MSU President's Column for Traill County Tribune

April 25, 2020 

Looking to the future and a return to normalcy

As the social distancing and uncertainty associated with the coronavirus pandemic continue, we all ponder what the future holds, not only the near future, but also the distant future. How will our state, country, and world look and feel when all is said and done?

We are making the same considerations at Mayville State University. This pandemic will have an impact on the university for years to come and we are confident this will mean positive outcomes. One of those outcomes deals with people. We place an enormous value on our people, the members of the Mayville State family in particular. I know this feeling will be reinforced and bumped up because of our experiences related to the pandemic. Mayville State’s motto, “The School of Personal Service,” has been personified at new levels of excellence through all of this, and I expect that will continue well into the future.

Personal service at Mayville State University is legendary. From the university’s beginnings, our faculty and staff have gone above and beyond to provide the best possible service, enhancing the education that students receive in the classroom. During this time of remote instruction, I’ve heard over and over from students who are grateful to their instructors for making sure they have what they need and want. I am Comet Proud of our faculty and staff who take service to others to the highest level.

On those lines, we continue to recruit students in an effort to grow the Mayville State family. Our staff and faculty are reaching out to students who would find a great college home in Mayville State University. Things are a little different this year. The routines of high school students and those who are considering transferring from other institutions of higher education are disrupted and they may be somewhat disconnected right now. We are making every effort to get in touch with these potential students to encourage them to check out Mayville State.

Even though many are working remotely, our Enrollment Services office is open and staffed every day. Prospective students can visit virtually with staff and have their questions answered. They may also take a virtual tour to get a closer look at the campus and see what happens here. Limited campus visits, following social distancing guidelines, may be available as well. If you or someone you know could benefit from a Mayville State education, I encourage you to reach out to our Enrollment Services office at 701-788-4842, askus@mayvillestate.edu, or www.mayvillestate.edu.

Our hearts go out to the high school graduating seniors who have lost so much of what they had hoped for as they closed out their senior year. We know how disappointed they must be, but we encourage them to look beyond this and think about how getting to college next fall means that another door will open. There will be new classmates, more friends, and lots of activities to be involved with while earning a college education, so why not Mayville State?

Mayville State shines in terms of the opportunities students have to get involved. In addition to intercollegiate and intramural sports, there are things like music, theater, Comet Radio, Collegiate DECA, student government, Science Club, Student Education Association, and many more clubs and organizations. The experiences and friendships gained through these activities impact lives forever.

Our hearts are also with our own Mayville State students who will or have completed their degree requirements during this academic year. When it became obvious that we weren’t going to be able to hold our traditional annual spring commencement ceremony in May, we made the decision to postpone until September 25, the same weekend as the annual Farmers Bowl campus and community celebration. We hope that most graduates will be able to return for this formal ceremony marking a huge milestone in their lives and have the opportunity to celebrate with their classmates and friends, as well as with their families, faculty, and staff who have supported them during their time at Mayville State.

I can assure you that we have missed the gift of having vibrant campus community during this time when most students, faculty, and staff are studying and working remotely. We very much look forward to the day when we can all be together enjoying many of the things that we may take for granted, a friendly “hello” when passing in the hallway, musical and theatrical performances, athletic contests, and more. These are all things that enhance our lives and they will mean more than ever when a sense of normalcy is restored.

In the meantime, we will work diligently to share the good news about opportunities available at Mayville State University with prospective students so that all the stars will align when restrictions related to the pandemic are lifted. Mayville State will continue to make a difference for our students, community, county, region, state, and world and we couldn’t be more excited for the future.