Framingham State University’s faculty and students will soon have access to a beautiful 65-acre property in Ashland that will be utilized for recreational and academic programs.

The Massachusetts State College Building Authority (MSCBA) officially acquired the Warren Conference Center and Inn in Ashland on behalf of Framingham State University (FSU) and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on Wednesday, April 13th.

The property, which had been owned by Northeastern University, will be utilized by FSU to support new athletic programs, current academic offerings, and to explore development of a new hospitality major.

“This is a beautiful property that has the potential to greatly benefit our students,” said FSU President F. Javier Cevallos. “Not only will it allow us to enhance current offerings, but it will provide us with space to explore new programs. We are very grateful to State Senator Karen Spilka for advocating for this purchase and to the entire state legislature for supporting the proposal.”

The Conference Center & Inn is managed by Flik Hotels & Conference Centers and hosts corporate events and social gatherings throughout the year. The site also includes hotel accommodations and several conference rooms. The University will continue to operate the facility as a conference center.

The land has the potential to benefit several current academic programs on campus, including Environmental Science, Biology, Food & Nutrition, and Marketing and Management. The development of a hospitality major would be the first of its kind for the State University System.