Campus Currents

October 14, 2025

Students in the stands at a football game


Homecoming & Family Weekend - October 17 and 18

Homecoming & Family Weekend kicks off this Friday at 2:30 p.m. with a launch party on the McCarthy Center Party.

This weekend is for everyone - students, families, alumni and employees! There is so much going on - highlights include:

  • Casino Night!
  • Moonlight Breakfast
  • Receptions for Gen-One Families and Honors Program Families
  • Fall Fest on State Street
  • Athletic Events and the Hall of Fame Ceremony
  • Classroom Experiences and Planetarium Shows
  • Alumni Gatherings
  • and much more!

For a full schedule of events and additional details, visit www.framingham.edu/homecoming

s-yéwyáw / AWAKEN healing people, heals the land healing the land, heals people

Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 6 – 8:30pm, Heineman Ecumenical Center

This award-winning documentary connects the transformative stories of three Indigenous multimedia changemakers and their four Elders. Infused by Indigenous ceremony, s-yéwyáw / AWAKEN walks alongside the process of intergenerational healing. Director Liz Marshall and Ecko Aleck of the Nlaka’pamux Nation (Lytton, BC) will introduce the film and answer questions after the screening.

Copa Airlines, From a Local Carrier to the Latin America Leader in the Airline Sector

Tuesday, Oct. 14, 10:30 a.m., Heineman Ecumenical Center

Copa America Airlines tranformed from a local Panamanian carrier into a leading Latin American airline due to its strategic "Hub of the Americas"  in Panama City, a modern fleet, a culture of continuous improvement and teamwork, and a large international network connecting North, Central, and South America, plus the Caribbean.

Come to learn more about Copa’s business case, as part of the different sessions oriented to learn more about Panama, in our road to the Business and Immersion trip to Panama, we will have a live presentation with Copa Airlines representative Juan Diego Peralta. Mr. Peralta will introduce FSU community to Copa history and business model.
 

COVID-19 and Flu Shot Clinics

Register online to get your seasonal and/or COVID-19 Flu Shot: https://form.jotform.com/VCarePharmacy/FSU_Clinic

Clinics will be held this week on Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

English Language Programs New Six-Week Session Starting

Saturday, October 25, 2025, 8:30am – 12:30pm

Study with us to develop your English communication skills to achieve your personal goals.

October 18 - November 22

Saturdays:

  • 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM.
  • Cost: $235 (6 weeks, 4h/week). 

Why Study with Us?

  • Courses for all levels, needs, and schedules
  • Master-level instructors
  • Prepare for university study in the US. 

President Niemi: “Diversity equals excellence”

By: Dylan Pichnarcik, Publications Intern

In a time of great uncertainty in the world of higher education, Framingham State President Nancy Niemi says one thing remains clear on Framingham State’s campus - the University’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. 

“There is no way we're changing a word of what we do. We are out there. We are proud, and we commit to the work, the DEI work, that we built into our DNA,” Niemi told a packed audience during her annual State of the University address in the McCarthy Center Forum on September 29th. 

Niemi said as higher education evolves, FSU is working to find new ways to produce programs that have been defunded by the federal government and to “nurture a diverse and thriving community.” 

This includes allocating a larger space for the Center for Inclusive Excellence, upgrading fitness equipment in the fitness center, and improving campus programs such as the Ram’s Resource Center. 

In addition to discussing FSU’s commitment to DEI, Niemi also discussed retention and enrollment and the University’s strategic plan for this upcoming year. 

According to Niemi, first-year undergraduate enrollment is down 6% compared to AY 2024-25, and first-year graduate enrollment is up 12% since AY 2024-25. 

Given the current data, Niemi said the University is working to make “better” strategic decisions to boost enrollment.

Niemi said FSU’s retention rate is at 74%, a 3% increase from AY 2024-25.

She said this is positive, however, FSU’s graduation rate remains at 50%. 

“We need to do better,” she said.

Additional Events