MSU President's Newspaper Column
August 15, 2026
Education without boundaries
Student success comes in many forms. While some students experience campus life in Mayville, many others pursue their educational goals from communities across North Dakota and beyond. Online learners include high school students getting a jump on college while enrolled in dual credit courses, working professionals, and other adult students. Many are bound to their geographic locations, but that doesn’t have to limit their educational opportunities.
Not only does dual credit give high school students an opportunity to earn college credit while in high school, it opens doors for students in rural schools where class offerings are more limited. It’s a win-win for all who participate, and Mayville State offers great scholarships for students who enrolled in dual credit in high school and choose to attend Mayville State full-time following their high school graduation.
Many of today’s students are balancing careers, families, and community commitments while continuing their education. They are already filling critical workforce needs in healthcare, business, education, technology, and other industries. By advancing their knowledge and skills through online programs, they are strengthening their own futures while helping to meet the growing workforce demands of North Dakota.
Mayville State is committed to making higher education accessible and affordable for these students. The university’s online programs are designed with flexibility in mind, allowing students to complete coursework with schedules that fit their busy lives. Transfer students can build upon previous college credits, while adult learners can pursue degrees that align with new careers goals or opportunities for advancement. A prime example of this is the para-to-teacher pathway, where individuals working as paraprofessionals in North Dakota K-12 schools pursue bachelor’s degrees in teaching. The state of North Dakota helps by covering tuition, and generous scholarships provided by Mayville State assist with the fees and other expenses.
Mayville State’s nursing and teacher education programs are intentionally designed to accommodate working professionals. We offer flexibility through block scheduling and Mayville State’s legendary brand of personal service is inserted into every aspect of the programs, providing flexibility and support along the way.
The Nelson Family Scholarship offers significant opportunities for adult learners by providing support for those seeking to change the direction of their lives through higher education. Whether returning to college after spending several years away or pursuing a completely new career path, recipients of the Nelson Family Scholarship gain access to resources that can make earning a degree more attainable.
Mayville State is investing in the future of North Dakota’s educators. Teachers interested in advancing their careers can pursue a Master of Education degree through the university’s fully online graduate program. To help make that goal a reality, scholarships of up to $2,000 are available this fall.
Designed specifically for working educators, Mayville State’s online Master of Education programs offer the flexibility teachers need to continue serving their students while pursuing their own professional growth. Earning a master’s degree can open doors to leadership opportunities, career advancement, and increased earning potential over a lifetime.
At Mayville State, we celebrate all students, wherever they learn, and remain committed to helping them achieve their goals through flexible programs, meaningful support, and scholarship opportunities that make a difference. Whether students are taking classes from a kitchen table, a classroom after school hours, a farm office, or a workplace break room, they remain an important part of the Mayville State family. Their dedication to learning, improving their careers, and contributing to North Dakota’s workforce reflects the university’s mission to provide accessible, high-quality education that transforms lives.
In closing, we remember FaLynn Ferris, a Mayville State student who studied online. We join the Belcourt, N.D. community in mourning the tragic loss of FaLynn, a 24-year-old middle school teacher and track coach who died in a vehicle crash on Sunday, August 9. FaLynn earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in elementary education from Mayville State in the spring of 2026. At the time of her passing, she was continuing her educational journey as a student in Mayville State’s Master of Education program. FaLynn was a bright light whose passion for teaching and dedication to her students were making a meaningful difference. We are grateful to have had her as part of the Mayville State family, and extend our heartfelt condolences to FaLynn’s family, friends, students, colleagues, and all who knew and loved her, as well as to the loved ones of the others involved in the crash.