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It is more than simply a place to live, it is where friendships
begin.
Freshman Success
After choosing to attend Fitchburg State College, you will
want to do everything possible to ensure your success. Studying
hard and attending class will be a good start; however, academic
success involves much more than homework and class attendance.
The First Year Residential Experience (FYRE) at Fitchburg
State College has been established by students, faculty and
staff to provide year long learning opportunities, activities
and support for new students. The FYRE is a voluntary program
specifically designed for freshmen wanting to build a solid
foundation for success while at Fitchburg State College.
Living and Learning
The First Year Residential Experience offers an ideal environment
to begin building a network of lasting friendships. Because
you will be living with other first year students and sharing
similar experiences, you will be able to make new friends
more easily. You and your new-found friends can explore Fitchburg
State as well as help each other transition to college life.
Our learning community is student centered, committed to
excellence in scholarship and to meeting needs of learners.
Our learning community emphasizes the importance of a healthy
learning environment that provides students, faculty and staff
an opportunity for interaction.
All participants in the FYRE program live together in Aubuchon
Hall located on the corner of North Street and Pearl Street
directly across from the Hammond Building, and closest to
the new athletic facility. The hall provides accommodations
for approximately 288 students with FYRE participants living
on the third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors. The mix of freshmen
and upperclassmen that comprise the rest of the building provide
a unique opportunity for new students to interact with their
peers as well as experienced students in a structured setting.
Aubuchon is equipped with laundry facilities on each floor.
Each room has two phone jacks, computer data ports and a cable
outlet.
The building also provides a centrally located kitchen, TV
room and game room that has a pool table and Ping-Pong table.
Many of the FYRE programs happen in the residence hall, so
you never have to go very far to get involved.
Academic Support
Many students at Fitchburg State College take advantage
of on-campus tutoring and support services at one time or
another. The FYRE program seeks to provide access and information
to student services including Academic Advising, ACCESS and
Disability Services. A Resident Advisor (RA) and a Community
Assistant (CA) also live on each floor. They are upperclassmen
who organize social and educational events, help out with
programs and support students in countless ways. The FYRE
program also promotes and provides students with an opportunity
to meet and socialize with faculty and staff outside of the
classroom and in the halls where the students live and learning
takes place. There is also a computer lab available within
the hall for student use.
Upperclass Friendships
Learning the ropes at Fitchburg State is something that
all first year students must do, and there is no better way
to learn than from those who have already experienced it.
The RAs and CAs have plenty of experience and expertise, so
they're a great resource for help and advice. These individuals
can introduce you to the campus and to people who can get
you going in the right direction. CA’s also facilitate
opportunities for participants to meet other members of the
Fitchburg State College community.
Campus Involvement Opportunities
The FYRE program has a staff responsible for planning programs
and activities. When you arrive, there will be a broad array
of planned activities which have been especially designed
for you. Program facilitators will encourage you to suggest
ideas they can put together for you. As a resident, you may
choose to get involved by attending, planning and/or creating
new events. Involvement in these programs offers a great way
for you to meet new people. Programs will include such things
as safety awareness in the community, how to live with a roommate,
stress management, intramurals, talent shows, community service
projects, dances and whatever else your imagination brings
with you to campus. You may have a problem choosing what to
do next!
Service Learning
Establishing connections with the local community is an
important component of the FYRE program. You can even enhance
your college experience by actively participating in community
service projects. A committee of FYRE program participants
will work in cooperation with the Volunteer Center to provide
fun and rewarding events. Those of you who currently do community
service work will be given the chance to continue your service.
For those of you who are new to community service, we promise
that it will be a fun and rewarding way to get involved.
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