The Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library at Fitchburg State University will host an open house to show off its diversified furniture options from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8. This event is open to the public and entire campus community. Light refreshments will be available. The library received Massachusetts SUCCESS grant funds to purchase new furniture, which diversifies the types of seating found in the library. The library completed a space refresh exploration project with an emphasis on the purchase of furniture and lighting that support all learners, including the needs of neurodiverse students. In selecting furniture, the library prioritized furniture that offers privacy and reduced line of sight and noise, allows movement – standing up, rocking, swiveling – and is made of fabrics with calming colors and symmetrical/small scale patterns. Nook Pods were installed that offer private and semi-private workspaces designed to provide a calming, enclosed environment that reduces sensory overload and encourages focus by minimizing distractions and providing a sense of security. New alternative and adjustable lighting options were also purchased. The new furniture works for many body types, such as tall bar height tables to sit and stand at, and chairs and tables that are movable and height adjustable.

The Fitchburg State University choirs will be joined by voices from local high school groups when the campus presents its “Choral Kaleidoscope” concert in December. The performance will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9 in Weston Auditorium, 353 North St. Admission is free and open to the public. "The annual Choral Kaleidoscope concert is always such a warm, fun, and beautiful event, bringing together over a hundred students from across the region to make music together, in community with one another,” said Associate Professor Jonathan Harvey of the university’s Humanities Department, who conducts the Fitchburg State choral program. The Fitchburg State choirs will be joined by singers from Gardner High School and Wachusett Regional High School. Learn about Fitchburg State's musical offerings at fitchburgstate.edu/music.

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration released a first-of-its kind state report on post-college earnings for students who attended Massachusetts’ 29 public colleges and universities. The report shows that, five years after graduation, graduates of Massachusetts public colleges or universities make $20,000 to $30,000 more per year than their peers who did not pursue higher education. Those who pursue fields of study like health sciences, STEM and the trades saw the biggest earnings boost. “The data is clear – Massachusetts degrees deliver,” said Governor Maura Healey. “When students graduate from our community colleges and public colleges, they get paid more, they have more opportunities for upward mobility, and they provide a skilled workforce for our employers. This is why, working with the Legislature, we have prioritized making college more affordable in Massachusetts. When we lower barriers to pursuing higher education, our students succeed and our economy succeeds.” “As a proud public college graduate, this report shows what I have long known – public higher education in Massachusetts is key to lifelong career success,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Importantly, our public higher education graduates are more likely to stay in Massachusetts where they will continue their contributions to our economy and our communities. We’re proud to have made record investments in financial aid and will keep working to make college more affordable for everyone.” These findings speak to the positive impacts of Governor Healey’s efforts to make public higher education more affordable in Massachusetts. Working with the Legislature, she has doubled state funding for financial aid – including offering free tuition and fees to Pell Grant eligible students at all public two- and four-year colleges and making community college free for everyone. In the 2023-2024 academic year alone, state financial aid programs saved Massachusetts students about $130 million on the cost of college. When students can afford to pursue higher education, they are more likely to make higher earnings throughout the course of their career and fill the needs of employers in in-demand fields. This report follows the administration’s recent launch of “Go Higher,” a new brand and awareness campaign designed to increase exposure to higher education, improve the information pipeline, and build awareness of financial and institutional supports that help students see themselves in college. This also builds on  efforts to spread awareness on financial aid and inspire students to see higher education as an option, such as the  administration’s Financial Aid Road Show, and investments in My Career and Academic Plan (MyCAP) and MEFA Pathway that help middle and high school students with ongoing opportunities to plan for their academic, personal and career success in high school and beyond. “Higher education brings students life-long skills, agency over their lives, and as this data shows, substantial personal financial rewards,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “This report highlights that education supports each student’s individual economic mobility goals, as well as those of their family, local communities and economy. In Massachusetts, we remain committed to making higher education more affordable and accessible for all students – and lifting barriers so all students persist to graduation.” “At Fitchburg State, we see every day what this report confirms: when you invest in public higher education, you change the trajectory of individual lives and entire communities," said Fitchburg State University President Donna Hodge. "Our students come to us with talent and determination. We meet them with access, high expectations, and a pathway to real economic mobility. These findings reinforce what matters most for our region and our Commonwealth: when students can afford to complete a high-quality degree, they graduate ready to earn more, contribute more, and build a stronger future for all of us.” The release of the report, The Earnings Outcomes of Public Postsecondary Education in Massachusetts, kicks off the launch of new post-college earnings metrics that will be updated annually in the Department of Higher Education’s (DHE) Performance Measurement Reporting System (PMRS). PMRS is a public dashboard that tracks student success and other key performance indicators for each community college and state university in Massachusetts. The report shows that median earnings five years after completing college are over $61,000 a year for those with associate degrees and $72,000 a year for bachelor’s degree completers. By comparison, students with a high school diploma who did not attend college earn about just over $42,000 annually. The earnings data does not include certain professions, such as self-employed individuals and military personnel, and detailed information about population measured and metrics used are available in the report. The report includes earnings data by demographics and field of study, and it shows that while those with some college and no credential may see a slight earnings boost, earnings are far greater for those who complete a degree. This was a driving factor behind Governor Healey’s efforts to make community college free for anyone aged 25 and older in her first year in office – to make it easier for older students to return to school and complete their degree. “At a time when many people are questioning the value of a college degree, I’m proud to share data that serves as a valuable public resource and highlights the personal finance growth that college can bring in just five years,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega. “Earnings isn’t the only data point or goal that matters when it comes to choosing a college or major, but for many students and families, it’s a primary driver of their future plans, and the Board’s role includes making this information available,” said Board of Higher Education Chair Chris Gabrieli. "It is now up to us and the leadership of each campus to determine how to help more students gain even more economic mobility through our colleges." “This report confirms that investing in higher education improves lives and bolsters our economy,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka. “When we set out to transform higher education access in Massachusetts, this was our goal — and this data shows we’re achieving it. I applaud Governor Healey and her administration for implementing this program so effectively, the Senators who fought to make it a reality, and the students, faculty, staff, and campus leaders who are seeing these results in real time.” “The House has been working with the Governor to make college more affordable, and now we're seeing real results,” said Representative Dave Roger (D-Cambridge). “Massachusetts students are saving money upfront and earning more after graduation. That's a win for students, families, and our economy.” This initial earnings report is the beginning of DHE’s increased focus on measuring earnings outcomes, and the Department seeks to further examine a broader set of credentials, like certificates and master’s degrees, along with the impact of work-based learning and co-op experiences on post-college earnings. Governor Healey has also prioritized career and technical education and workforce training. Earlier this year, the administration added eight new career technical education (CTE) programs in 16 high schools to support 900 more students. Governor Healey has also expanded career pathways for young people across the state – including increasing the number of Early College and Innovation Career Pathways programs in schools and helping more than 10,000 registered apprentices get hired since taking office.

The Fitchbyrds, Fitchburg State University’s jazz band, will present its winter concert at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3 in Kent Recital Hall in the Conlon Fine Arts Building, 367 North St. Admission is free and open to the public. Associate Professor Amy McGlothlin leads the Fitchbyrds, which also includes Andreus Shultz, Jack Dancause, Brandon Rivas-Garcia, Jarrod Howard, Joshua Lancaster, Hudson Bombard, Joshua Leaffer, Ashe Miola, Grace Mita, DeMisty Bellinger-Delfeld, Sele Bridgeforth, Olly Durrett, and Autumn Hughes. The Fitchbyrds is open to all students and faculty of Fitchburg State who play any instrument, with a focus on providing a space where students can play together without restricting instrumentation. Working collaboratively, the ensemble chooses the music it wants to play, then creates its own arrangements which accommodate the instrumentation and abilities of the students. “Our end of semester concert features songs chosen and arranged by the ensemble,” McGlothlin said. “We have a collection of pop, jazz, and rock songs for enjoyment.” Learn more about Fitchburg State’s choral and instrumental programs at fitchburgstate.edu/music.

Learning never ends. For four dedicated Fitchburg State University students on the College Fed Challenge (CFC) team, their deep dive into economics led to an unforgettable experience, cultivated through the teaching and coaching of Professor Ozge Ozay from Fitchburg State’s Economics, History, and Political Science Department. The students that competed in the CFC were Andrew Novak, Andrew Woods, Rocco Zimei, and Paige Levesque. “What I really learned is about how the Fed operates mostly and how their meetings go and how I can translate that into my own life,” said Zimei, a senior studying international business and economics. “I wouldn’t have known that previously without taking this course.” The CFC is a prestigious competition hosted by the Federal Reserve that bridges the gap between theory and practice, bringing real-world economics into the classroom. Student teams assume the role of central bank policymakers, analyzing current economic conditions to formulate and present a strategic recommendation for U.S. monetary policy. This academic event is highly valued for pushing students beyond textbook learning, helping them cultivate practical skills essential for professional success, including critical thinking, public speaking, teamwork, and leadership. Teams participating in the CFC make presentations and deliver their findings to a panel of expert judges with deep knowledge of economics and monetary policy. “It was a very cool experience preparing for this and getting a lot of knowledge,” said Novak, a junior studying economics. “We took a very deep look into how the economy works. It was very insightful.” The presentations are expected to hit on key elements, including an analysis of current economic conditions, a forecast of near-term economic and financial conditions relevant to the formulation of monetary policy, a discussion of potential risks to the economy that should receive special attention, and a monetary policy recommendation. Following the presentations, teams answer questions from judges about recommendations made in their presentations during a maximum 15-minute question and answer session. Working as a cohesive classroom team stood out to Levesque, a senior studying international business and economics. “We had to work as a team and our best score was for our teamwork,” she said. “I would recommend this class. It was a lot of work, but it was also very informative at the same time. It was a unique experience to get to compete in the challenge. It’s not like you normally have the opportunity to do something like that. I’m glad I had the opportunity to take this course.” The students took the online challenge at Percival Hall. “Overall it was really fun,” said Woods, a junior studying economics. “It taught me the interworking of the Federal Reserve, and it gave me more of a love for economics.” The judges determine the winner by scoring teams on four areas: economic analysis, Q&A performance, teamwork, and presentation quality. The top-scoring team wins the competition. “This is the second time I’ve taught College Fed Challenge and had the opportunity to coach the students for their presentation and Q&A,” said Ozay. “It’s challenging to prepare four to five students for a presentation that takes place mid-semester, but CFC proves to be experiential learning at its best. It’s truly a privilege to sit down and study the current macroeconomic conditions, investigate upcoming data and surveys, read economic magazine pieces together, and offer input as they develop their presentation. “In large classes, you don’t really get to know students that well, but with a small group working on a collaborative project like this, you learn about their lives, families, friends, and what’s important to them,” said Ozay. “I truly enjoy teaching this course, and I’m proud of what the team has accomplished this semester.” Fitchburg State was in the same bracket as Harvard, Boston College, Dartmouth, and the University of Vermont. Novak made sure to credit Professor Ozay for her insight, wisdom and professionalism in teaching this course. “She’s awesome. I love her classes,” said Novak. “She teaches well and knows how to structure classes the right way to keep us on track.”