Fitchburg State University’s efforts to remake career advising for students has been awarded a grant of more than $250,000 from the Davis Educational Foundation. The funds will enable the university to build a comprehensive model of career advising and services. Over the next three years, the Career Services and Advising Center will work with faculty to develop core career competencies and map them to curricula in 11 academic departments and the general educational curriculum. The grant will also support the creation of a comprehensive internship and employer relations model. “Fitchburg State is grateful for the ongoing support of the Davis Educational Foundation, whose previous grants have supported the university’s efforts to improve data collection and degree completion,” University President Richard S. Lapidus said. “The foundation’s latest investment will support career outcomes in connection to degrees and academic credit accumulation. We are strategically focused on student success through career mapping, experiential learning, and advising to expedite students’ pathways toward careers. The cumulative impact over these three grants are significant. We have been recognized as a leader in student social mobility, veterans support, women's opportunities, Hispanic and minority student support, and most importantly, cited as one of the ‘best value colleges’ in 2020. The Davis Educational Foundation is an important part of our story and we look forward to a bright and promising future of collaborations.” President Lapidus also thanked the career services and advancement office staff for their work not only in support of the grant application but for their commitment to serving the comprehensive needs of Fitchburg State’s students. “My staff and I are excited to continue this work thanks to the support of the Davis Educational Foundation,” said Director of Career Services and Advising Melisa Alves. “We look forward to working with our campus partners to advance the work Fitchburg State is doing around connecting academics to the world of work. As we move forward with this work, along with our plans to build career communities, an internship program, and career readiness courses, we are confident our students will benefit greatly as we provide career services support that will prepare them for whichever step they decide to take upon graduating from Fitchburg State University.”   “This grant is important for the students we serve, for our Career Services and Advising Center, and for the institution as a whole,” said Assistant to the Provost for Student Success Sean C. Goodlett. “We are appreciative for the Davis Educational Foundation’s continued support, and for the work of our Career Services and Advising team, who were the inspiration for our application. Their work, in the most challenging of circumstances, is a model for us all.” About the Davis Educational Foundation The Davis Educational Foundation, established as a public charitable foundation in 1985, supports the undergraduate programs of public and private, regionally accredited, baccalaureate degree granting colleges and universities throughout the six New England states. Elisabeth K. Davis and Stanton W. Davis co-founded the foundation after Mr. Davis’s retirement as chairman of Shaw’s Supermarkets, Inc. The foundation is an expression of the couple’s shared support and value for higher education and has provided more than $115 million in grants to more than 174 institutions. Back to News

Students in the Engineering Technology Department at Fitchburg State University will be benefiting even more from the university’s long-standing collaboration with the Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts (AGCMA). The organization has provided dozens of internships and jobs to students and graduates, and now it has donated $100,000 to Fitchburg State to support curriculum and provide additional lab support. These investments will help students with licensure requirements to meet the industry’s workforce needs for construction managers and engineering technologists.  “This generous donation from AGCMA is an endorsement of Fitchburg State’s ongoing commitment to preparing students for successful careers in Massachusetts and beyond,” Fitchburg State President Richard S. Lapidus said. “We are grateful for AGCMA’s continued collaboration that has created unparalleled opportunities for our students.” “AGC MA is very pleased to provide this donation to the Fitchburg State University Construction Management program,” said AGC MA President and Chief Executive Officer Robert L. Petrucelli. “The donation was made possible by a gift from several AGC construction firms and an industry advancement fund from the Greater Springfield region. These contactors wisely believed in the necessity of ensuring the continuation of quality construction management education programs for students at our public institutions of higher education. AGC MA is proud to support the excellent work of the construction management faculty at Fitchburg State University as well as the AGC MA Student Chapter on campus.” "This gift from AGC supports Fitchburg State's vision to be the Commonwealth's top-ranked provider for an affordable Construction Management education," said Dean of Business and Technology Keith Williamson. “AGC's commitment to quality Construction Management education is unparalleled, not only by this tremendous gift, but through internships, career fairs, and long-standing support on our Advisory Board for the Construction Management program,” added Engineering Technology Department Acting Chair, Keith Chenot. The funds will be used to provide support to the university’s efforts in meeting the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) standards for continuous improvement and meeting the quality standards established by the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) who serves as the lead society for the accreditation of construction management programs.  According to the CMAA website, CMAA was accepted in 2013 as a member society of ABET, the preeminent organization accrediting undergraduate and graduate education programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology fields. As a result of  AGC’s generosity, Fitchburg State will be pursuing ABET accreditation of its construction management programs. By helping to ensure that undergraduate construction management education effectively prepares students to enter the profession, ABET, AGC, and CMAA significantly complements Fitchburg State’s mission and vision. The quality of tomorrow’s professional workforce is among the most frequently cited concerns in the construction management industry. Accrediting the university’s construction management programs assures AGC and other industry employers that entry-level job candidates have met the basic educational requirements of the profession. It also provides students specifically interested in construction management careers with a way to assess construction management programs they are considering. Fitchburg State University’s Engineering Technology Department serves approximately 190 students annually.  The department’s two degree programs in Engineering Technology and Applied Sciences & Technology includes concentrations in Construction Management, Architecture, Civil Engineering Technology, Electronics Engineering Technology, Energy Engineering Technology, and Manufacturing Engineering Technology, and Technology/Engineering Education. With an estimated 90% of graduates from these programs living and working within the region, this support will help to ensure a career-ready, highly skilled technological workforce in Central Massachusetts. Back to News

President Lapidus has announced the recipients of the 2020 Faculty Awards, presented in recognition of excellence in the profession. In a letter to campus announcing the awards, Lapidus said the winners “represent excellence by inspiring our students, amplifying the university’s scholarship mission, advancing our graduate programs, and providing service that helps to strengthen not only our campus, but our community.” The Contributions to Graduate Program Award is presented to Dr. Daneen Deptula, Professor, Department of Psychological Science and Chair of the Graduate Counseling Program. This award recognizes graduate faculty who have a sustained record of teaching, mentoring, and advising graduate students. These faculty awardees have demonstrated a remarkable generosity and commitment to fostering the intellectual, creative, scholarly and professional growth of students who are pursuing the University’s highest academic degrees, and nurture a community of intellectual engagement in which they thrive. The Faculty Research and Scholarship Award is presented to Dr. Catherine Buell, Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics and Honors Program Coordinator Recipients are faculty with a meritorious record of academic research, creative activity, scholarship, and mastery of subject matter. The awardees characterize the essence of teacher scholars who draw on the research and scholarship to inform and improve student learning through shared study, experimentation and analysis. The Faculty Service Award is presented to Dr. jenn berg, Professor and Chair, Department of Mathematics. The award honors faculty who have demonstrated superior service to the academy, the University, and our broad community. Recipients have a distinguished and prolonged level of involvement and are exemplary University citizens who have applied their role as good stewards of place to improve student learning and the quality of life for both our campus and our wide-ranging community. The Vincent J. Mara Excellence in Teaching Award is presented to Dr. Paul Weizer, Professor, Department of Economics, History and Political Science. Established in 1989 by the Alumni Association to honor former University President Vincent J. Mara, this award recognizes faculty who have contributed with distinction to the University’s mission of providing superior undergraduate teaching. Awardees have demonstrated a sustained excellence in teaching, a notable impact on student learning, and a dedication to innovative instruction. The recipients are the foundation of the University’s quest to educate future generations. “It is extremely important that we recognize and celebrate members of our campus community for their contributions,” President Lapidus said. “It is individuals like Daneen, jenn, Catherine and Paul that make Fitchburg State the vibrant, exceptional university to which we have all committed our professional lives. “It is through the individual efforts of these faculty, and all of us, that contribute to the collective work of Fitchburg State that allows us to provide exceptional, educational opportunities for our students,” he continued. “Our work is exhibited in the lives of the students that we have taught, advised, supported and mentored. I extend my very best to all of you for the fine work you continue to do.” The awards are typically presented in person the week following commencement at a celebration of faculty excellence, but that gathering was canceled this year because of the pandemic. Back to News

Learn about the educational opportunities available at Fitchburg State University when the School of Graduate, Online and Continuing Education hosts a virtual open house at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 9. Visitors can tune in virtually to learn about the undergraduate evening and graduate programs Fitchburg State offers. The free session will cover the admissions process, digital learning opportunities and other unique details that make Fitchburg State such a great place to continue your education. The School of Graduate, Online and Continuing Education at Fitchburg State offers more than 45 graduate and undergraduate degree and certificate programs. Whether you’re looking for graduate school or undergraduate evening programs, this session can help get you to where you need to be.  If you’re on the fence about a particular area of study, or just not sure where to begin, this is a great place to start.  Please visit https://admissions.fitchburgstate.edu/register/GCEOpenhouse to learn more. Back to News

This week Fitchburg State University concludes the 2019-20 academic year, conferring 559 undergraduate degrees and 379 graduate degrees to students from more than 30 states and countries around the world. President Richard S. Lapidus saluted the Class of 2020 in a letter this week. You have been thrust into unimaginable circumstances, with the expectations for your final semester completely upended with barely a moment’s notice. And yet, you have endured. You have risen to the challenges that confronted you, and overcome them to arrive at this milestone.  Be proud of what you have accomplished, for it is no small feat. Even in the best of times, the completion of your college degree is a journey rightly filled with difficulty - which is, of course, part of what makes it worthwhile. Finishing a degree means working successfully under pressure, challenging one’s limitations and broadening your horizons in pursuit of a lofty goal. Like the thousands of alumni who have graduated from Fitchburg State before you, your arrival at this moment means your hard work has paid off. You have earned a credential, yes, but more importantly you have developed critical thinking skills that will serve you in the months, years and decades to come. You have honed your own ability to learn, to take in and evaluate new information, and to put it in service of your ambitions. You arrived at this moment thanks to the dedication of a talented faculty, whose own lifelong commitment to their disciplines has been shared with you in their classrooms and laboratories during your time here. And our committed university staff have provided you the tools to learn and be supported through these extraordinary times. Our entire community is disappointed that we cannot celebrate your achievement in person just yet, but know that we will do so as soon as it is safe. For the accomplishments of the Class of 2020 are many, and deserving of respect. In the meantime, know that you distinguished yourselves in a chapter of history that will never be forgotten, and may you remember the lessons of this incredible time as proof that you can truly accomplish anything you set out to achieve. Congratulations, be well, and we will see you soon. Back to News

This piece was originally published in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette on Monday, May 4, 2020.  By Sean Rollins Associate Professor of Biology Department of Biology/Chemistry With regards to COVID-19, much of the information we receive is an over simplification of a very complex issue. Diagnostic testing is a critical component of any effective COVID-19 response. Before we can get back to any sense of normalcy and open society for business, effective testing is needed. The bad news is that no common medical diagnostic test is perfect. Test results are not simply positive or negative. People who are truly positive for the infection could be incorrectly identified as negative. Good diagnostic tests might be 95% accurate. That means, if we let 20 people identified as negative into our place of business, one of those people could be infected. There are two general types of tests being used. Direct testing, looking for the virus “directly” within a nasal swab; and antibody or “indirect” testing, looking for an immune response in the form of antibodies. The assumption is that if you have antibodies against the virus, you have the infection. There are advantages and disadvantages for each type of test. Coronaviruses use RNA as their genetic material. HIV, influenza and Ebola are examples of other RNA viruses. RNA is an infamously unstable molecule; it breaks down easily. Direct tests are looking for this unstable RNA that breaks down quickly, making it harder to find. To complicate matters, human skin contains enzymes that breakdown RNA as part of your innate immune system, protecting you from viruses. How you collect your swab and how long it sits before processing become factors in your testing accuracy. Dr. Birx, the coronavirus response coordinator for the Trump Administration, recently commented that antigen testing would be a “breakthrough.” This type of testing is similar to a flu swab or a rapid strep test; instead of detecting the RNA, look for a protein that is unique to the virus. The caveat is that we all have been previously infected with other coronaviruses; it is a frequent cause of the common cold. In immunology, this is called cross-reactivity. Antibodies can respond to protein that looks similar to other proteins that we have seen before. You have to find the protein (or at least a small region of a protein) that is unique to COVID-19 but looks significantly different from other coronaviruses. Another critical factor is how much RNA is present at the time of testing; referred to as viral load. Right after infection, the amount of virus in a nasal swab is low, unlikely to be detected. It takes several days for the number of virus particles to accumulate to detectable levels. People are likely to be walking around in the early stages of infection, potentially shedding virus, with a negative diagnostic test. A mouse model indicates that the virus replicates within 1-2 days of infection suggesting the virus could be shed early during human infection. Antibody production also takes time and there are different types of antibodies. The earliest antibody response is typically 3-5 days after infection. IgM antibody is the body’s equivalent of a first responder but it isn’t the most prevalent blood antibody. IgG is the most prevalent antibody but takes longer to develop. IgG antibodies can start showing up five days after infection and peak between 7-21 days post-infection. Again, there is a significant lag between initial infection and diagnostic detection. A recent study suggests COVID-19 patients produce significant quantities of antibodies 11-12 days after infection. This same study also indicated that only 80% of patients produced IgG antibodies, although 100% of patients produced some type of antibody. One advantage of an IgG antibody test is that it could serve as an indicator for future immunological protection. The immune system produces cells that retain memory from past infections and respond quickly to subsequent exposures. IgG is a critical neutralizing antibody; it coats the virus and blocks it from infection. It would be terrific to know that if you produce a high titer of IgG, you are protected from future infection but the science is not there. Injecting COVID-19 patients with antibodies from a patient with a previous infection (plasma therapy), has been shown to be an effective experimental treatment. For this reason, protective immunity looks promising, but the length of time for protection is unclear and based on studies of other coronaviruses, immunological memory is not as long as seen with most infections. Scientists are also attempting to produce synthetic antibodies, which is a promising therapy option. There are a number of additional complications associated with antibody testing. There are reports of patients experiencing reinfection. If you already have antibodies from a previous infection, how do you know if a patient is re-infected? Another significant population of patients are immunocompromised. We are all familiar with AIDS but there are a number of conditions that reduce one’s ability to produce antibodies. Cancer treatments, being a transplant recipient or even pregnancy can suppress the immune system. Finally, and this applies to antibody and direct testing, diagnostic testing is a one-size-fits-all approach; which is not reality. We all have different diets, sleep, exercise, age, weight, other illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease, etc. We are also infected with a different number of virus particles. Every infection is different; a patient’s immune response and the virus’s ability to reproduce varies. Immunity passports have been proposed as a mechanism to allow individuals to go back to work. These passports will only be good as the diagnosis accuracy and frequency of testing. Testing right now is kind of the wild-west; states and regions are doing their own thing. Standardization across state lines will help in the collection and analysis of data to make the most informed decisions moving forward. The ideal scenario would be to use both nasal swabs and antibody testing, but testing capabilities are limited. It is critical to understand that good testing is not the golden ticket to end this pandemic. Testing, vaccination, herd immunity and therapies are needed to fully deal with the pandemic. The best option to resolve this crisis as quickly and painlessly as possible, will require partnerships between the federal government, international organizations, states, commercial entities and end users. Sean Rollins, Ph.D, is an associate professor of microbiology at Fitchburg State University and a adjunct assistant professor of biology at MCPHS University. He taught microbiology labs at Harvard Medical School for 10 years and earned a Ph.D. in microbiology from The Ohio State University. He did his post-doctoral fellowship in infectious diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital and a second post-doctoral fellowship in biological chemistry and molecular pharmacology at Harvard Medical School. Back to News

Fitchburg State University has postponed its in-person commencement ceremonies but is proud to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2020 whose members are completing their degrees this month. The valedictorian of the Class of 2020 is Stanley Louis Choruzek of Lancaster, who is completing a Bachelor of Science in computer information systems. The Graduate Student Leadership Award will be presented to Paul A. Thibodeau of Royalston, who is completing a Master of Science in counseling. Valedictorian Stanley L. Choruzek A U.S. Marine Corps veteran who enlisted as soon as he was old enough in order to join the War on Terror, Choruzek was unable to be deployed because of an injury suffered during training. Instead, he turned his attention to being a full-time father while earning a college degree. He began studying liberal arts and appreciated the foundation of critical thinking it fostered. “That was learning what makes people, people,” he said. “Everybody needs that.” Choruzek, a native of Worcester, graduated from Mount Wachusett Community College in 2017 and then attended Fitchburg State. In addition to his studies, he worked on campus for Information Technology. He sees parallels in the computer networks he helped support and the human networks that sustain all of us. “I need a professor to be there if I can’t understand something, just like I need my fiancée to confide in about things,” he said. “I’ve been searching for knowledge. I’ve just been loving learning, with every class, every professor.” Choruzek hopes to transfer his new degree into a career in cybersecurity. “That drive to be on the front line has never left me,” he said. “I wanted to protect our citizens and now I want to be on those virtual front lines and be part of that team that is protecting us. It gives me fuel to move forward with my career when I see hackers interfere with our social networks or elections.” Choruzek will address his fellow graduates when Fitchburg State holds its in-person ceremony. Graduate Student Leadership Award Winner Paul A. Thibodeau Thibodeau has faced many challenges in his life but still considers his a blessed existence. After years of drug and alcohol addiction, Thibodeau got sober 25 years ago and is now committed to helping others overcome their own challenges. After completing his undergraduate degree in human services from Fitchburg State in 2015, Thibodeau continued his studies at the graduate level in the hopes of building a career in counseling. Those plans were interrupted after a horrific car crash in 2017. “It was a gorgeous fall night,” he recalled. “I was on my way to class when the accident happened. On a night like that I would have normally taken my motorcycle, but my car was looking so slick, I took that.” The collision shattered his femur and left him with a traumatic brain injury. “Had I been on my motorcycle I’d have been crippled or left for dead,” he said. “I’ve had a blessed life. I’ve made a few wrong turns, but I’ve come out well. The Fates in their infinite wisdom haven’t saved me so I can suck up air and use up limited resources. I’m supposed to help people overcome their adversities. That’s a good purpose. My life has meaning. All those adversities I’ve had to overcome have had a purpose.” In nominating Thibodeau for the graduate award, faculty members saluted his resilience and his commitment to continuing his studies, despite the challenges created by the accident – including delaying his graduation by a full year. Thibodeau now works as a counselor for the Montachusett Opportunity Council and looks forward to getting his own license to practice on his own. “I have a certain level of empathy and experience that help me to be a better observer and a better counselor,” he said. “My job as a counselor is not to fix people. I like to say I’m doing God’s work, not God’s job. It’s exactly what I hoped for.” Thibodeau will address his fellow graduates when the university's in-person ceremony is scheduled. Back to News

College Consensus, a unique college rating website that aggregates publisher rankings and student reviews, has published their ranking of the Best Value Colleges and Universities at https://www.collegeconsensus.com/rankings/best-value-schools/. The Best Value College of 2020 is Brigham Young University, with Western Carolina University, Dickinson State University, National Louis University, and Ferris State University rounding out the top 5. As the editors explain, "The College Consensus methodology pulls together rankings from:Forbes Money U.S. News & World Report The Wall Street Journal Wallethub Washington Monthly Then we average student reviews from sites like Cappex, Niche, Student Review, and more, to get the full picture of how students see their colleges, which we call the Student Review Rating. Put them together, and we have the College Consensus." Learn more about the College Consensus rankings methodology at https://www.collegeconsensus.com/about/. But then, for the Best Value ranking, editors added one essential factor - the cost. With tuition costs continually on the rise, college students and their families have to take cost into consideration. That's why College Consensus has done the work of finding low-cost colleges and universities that are still high quality. Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics, Consensus editors searched for reputable, accredited institutions with the lowest tuition costs. To help traditional and nontraditional-aged students and their families make the most economical choice for their schooling, College Consensus has identified the most affordable colleges and universities, based on verified costs. To qualify for the ranking, institutions must have a Consensus score. The remaining top 25 (in alphabetical order) are:CUNY Baruch College CUNY Brooklyn College CUNY City College CUNY Hunter College CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice CUNY Lehman College CUNY Queens College Coppin State University Fitchburg State University Framingham State University Lake Superior State University North Dakota State University Truman State University University of Minnesota-Crookston University of Minnesota-Morris University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire University of Wisconsin-Platteville Valley City State University Westfield State University Winona State University "In the age of rapidly rising tuition – college costs have risen far faster than the rate of inflation in the 21st century, and even faster than financial aid," Consensus editors note, "affordability is no joke." With scholarships and grants in limited supply, for most students "earning a college degree without setting yourself up for a life of loan repayment – which never goes away, not even in bankruptcy – has turned into the Holy Grail: much sought, found by only a lucky few," according to the editors. After all, as the editors explain, student loan debt is nearly the highest consumer debt, second only to mortgages. With affordable tuition rates, the choice doesn't have to be purely financial; students can choose the program that offers the most for their career goals. The College Consensus ranking of the Best Value Colleges and Universities is based on an understanding of the needs of today's students. As the editors explain, "The most affordable colleges and universities recognize that college students are real people with real needs, real dreams, and real futures, and they work to make sure students can live up to their potential without being dragged down by debt." They are "the heroes in the higher education landscape." The College Consensus Best Value ranking brings those heroes to the forefront. College Consensus is a new approach to college rankings. We combine the latest results from the most respected college ranking systems with thousands of real student review scores. College Consensus also offers expert advice and guidance on all aspects of college life, from finding the perfect college, to getting accepted, paying for it, and finding your professional path after graduation. Back to News

Fitchburg State University recently recognized more than 200 students with scholarships, awards and certificates in celebration of academic accomplishment. The Honors Convocation is typically part of a day-long celebration of student achievement on the university’s campus, but this year’s event could not be held as usual because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The financial awards totaled nearly $200,000 and included recognitions bestowed by individual academic departments as well as certificates presented in the name of accomplished alumni. The awards recognize scholarship and service. Click here to see the names of all the recipients and their accolades. Back to News