MSU President's Column for Traill County Tribune

June 15, 2019

Distance/online programs make a positive impact for North Dakota citizens

Mayville State University’s online education programs have grown tremendously! We offer online and IVN (interactive video network) courses to dual credit students who are earning college and high school credit simultaneously. This gives the students a head start on their college educations. In addition, we serve non-degree-seeking students, as well as those who are working toward earning degrees.

It is our privilege to offer educational opportunities to the citizens of North Dakota who are place-bound and unable to leave their homes and families to pursue higher education. Mayville State has offices and distance education coordinators on the campuses of Williston (N.D.) State College and Lake Region State College in Devils Lake, N.D.  This helps to ensure a smooth transition for students in the Williston and Devils Lake areas who wish to build on the degrees earned on their respective two-year campuses and earn bachelor’s degrees.

The online degrees available at Mayville State include the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Business Administration, the Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) in Business Administration, Associate of Arts (A.A.) in Business Management, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Early Childhood, A.A. in Early Childhood Education, Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) in Elementary Education, B.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Education, B.S. in Math, B.S. Ed. In Mathematics Education, Bachelor of University Studies, B.S.Ed. in Special Education, B.S. in Nursing, and the Master of Arts in Teaching for those who already have bachelor’s degrees.

The number of individuals enrolled as online/distance students at Mayville State University has steadily increased over the years, from 200 in the spring semester of 2005 to 812 in the spring semester of 2019. These numbers include students who are enrolled in both online and on-campus classes. In the spring of 2019, 71.5% of our student body was enrolled in at least one online/distance class.

The online/distance elementary education and early childhood education programs are among the most popular and growing innovative programs. We serve students who are place-bound and working as paraprofessionals and adults in these fields. Our faculty and staff work very hard to ensure that the students enrolled have the synchronous class time and interaction with faculty and each other in the methods of teaching courses, which makes it a highly interactive and engaging classroom, even though students join from their computers or a local campus.

We’ve invited Mayville State University teacher education candidates to attend an online education program advising day. The event is planned for Tuesday, June 18 from 9 to 11 a.m. Candidates may visit the Mayville State campus (Education Building 118) or join remotely via online video conference. Students enrolled in undergraduate online/distance programs, including the Bachelor of Science in Education programs in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, Special Education, and Math Education, may participate.

Topics for the day include: projects and updates in the MSU Teacher Education program; Course rotation and schedule planning for online and distance teacher education programs, PRAXIS testing; admission to Mayville State’s Teacher Education program, and field experiences and student teaching placement. The program will conclude with a time for question an answers.

The final activity for the event will be time for the participants to meet with and ask questions of their advisors, faculty, and staff. In addition they may get their university identification card, check out the library, teacher center, or bookstore, visit with financial aid representatives, and more.

I congratulate Misti Wuori, our director of extended learning, and her staff for the fabulous work they are doing to serve our online students. Of course, this would not be possible without the dedicated faculty who develop and teach the courses. You are making a difference in the lives of so many, and you make us Comet Proud!