If you’re entering Fitchburg State as a freshman and you want to give yourself the best chance of success, you may want to consider our First Year Residential Experience (FYRE) Program.

The FYRE Program is a voluntary program, created to help incoming freshmen build a foundation for success at Fitchburg State University. Through FYRE, many programs and activities are planned for students throughout the year. These are designed to help make the transition to college easier and give you a good starting point for your journey at Fitchburg State University.

Fitchburg State provides many on-campus tutoring and support services, and FYRE allows students easy access to them. Academic Advising, Multicultural Student Services, and Disability Services are just a few of these services available to you.

The First-Year Residential Experience also offers an ideal environment to make new friends and build new networks. All students in this program live together in Aubuchon Hall, located directly across from the Hammond Building. FYRE participants live on the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth floors of this building, with the rest of the floors being a mix of non-FYRE freshmen and upperclassmen. This variety provides a unique opportunity for new students to interact with peers as well as experienced students.

These older students, who include the Resident Assistants (RA) and Program Specialists (PS) that live on each floor, are a great resource for help and advice. They can introduce you to the campus and to people who will get you going in the right direction. The RAs and PSs organize social and educational programs for you to attend. Examples of programs include:

• Intramurals
• Talent Shows
• Dances
• Community Service Projects
• Information sessions on stress management, how to live with a roommate, safety awareness in your community, and many more!

Many of these programs happen in the residence hall, so you never have to go very far to get involved.