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 on April 1 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the ARMAH, LUC.

Two From FSU Honored With USM Board of Regents Awards

Two FSU employees have received 2025-2026 University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents Awards, the highest honor bestowed by the System on faculty and staff. Donnell VanSkiver, executive administrative assistant to the president, earned the Staff Award for Making a Difference on Campus, and Andy Duncan, professor of English, received the Faculty Award for Excellence in Creative Activity.

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FSU Team Finishes Top 8 at National Lockheed Martin Ethics Competition

A duo of engineering students from FSU earned a Top 8 finish among 72 teams at the Lockheed Martin Ethics in Engineering Case Competition held last week in Bethesda, Md. Saylor Miller and Bryce Snyder competed against nationally recognized Division I institutions including the University of Maryland College Park, the United States Naval Academy, Texas A&M University, Duke University, the University of Mississippi and Iowa State University to name a few. Frostburg’s team advanced through three consecutive rounds to reach the quarterfinals before narrowly falling to Alabama A&M University, which went on to finish as the competition’s runner-up.

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Congratulations FSU Mock Trial Team

FSU's Mock Trial team recently competed in a regional tournament in State College, Pa. Despite facing tough competition, the students represented FSU admirably.

This year's team took home the 2026 Spirit of AMTA award, which is given to the team that best exemplifies the virtues of civility, fair play and justice.

Junior Zipporah Cameau also received an award for Best Tournament Witness. Congratulations to the 2025-2026 Frostburg State University Mock Trial Team!

Cast Your Vote for Frostburg!

The City of Frostburg has once again been nominated as one of the Top ‘Best Small College Towns’ in the US by USA Today 10 Best. Help our Mountain City secure a Top 10 spot by voting daily through March 30!

Maryland's Future is Here Campaign Begins

The University System of Maryland recently launched the Maryland’s Future Is Here campaign, which coincides with the Maryland Legislative Session. The campaign features videos of USM students sharing in their own words why they chose a Maryland public university and how they hope to shape the state’s future. Each week throughout the session, USM's Communications Office will share these videos on their social media channels with the goal of reminding legislators who we serve and the future contributions our students will make. The campaign features nearly 40 students from every part of the state, and from every system university and regional higher education center. When you see stories about FSU students, be sure to like and share the videos using the hashtag #MarylandsFuture to ensure maximum engagement, exposure and impact!

Now Accepting Nominations

The Office of Human Resources is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Quarter 2 Employee of the Quarter. Nominations will be accepted through March 20, and the winner will be announced during the second week of April.

The Employee of the Quarter (EOQ) award is designed to recognize FSU faculty and staff who go above and beyond by demonstrating one or more of the following:

• Display performance or service that exceeds their normal job expectations. 
• Contribute to an outstanding effort that directly benefits the University and/or community. 
• Exemplify FSU’s values. 
• Identify and resolve a process improvement. 
• Provide exceptional customer service.
• Meet the criteria outlined in the EOQ Overview PDF.

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.

Now Accepting Nominations for the Annual Leadership and Engagement Awards

The Department of Student Engagement invites you to submit nominations for the annual Leadership and Engagement Awards. These awards recognize the distinguished undergraduate and graduate students, student organizations, faculty and staff for their promotion of leadership, community building, involvement, service, co-curricular excellence and overall enhancement of the student life experience on the campus. Recipients of these awards demonstrate exceptional leadership and service to students, FSU and our community.

Nominations can be submitted year-round. The award period is March 1 – Feb. 28. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to submit nominations!

NEW THIS YEAR:

• Nominations for the Dr. Mary Mumper and SGA Senior Service awards will be submitted via the nomination form linked below. Nominations will be sent to their respective committees for review and decisions.
• Graduate Student Worker/Graduate Assistant Award – see the description page for more information

Nominations for the 2026 awards are due by Tuesday, March 10. Click HERE for more information.

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.

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 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.

Maryland College Survey Now Open

Bobcat Nation--give us your opinion and secure the win for Frostburg. Check your student email for Subject: MD College Survey!

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.

Ort Library's 50th Anniversary Celebration

You are invited to join the faculty and staff of FSU's Lewis J. Ort Library on Thursday, April 9, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. to celebrate the 50-year Anniversary of the opening of the library building.

The celebration will be held on the 5^th floor of the Ort Library in Room 511. Librarian and Archivist Liza Zakharova will give a talk on the history of the libraries at FSU referencing materials from the Dr. David M. Gillespie Special Collections.

The new Frostburg State College Library opened on April 8, 1976, after a five-year development and construction period. Designed by Emil Kish of Rogers and Vaeth, the library was constructed by George Construction Company of Cumberland. The new library was described as a “ultra-modern, five-story structure that has a capacity to house over 300,000 volumes in a total of 112,000 square feet.” Construction costs totaled $4.6 million. On October 28, 1990, the library was dedicated as the Lewis J. Ort Library, named for the local businessman and philanthropist. The FSU Jazz Orchestra, led by Dr. Brent Weber, will be performing and refreshments will be provided.

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.

Now Recruiting 2026 Summer Residential Staff

The Upward Bound Program at FSU is now recruiting Tutor/Counselors and a Head Resident for our Summer 2026 Upward Bound Residential Program. They are seeking motivated college students interested in making a positive difference in the lives of underprivileged youth in Allegany County. Students passionate about education, mentorship and youth development are encouraged to apply and join the Upward Bound Summer 2026 team.

All hiring information is available here. Interested students can apply here. Summer positions are also posted on Handshake. Interviews will begin in February. For additional information, please contact the Upward Bound Office at (301) 687-4994 or upwardbound@frostburg.edu.

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.

Open Workshop Dates:

• March 12 from 1-3 p.m.
• April 9 from 2-4 p.m.

Activities for Life

Hatha Flow Yoga will be held on Wednesdays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in Cordts PE Room 104 through March 11. The fee is $75.

Vin Yin Yoga will be held on Thursdays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in Cordts PE Room 104 through March 12. The fee is $75.

Zumba will be held on Wednesdays from 7-8 p.m. in Cordts PE Room 104, Dance Studio March 25 through May 6. The cost is $75.

Contact anazelrod@frostburg.edu for more information.

MSOM Doc Trot 5K

Meritus is hosting the inaugural 5K race, the MSOM Doc Trot 5K, benefiting the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine (MSOM). The event is designed to promote health, wellness and community engagement, with proceeds supporting potential scholarship opportunities for future physicians.

The race will take place on the medical campus and surrounding areas and will be professionally managed in partnership with Racine MultiSports.

Event Details:

• Date: March 21
• Race Start: 9:00 a.m.
• Packet Pickup: 8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
• Awards: Immediately following the race

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