Governor Wes Moore to Deliver Commencement Address

Wes Moore, governor of Maryland, will serve as the keynote speaker for FSU’s 168th Commencement on Thursday, May 21, during the College of Business, Engineering, Computing and Analytics along with the College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences ceremony at 2 p.m. Moore, the 63rd governor of Maryland, will address members of FSU’s Class of 2026 as they celebrate the culmination of their academic journeys.

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Get Ready for a Super #BobcatGivingDay!

This April 1, FSU alumni, faculty, students and staff will be asked to look to the skies! Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No -- it’s #BobcatGivingDay!

FSU’s annual online appeal swoops back into action on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. This year, organizers are using a superhero theme, as FSU’s fearless mascot, Bob E. Cat, transforms into “Super Bob” for 24 hours and soars around the globe, encouraging others to give to the FSU program, department and fund that means the most to them.

The 24-hour campaign takes off at 12 noon EST on April 1 with new competitions and challenges. Over $13,000 in heroic prizes will be awarded by the FSU Foundation Board of Directors. As in years past, the fund with the most DONORS (not dollars) will receive a grand prize of $5,000. Every other category's first-place fund will receive $2,000 each. This year’s prize categories include: College of Business, Engineering, Computing & Analytics (BECA), College of Education, Behavioral & Health Professions (EBHP), College of Humanities, Arts & Sciences (HAS), Athletics and other University initiatives. Donors who make a gift of $75 or more can receive a special collectible “Super Bob” tote bag (while supplies last).

On Giving Day, be sure to stop by the Bobcat Giving Day Launch Party from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the ARMAH, LUC.

Faculty & Staff Appreciation Event

With Bobcat Giving Day less than a month away, we’d love for you to stop by to enjoy some refreshments and show our appreciation for all you do!

Please stop by our Faculty & Staff Appreciation Event on Wednesday, March 25, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. in Room 113 of the Lane Center.

Enjoy coffee, tea, desserts and a variety of snacks and appetizers, and take a few minutes to connect with colleagues. Members of our team will also be available to answer questions about Bobcat Giving Day.

The Spring 2026 Edition of Profile Now Online

The FSU alumni magazine is packed with fascinating stories about Bobcats and their amazing accomplishments from the Frostburg campus and beyond. In this issue, you’ll find:

• Our cover story on FSU graduates turned major social media influencers, including Health Guru and Longevity Expert Gary Brecka ’94, Inspirational Entrepreneur and Marketer Taylor Simpson Sasser ’11 and Natural Product Developer Michael Nightwing ’12.
• An introduction to the new President of Frostburg State Dr. Shadow JQ Robinson.
• The latest FSU Alumni Award winners.
• One student’s unique perspective as Bob E. Cat – FSU’s lovable mascot.
• The 2025 Homecoming and Family Weekend Scrapbook.
• News and features on current campus happenings, including students participating in amazing community and research projects.
• The latest Bobcat reunions, events and much more!

Harry Potter Book Night

FSU welcomed young witches, wizards and muggles alike for the 11th annual Harry Potter Book Night on March 7. Hosted by the Children’s Literature Centre in collaboration with the Ort Library and the Lane University Center, the event invited families to celebrate the beloved Harry Potter series through an evening of literacy-focused activities and magical fun. This year’s event welcomed 121 children and 109 adults, bringing a total of 230 participants to campus.

Vote for FSU in the Bracket Brawl 2026

FSU needs your vote in the Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine’s Bracket Brawl 2026. Readers are being asked to pick their favorite school for Outdoor Adventure in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic in a 32-school bracket brawl. Round one voting opened last week and will continue through March 29 pitting Frostburg State against the University of Virginia. Let’s make sure FSU moves on to the next round by casting your vote HERE.

Wednesdays at Lane

In December the inaugural Wednesdays at Lane event was launched with over 75 Bobcats in attendance. The goal is to bring students, faculty and staff together at 4:30 p.m. one Wednesday a month in the Lane University Center to celebrate our collective pride in our FSU community. Student Affairs staff will create a great vibe with music, food, beverages, activities and lots of great social interaction among our university community. 

Please plan to join us for Wednesdays at Lane and get a free t-shirt with the U Belong at Frostburg logo. 

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, April 15, at 4:30 p.m. in the ARMAH for the next Wednesdays at Lane.

Snack Vending Provider Update

Our current snack vending provider has informed us that they will be concluding their service and removing their machines from campus during Spring Break. We recognize this change may come as a surprise and want to assure you that we are actively working to secure a new vendor as quickly as possible to minimize any disruption. 

We understand that vending services are an important convenience for students, faculty and staff. FSU has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) and is in the process of securing a new provider to ensure reliable service moving forward.

Please be patient as there may be a temporary gap in snack vending availability following Spring Break while the new contract is finalized and machines are installed. Updates regarding FSU's new snack vending provider and machine installation schedule will be shared as soon as information becomes available.

Please note, the Byte machines located in the C-store, the Lane University Center and the Cordts P.E. building will remain operational. These self-service units offer fresh snacks and grab-and-go items that are managed by our dining partner, Elior, and are not affected by this change.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Kristie Bloskey at 301-687-4335 or by email at klbloskey@frostburg.edu. We appreciate your understanding.

Important information about Faculty Regalia

Commencement and other academic ceremonies will be here before you know it! If you are in need of regalia to participate in ceremonies, please review the following information. Please note that the delivery times can be as long as 8 weeks for some items. Regalia will no longer be available to be borrowed by faculty from the University Store. 

Faculty regalia purchase options are outlined to the right and are available to view/purchase on the University Store’s website or ordered in-store.

Please note that the deadline to purchase the $619 custom outfit is March 29. Late orders are not accepted due to the customization required.

National Survey of Student Engagement

This spring, FSU is inviting a random sample of first-year and senior students to participate in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The NSSE collects valuable information about students’ academic and co-curricular experiences, both inside and outside the classroom.

The survey opens today and will close on May 11. As a thank-you for participating, all students who complete the survey by May 11 will be entered into a drawing to win one of two $100 Amazon gift cards. Participants’ chances of winning depend on the number of students who complete the survey; the last time NSSE was administered, approximately 240 students responded.

A strong response rate is essential to ensure we collect meaningful data that helps inform decision-making and improve the student experience at FSU.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the Office of Institutional Research at oair@frostburg.edu. You may also access FSU's results from the previous NSSE HERE.

Focus Frostburg 2026: Call For Participation

Focus Frostburg will be held April 22 and will feature programs, discussions and hands-on activities highlighting issues of sustainability and climate awareness. All presentations are open to both the campus community and the larger regional community. All topics focusing on aspects of environmental and social sustainability are welcome. Student presentations make a great class activity as well! To participate, email krogersthomas@frostburg.edu and submit a presentation/workshop title and a one or two sentence abstract about your topic. In-person sessions are 50 minutes. In your response, please indicate if there is a preferred time of day that you would like to present.

The proposal deadline is TODAY, March 23.

Campus Race to Zero Waste

Campus Race to Zero Waste, formerly known as RecycleMania, began last week. This 8-week nationwide competition is designed to help colleges and universities find pathways toward zero waste on campus. We are competing with dozens of other campuses across the country to promote waste reduction. Please pitch in by bringing all recyclables to any of the recycling stations located across campus to help us rank in the competition. Every little bit helps! For more information, contact Sustainability Coordinator Tracy Edwards '96 at 301-687-7596.

Federal Policy Updates

FSU recognizes that some students may have concerns regarding the potential for immigration enforcement on campus. To this point, we have not had Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) action at FSU. In February 2025, the Attorney General of the State of Maryland provided guidance to colleges and universities regarding immigration enforcement. More recently, the USM developed guidance for universities for how they should communicate with students, faculty and staff around potential encounters with ICE on campus. The information in the USM guidance is intended to summarize the advice of the OAG.

PAWS Pantry

Paws Pantry is open and available to all FSU students, faculty and staff. Customers will complete a brief online intake and waiver form to register as a pantry member during their first visit. During regular hours, students may come to the pantry and shop from our selection of non-perishable foods, frozen foods and household/hygiene products (when available).

Spring hours are as follows:

• Mon. 11 a.m. to. 5 p.m.
• Tues. 2 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
• Wed. 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Thurs. CLOSED
• Fri. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• 4th Sat. of each month (begins 2/28/26) 2 to 4 p.m.

Etrieve Forms

As the new semester begins, some of you may have received Etrieve forms from the Registrar's Office. Timely review of Etrieve emails is essential, as these notifications often require action that directly supports students and academic operations. The Registrar's Office has created some helpful tips to check out! For questions, email reginfo@frostburg.edu or call 301-687-4281.

Join Us For a Series of Digital Accessibility Clean-Up Open Workshops

Ensuring that your course materials meet federal accessibility standards helps all students succeed - and keeps us compliant with the upcoming federal guidelines. During the workshops, you can work on fixing document accessibility issues, Canvas course clean-up, video captions and transcripts and accessible images and alt text.

The next open workshop dates is April 9 from 2-4 p.m.

Veterans Coffee Social

All who served are invited to a Veterans Coffee Social the second Friday of every month at 8:30 a.m. at the Capt. James A. Graham Veterans Center.

Contact Susan Mandell, PsyD, at scc-s.mandell@frostburg.edu for more information.

Bobcat Dining invites faculty and staff to check out the newly renovated Chesapeake Dining Hall and all the exciting selections. Open 7 days a week, Chesapeake offers an "all-you-care-to-eat" dining experience, now with freshly updated features and menu items.

Every Friday, lunch is $8 for faculty and staff. Don't miss out! Scan the QR code for the daily menu.

Speak Up Survey

Bobcat Dining is looking for your feedback.Tell them what you like, what you don't like and what they can improve on.

Bobcat Dining is giving away three Stanley water bottles, a $25 Amazon gift card and two Jlab wireless headphones to six lucky individuals for participating in the surveys!

Surveys close on March 31.

Take the survey

"The Complete Works of William Shakespeare" (abridged) [revised] [again]

FSU's Department of Music, Theatre and Dance will present “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare" (abridged) [revised] [again] by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, Jess Winfield, new revisions by Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield, under the direction of Darrell Rushton, on April 24, 25, 30, and May 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m. and on April 25 at 2 p.m. in the Drama Theatre of the Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center.

Stephanie Ann Roper: Retrospective

The Stephanie Ann Roper Retrospective is a special exhibition that coincides with the Annual Student Art Exhibition in April. Several pieces of Stephanie's work, selected by her mother, Roberta Roper, will be on display in the gallery named in Stephanie's memory. The Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center will also be on hand with materials about the work they do to ensure that victims of crime receive justice and are treated with dignity and compassion through comprehensive victims’ rights and services. The exhibition details are as follows:

Curator: Ava Breighner

Opening Reception: Saturday, April 11, 2-4 p.m. 

Exhibition Dates: April 11 - 19

Normal Gallery Hours: Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

RSVP Here

• On Sept. 15, 2025, faculty member Dr. Kumudini Munasinghe (Biology) was sub-awarded $182,920 from the University of Maryland College Park with funds from the U.S.D.A.-National Institute of Food and Agriculture for the project titled, Ecological Niches of Pathogenic Listeria and Campylobacter in Integrated Crop-Livestock Farms and Strategies to Limit Their Transmission.

• On Feb. 2, faculty member Dr. Jill Buterbaugh (Nursing) was awarded a $10,000 Dr. Peg E. Daw Nurse Faculty Annual Recognition (NFAR) Award, offered as part of the Nurse Support Program II, funded through the Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

• On Feb. 2, faculty member Dr. Jaime Striplin D'23 (Nursing) was awarded a $10,000 Dr. Peg E. Daw Nurse Faculty Annual Recognition (NFAR) Award, offered as part of the Nurse Support Program II, funded through the Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

• On Feb. 18, project director Melanie Moore '05/M'07 (Cultural Events Series) was awarded an annual amount of $40,000 for three years, totaling $120,000, in Levitt Family Foundation funds through the Frostburg State University Foundation to support the project Levitt AMP Summer Music Series.

• On Feb. 24, project director Jason Litten '99 (W. MD Regional GIS Center) was awarded $10,000 from Tri-County Council for the project Tri-County Council GIS Services.

• On Feb. 25, project director Dr. Boyce Williams (College of Education, Behavioral & Health Professions) was awarded $76,000 from the Maryland Higher Education Commission’s Teacher Quality and Diversity Competitive Grant Program to support the project FSU Bridge to Teaching Program.

• On March 6, project director Jason Litten '99 (W. MD Regional GIS Center) was awarded $5,000 from Campbell Coal Company for the project Campbell Coal Company GIS Services.

• On March 10, project director Jason Litten '99 (W. MD Regional GIS Center) was awarded $1,548 from Deep Creek Watershed Foundation for the project Deep Creek Watershed GIS Services.