MSU President's Column for Traill County Tribune
September 28, 2019
Mayville State tops the 1,200-student mark, sets new record
Mayville State University is experiencing record enrollment for the eighth-straight year. The final official count indicates a 2.3% increase in the number of students enrolled this fall, when compared to the fall semester of 2018. Headcount for the fall semester of 2019 is at 1,212. This marks the first time that university enrollment has topped the 1,200-student mark. This makes us Comet Proud!
Our last eight years of consistent growth show that Mayville State continues to be a school of choice. Small public universities are necessary and play a vital role in our state’s success. Affordability, easy access, and the personal service our students experience are significant factors that weigh in when prospective students are making their decisions.
We are grateful for all who partner with us to help Mayville State University stand apart. This includes our faculty, staff, and students; North Dakota University System personnel, including Chancellor Mark Hagerott; the State Board of Higher Education; and state legislators; as well as our alumni and community members. It’s a super team effort!
Mayville State continues to make an important positive impact on the workforce needs of North Dakota. A top priority for us in this area is developing and maintaining partnerships and collaborating with K-12 education, community colleges, and the community. Efforts will be heightened during this school year through outreach activities conducted by MSU faculty and professional staff. We look forward to continuing to partner with North Dakota colleges, universities, and high schools as we work to educate the workforce of the state.
To help ensure that Mayville State will continue on an exciting path of growth and success, I have developed goals and plans for transformation. They are reflective of Mayville State’s strategic plan, the North Dakota University System, and the Mayville State President’s cabinet. Key areas for transformation include enrollment growth; meeting athletics roster goals; academic program growth (in-demand degree areas); remaining “The School of Personal Service; and revenue generation.
Other transformational considerations are new degree programs, when/how to offer courses, class sizes/efficiency, and new enrollment opportunities.
Several new degree programs were approved in 2018-19 and are being offered this semester. They are: Associate of Arts (liberal arts transfer), an undergraduate certificate in Online Digital Teaching, an undergraduate certificate in Biotechnology, Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Coaching, and an undergraduate certificate in College Studies.
A couple of other new degree programs were approved by the State Board of Higher Education in 2018-19, but offering them is pending approvals from other agencies. They are the Master of Science degree in Nursing and graduate certificates in Nurse Educator and Nursing Leadership. We hope to have those additional approvals soon so that we may begin offering the programs to students.
I commend our faculty and staff for going above and beyond to ensure that the Mayville State brand of personal service and providing quality education at an affordable cost can continue. Mayville State is a special place, and our people definitely have a positive impact in the lives of others. This “people power” has a ripple effect as our students graduate and go out into our communities across the state and share not only their expertise in the workforce, but also the Mayville State legacy of person-to-person service and making a difference for others.
The future is bright at Mayville State University. We will continue to have a positive impact, not only in the lives of our students, but also in the state of North Dakota. Our state has workforce needs and we are committed to helping. Our continued enrollment growth underscores the importance of our state’s regional institutions of higher education.