MSU President's Newspaper Column
April 12, 2025
The power of ‘we’
As the academic year ramps up before it winds down, I stop to think about all that has been accomplished, not only during this academic year, but over the past several years. The positive momentum that is moving us forward is made possible through a huge team effort by many people, including our hard-working and dedicated faculty, staff, and administrators who are committed to making a difference for the university and the students we serve at “The School of Personal Service.”
Our stakeholders in the North Dakota Legislature and on the State Board of Higher Education, as well as North Dakota University System (NDUS) Chancellor Dr. Mark Hagerott and all the staff of the NDUS, are playing a major role too. We thank them for all they do.
Our alumni and friends are embracing the momentum and are on board with their support that can be seen in a number of ways, including their financial contributions and willingness to share with others the great things they see happening.
Mayville State University experienced a substantial increase in enrollment for the Fall Semester of 2024. The final official headcount was 1,134, an 8.2% increase over Fall 2023. This includes an 8% increase in undergraduates and a 21% rise in graduate students. The number of beginning freshmen was up 29%, while the number of new transfer students was up 13%. Mayville State’s headcount and FTE (full time equivalent) enrollment are both up in the Spring Semester of 2025. Mayville State set an all-time record in spring FTE with 749, a 7.46% increase over Spring 2024. Headcount enrollment this spring is 1,078, a 4.97% increase over Spring 2024.
Personal service is our motto, but it’s also supported and expected in the performance of our jobs. We’ve worked excessively hard to create a sense of belonging for every student, regardless of their interest. In particular, we have worked to strengthen our student activities efforts. We believe the education of students happens in and out of the classroom.
Students are happy with their Mayville State experiences! This is evidenced by our outstanding retention rate which is currently 77%. Our retention rate increased 10% from the fall of 2023 to 2024. Almost to a person, students cite the community as an important part of their satisfaction, and they consistently recognize the importance of the scholarships provided by alumni and friends.
We’ve made tough decisions and worked very hard to raise Mayville State’s CFI score from 0.4 in 2020 to 7.9 as of June 30, 2024. This was a monumental task, and doing so was imperative to maintaining a healthy situation. Though this was challenging, our faculty and staff helped make the most out of the needed changes.
Mayville State was extremely fortunate to be granted $52,254,901 in state funding for the renovation of Old Main during the legislative session in 2023. The renovation will be transformational, not only for the building, but also for the entire university, community, and region.
Preliminary work began in the summer of 2023, and project completion is slated for the summer of 2026. People and their offices were moved out of the building so that abatement work could begin in October 2024. Abatement was essentially complete in December, when interior demolition began. As of March 1, 2025, most interior demolition work was complete. Structural modifications are underway, and crews have removed the exterior fire escape stairs on all sides, as well as multiple entrances to the building and the east stair tower. The bidding process is complete, and the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) is confirmed. The project is on time and on budget.
We’ve made a commitment to creating a more welcoming campus. The Campus Center was remodeled last summer/fall to accommodate the need to relocate the campus mailroom, which had been housed in Old Main. In addition, lovely new student lounge space was created along with a new home for the campus bookstore. This remodel was funded through campus funding. The Alumni Association spearheaded the creation of Legacy Plaza, a beautiful new outdoor space located along a major corridor that runs east and west across campus and leads to Old Main. Legacy Plaza is a beautifully landscaped area that incorporates seating and patio space for all to enjoy. The project was funded through private contributions. In addition, the Old Main renovation project prompted the need and the opportunity for us to install a new parking lot on the east side of campus and an elevator at the Campus Center.
All of this positive momentum toward a bright future culminates in the power of “we.” The fabulous forward movement at Mayville State University is only possible through collaboration, partnership, and countless people joining together for a common goal … to make Mayville State University the best that it can be.
Why do we do this? On a more personal level, we wish to impact the lives of the students we serve. When we expand the reach, we can see how serving these individuals is helping North Dakota by providing the workforce and citizens needed to help our great state prosper and continue to be a wonderful and special place in which to live and work, an esteemed benefit for all North Dakotans.
We are grateful beyond measure for all who are working for the betterment of Mayville State University. With everyone working together in the same direction, there is no limit to where we can go. Our best days are ahead of us.