FRAMily to Family

Textbooks cost too much? Framingham State University has a solution for that A consortium of colleges led by Framingham State University will begin a new project that aims to reduce the cost of textbooks for students.

Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day, is an American holiday that commemorates the June 19, 1865, announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas, and more generally the emancipation of enslaved African Americans throughout the former Confederate States of America.

Many Massachusetts Department of Higher Education staff are observing today. On the occasion of this new holiday, we remember the stain and legacy of slavery while celebrating our collective efforts to achieve equity & racial justice in higher education.

Tulsa Race Massacre 100th Commemoration A century after the riot, the people of Tulsa and the nation continue to struggle to reckon with the massacre’s multiple legacies.

Framingham State celebrates graduates from 2020 and 2021 In the 2019-20 academic year, 824 undergraduate and 477 graduate students were celebrated, while 775 undergraduate and 287 graduate students were included in the 2020-21 school year.

Congratulations to all of our Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 Rams! We can't wait to celebrate your accomplishments today!

Did you know senior Emily Pacheco helped to found Framingham State’s first American Sign Language (ASL) Club on campus? During her time in ASL Club, she served as secretary and just finished her term as president. Emily is an American Sign Language major with a concentration in ASL-English Interpreting and is today’s 2021 Senior Spotlight!

Emily chose to attend FSU because it was the only university to offer ASL/Interpreting close to home. She said, “It really was amazing that FSU launched their 4-year interpreting program when I graduated high school” because of the affordable prices and close proximity to home.

Pacheco stayed busy during her time at FSU, participating in a range of University organizations and activities. She traveled to Memphis, Tennessee her freshman year as part of Alternative Spring Break and worked to revamp ASB to Explore 2 Serve. Pacheco also worked for the New Student and Family Programs office as a Black and Gold Orientation Leader, Wet Feet Retreat Leader, and Peer Mentor.

One of her fondest memories includes the first bake sale for ASL Club. “We all worked so hard and were amazed by the donations students made and how everyone came together to make baked goods,” said Pacheco. “I will never forget that day - we made over $500! I think that is a record for bake sale profits at FSU! It felt so good to see everyone come together and for new students and faculty to stop by our table and learn more about ASL.”

Emily credits FSU’s close-knit and supportive community for making her feel “so welcomed and empowered” to achieve her goals as a student leader.

After graduation, Emily will work in Rhode Island as an ASL Interpreter Coordinator. She is also pursuing her credentials and licensure to become a working interpreter in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Pacheco said she feels “very prepared” for life after graduation. “The ASL program is amazing and has been very encouraging in my transition to life after graduation,” said Pacheco.

Like many other graduating seniors, Emily will miss her professors and being a student leader and hopes to apply the skills she has learned at Framingham State into her career.

Pacheco would like to thank Bruce Bucci, Luce Aubry, and Irma Kahle for “all their hard work in the ASL/Interpreting courses and making my senior year an amazing one despite being remote through it all!”

Congratulations, Emily!

As the spring semester ends and new students start thinking about attending college for the first time in the fall, it can be a stressful time for both parents and students. To help prepare, check out this list of 51 college tip that graduates wish they had learned when they first arrived on campus: https://rb.gy/nfsidz

In order to attend classes in the fall, all students will need to receive the COVID19 vaccine. Everyone above the age of 16 in the state is now eligible to get the vaccine. The COVID19 vaccine is completely free and has been proven to be both safe and effective. It is imperative that all members of our community be completely vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to return to normal in the fall.

Although Derek Chauvin's conviction moves us closer to police accountability, the recent devastating deaths of Daunte Wright and Ma'Khia Bryant emphasize the ongoing need for justice for Black lives. A virtual processing space will be provided to the FSU community on Friday, April 30th, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. This space will center the experiences and voices of Black community members and discuss how to move from accountability to justice. To register for this event, click here: https://forms.gle/nDKGjqU7J1iP1p8t8

Accountability Is Not Enough - Virtual Processing Session Friday, April 30, 2021 from 2:00 - 3:00pm

Find your place, be empowered, and make your mark at Framingham State University. The deadline to commit to FSU for the fall is May 1st! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46SfAIxLtDA

My Way 2020 Find your way and make your mark at Framingham State University

As the semester comes to an end, students may become frustrated with their work and overthink. Check out this post from YOU at FSU (https://bit.ly/3adGH1a) for some tips on how to deal with overthinking during these challenging times. YOU is a fantastic online platform for FSU students. It offers advice and tools on topics ranging from emotional and physical wellbeing to friendships and achieving balance. Visit https://you.framingham.edu to learn more.

If you want to learn more about how to help your students make connections in their remote classes, there is a virtual event titled "Creating a Community in the Virtual Classroom" taking place next Wednesday, April 14th, from 1:30–2:20 p.m. This event will discuss how the transition to remote learning has created an increased need to identify opportunities for students to form connections with faculty and peers. Participants will be exposed to the technology that is used to engage students and aid in the formation of collaborative partnerships within the virtual classroom. To read more about this, go to https://bit.ly/3uyA8Oy.

April is Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month, so be sure to check out some of the incredible virtual events happening at FSU to help commemorate the occasion.

The state's campaign to vaccinate the large majority of Massachusetts residents by early summer has Framingham State University planning for a fall opening that will look much more like a traditional academic semester. Read more: https://bit.ly/3ddgjFc

It's easy for students to forget about self-care as the semester winds down and they're concentrating on preparing for exams. However, to avoid burnout, students must schedule time for self-care in addition to their studies. Check out this article from MindSoother (https://bit.ly/3clEqCp) for 8 quick self-care strategies for college students.

It's time for your student to begin planning for the upcoming fall semester. This involves verifying their eligibility to register for classes and setting up a meeting with their advisors to collect their pin and review their proposed schedules. Courses available for the fall can be viewed in the Student Schedule Planner or Course Search and Registration on MyFramingham (https://bit.ly/38WFOcN). For first-year students, registration starts at 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 25.

Update on Spring Sport Competition - Rams Back in Action! Framingham, Mass. – The eight Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Presidents announced today that they have approved a plan to have competition for the spring sports of baseball, men’s golf, women’s lacrosse, softball and men’s and women’s outdoor track and field.

College can be challenging, especially for those who aren't sure what path they want to go down. Changing majors in college is far more common than you might expect and could be the right decision for your student. If your student is considering changing majors or is unsure of what major to declare, check out this article by educator Amy Baldwin for advice (https://bit.ly/3eyqcQb).

For further resources and help, always encourage your student to reach out to the advising center here at FSU (https://bit.ly/3bCfwOP).

Changing a Major Shouldn't Be Major | Higher Ed Parent Bless the students (and the parents of them) who leave high school, enter college, study and learn, and graduate with one specific goal in mind. Maybe they have always wanted to be a nurse or wanted to study a foreign language so they can live and work in another country. These rare birds never wave...

Internships are a great way to prepare your student for life and a career after college. This article from Colleges of Distinction (https://bit.ly/2O5mB14) discusses why they are essential and how they can lead to future opportunities.

If your student is interested in learning more about internship opportunities both on and off campus, head to Handshake (https://bit.ly/3kOHRnN) FSU’s primary job search board.

The Importance of Internships in College – Colleges of Distinction During college, internships in your field of study are essential to successful outcomes after graduation. It’s important to seek out opportunities.

For students interested in studying abroad, the Office Of International Education is holding virtual study abroad drop-in advising any time between 1:30-2:30 PM every Wednesday this spring. To join the meeting next Wednesday, March 3rd, click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89264893146

Priority deadline for returning students is March 1! FAFSAs can be completed on your mobile devices now as well!. Download the myStudentAid app or go to https://studentaid.gov

Dr. Eddie Moore (founder of a anti-racist training program and founder of the Institute of Privilege (TPI)) will give a talk titled "America is Changing: Are You Ready?" at 4:30 PM on February 17th.

The talk will encourage us to analyze and explore issues connected to bias, privilege, supremacy, and belief systems and teach us ways of standing up and taking action.

Visit the Arts and Ideas website to RSVP for this event: https://www.framingham.edu/the-fsu-difference/arts-and-ideas/public-self-citizen-as-change-agent/

The Public Self: Citizen As Change Agent Oftentimes, the world feels like a dark place, scarier than we could have ever imagined, tougher than we know to navigate. More often than not, however, conquering requires us to take a route contrasting our horror. For example, in order to slay Medusa, Perseus did not look directly into the monster...

The next virtual Framily Network Meeting is Wednesday, February 17th, at 7 pm. RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSetLQOi0FvA-g4d0FZaG38DwJzP4feqaF87RgDvO7HpbWD49g/viewform

Framily Network Meeting RSVP- Wednesday, February 17, 7 pm This meeting with be virtual.

College can be challenging. If last semester didn't go as planned for your student, there are ways you can help them improve. The Center for Academic Success and Achievement (CASA) is offering their tutoring services virtually through Zoom or Blackboard Collaborate at no cost. Click below for more information on how CASA can help your student this semester. https://www.framingham.edu/academics/center-for-academic-success-and-achievement/index

Center for Academic Success and Achievement The Center for Academic Success and Achievement (CASA) will be open Monday-Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30pm; most appointments will happen by phone or virtually (Zoom or Blackboard Collaborate), unless in-person is necessary. CASA will not be open for walk-in traffic or face-to-face tutoring, and the compu...

While life may feel quite unpredictable right now, there are ways you can set yourself up for academic success this coming semester. As you continue to adjust to the new world of online and remote/hybrid learning, it can be helpful to also adjust the ways you normally go about studying. In this article from Fierce Education, you'll find some tips for making the most out of your spring semester: https://www.fierceeducation.com/best-practices/7-ways-students-can-maintain-good-study-habits-during-covid-19

7 Ways Students Can Maintain Good Study Habits During COVID-19 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, remote-learning students are running into all sorts of barriers to learning. Instructors are seeing that previously learned study strategies and habits are falling by the wayside as a result of too much unstructured time and relatively isolated campus living therefore c...

A message from President Javier Cevallos:
Dear FSU Community,
Like many of you, I was stunned and saddened by what took place in our nation’s capital on Wednesday. A group of rioters supporting President Trump stormed the U.S. Capital Building, forcing the evacuation of members of Congress, who had gathered to count and certify the election of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. It was a surreal scene of political unrest that has played out before in war torn and unstable countries, but never before in the halls of the United States Capital.
Watching the Confederate flag being marched around in the halls of Congress is one of the most tragic things I’ve ever seen, and certainly something I will never forgot. Many observers have rightly pointed out the jarring disparity in the police response to a large group of mostly white rioters versus the much more aggressive and violent police response we have seen against people of color during periods of unrest in our cities over the past year. Specifically, the stark contrast between the enforcement presence during Black Lives Matter protests, versus that of Trump supporters. To me the difference is impossible to ignore and a reminder that white privilege is real.
What happened in our country on Wednesday is something that future generations of children will read about in their history books. The peaceful transfer of power is one of the most sacred traditions of our democracy. Sadly, President Trump’s actions over the past two months has convinced a large percentage of the country that somehow the election was stolen from him. This lie creates an extremely dangerous dynamic in an already deeply divided country and led to the tragic and historical scene that unfolded on Wednesday, which included the loss of at least one life.
It’s important to understand that accusations of wide-scale election fraud have proven unfounded by the states and the courts. This is not a partisan issue. No matter how you voted, we should all be able to recognize this fact.
We are fortunate to have many faculty experts on our campus who can help us talk through and understand the historical, political and sociological/psychological implications of what has gone on. I’ve asked my executive team to work with our faculty to organize a series of community events in response to this incident during the upcoming semester. It’s important that our community come together and reflect on and process what is happening in our country.
Today from 3:30-4:30pm the Center for Inclusive Excellence is hosting a Virtual Processing Space to unpack yesterday’s events. While all are invited, today’s space will center the voices of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community members. To RSVP for the session and to receive the Zoom link, please email [email protected] with an fsu.edu email by 2:30pm today.
I hope all of you and your loved ones are safe and healthy.
Sincerely,
Javier

A message from President Javier Cevallos:

Dear FSU Community,

Like many of you, I was stunned and saddened by what took place in our nation’s capital on Wednesday. A group of rioters supporting President Trump stormed the U.S. Capital Building, forcing the evacuation of members of Congress, who had gathered to count and certify the election of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. It was a surreal scene of political unrest that has played out before in war torn and unstable countries, but never before in the halls of the United States Capital.

Watching the Confederate flag being marched around in the halls of Congress is one of the most tragic things I’ve ever seen, and certainly something I will never forgot. Many observers have rightly pointed out the jarring disparity in the police response to a large group of mostly white rioters versus the much more aggressive and violent police response we have seen against people of color during periods of unrest in our cities over the past year. Specifically, the stark contrast between the enforcement presence during Black Lives Matter protests, versus that of Trump supporters. To me the difference is impossible to ignore and a reminder that white privilege is real.

What happened in our country on Wednesday is something that future generations of children will read about in their history books. The peaceful transfer of power is one of the most sacred traditions of our democracy. Sadly, President Trump’s actions over the past two months has convinced a large percentage of the country that somehow the election was stolen from him. This lie creates an extremely dangerous dynamic in an already deeply divided country and led to the tragic and historical scene that unfolded on Wednesday, which included the loss of at least one life.

It’s important to understand that accusations of wide-scale election fraud have proven unfounded by the states and the courts. This is not a partisan issue. No matter how you voted, we should all be able to recognize this fact.

We are fortunate to have many faculty experts on our campus who can help us talk through and understand the historical, political and sociological/psychological implications of what has gone on. I’ve asked my executive team to work with our faculty to organize a series of community events in response to this incident during the upcoming semester. It’s important that our community come together and reflect on and process what is happening in our country.

Today from 3:30-4:30pm the Center for Inclusive Excellence is hosting a Virtual Processing Space to unpack yesterday’s events. While all are invited, today’s space will center the voices of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community members. To RSVP for the session and to receive the Zoom link, please email [email protected] with an fsu.edu email by 2:30pm today.

I hope all of you and your loved ones are safe and healthy.

Sincerely,

Javier

Great news! Tuition and fees will be frozen for 2021-2022!
https://www.framingham.edu/about-fsu/news-and-events/articles/framingham-state-university-commits-to-freezing-undergraduate-tuition-fees-and-housing-rates-for-2021-2022-academic-year.html

Framingham State University Commits to Freezing Undergraduate Tuition, Fees and Housing Rates for 2021-2022 Academic Year Framingham State University (FSU) has committed to freezing undergraduate Tuition and Fees, as well as standard Housing rates, for the 2021-2022 academic year in order to provide relief to students and families going through hard times. The move will be considered by the FSU Board of Trustees in Jan...

As we approach remote finals it is important students take care of themselves and have break time away from studying. Students need support during this time more than ever and checking in often can be a way to show you’re there. This article from the Child Mind Insitute looks at the best ways to support college students who are remote. It highlights a good balance between allowing independence and offering help or guidance as well as discusses challenges they might be facing and how to approach them.
https://childmind.org/article/college-students-tips-for-supporting-learning-at-home/

College Students: Tips for Supporting Learning at Home | Child Mind Institute If you’re a parent supporting a college student at home, there are a few guidelines and principles that can make life easier for both you and your child.

With only two weeks left of classes and finals approaching, it is important for students to remain organized and plan ahead to set themselves up for success. Finals during covid will look a lot different for many students so we urge anyone who feels it may help to visit the counseling center page on FSU’s website to see their section about tips for managing during covid. In addition, in this month’s NSFP newsletter which will be available to view today, we asked the Counseling Center some questions about being a student during covid and they shared some very helpful responses. Finals will be fully remote for all students regardless of if the course was held in person. The final exam period begins 12/16-12/18 and then 12/21&12/22. The semester ends 12/23.

https://www.framingham.edu/student-life/counseling-center/for-students/index

Student Services We are all experiencing emotional discomfort given the spread of COVID-19 and the disruption to our lives. Grief, disappointment, and frustration at losing out on experiences, as well as uncertainty and worry—all are normal reactions at this time. So how do we stay emotionally well during these ti...

The New Student and Family Programs department has worked to create the Appreciation Project. The goal of this project was to give students, parents, families, and friends a chance to show their appreciation, love, and thanks to each other. We gathered all the words of kindness we received and sent them off to the recipients through email and postcards. We wanted to share some of the notes we received from students. Thank you to the students who allowed us to share their responses as well as the parents, families, and friends who support and appreciate all of our Rams. We hope the end of the semester is a great one and you stay healthy and safe this holiday season.