, and corporate sponsors, with direct contributions also accepted online at FitchburgState.edu/Golf2026.

The Fitchburg State University Humanities Department presents its first exhibition of the academic year, featuring local artist Romayne Dawnay. The exhibition is on display through October 18 at the Hammond Art Gallery, located in Hammond Hall, 160 Pearl Street. There will be an opening reception at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17 at the gallery. The exhibit starts on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Admission is free and open to the public. Dawnay is an Ashburnham-based multi-media artist whose work on paper and tactile, hand-held objects — including handmade books, boxes, and bone carvings — explores themes of connection, energy, and universality found in both natural elements and cultural remnants. Formatively trained at the Oxford School of Art and Hornsey Art School, her artistic vision was deeply shaped by her former career as an archaeological draftsperson in Italy and Iran, where encounters with ancient artifacts ignited a lifelong curiosity in the cross-cultural threads that span time and space. Her artwork and illustrations have been exhibited internationally in New York, London, and Rome, featured in prestigious academic publications for institutions like Harvard University, and held in private collections across the U.S. and UK.