MSU President's Newspaper Column
May 17, 2025
The untold story about the week before graduation
Behind every good university administrator, faculty member, or staff member is a little story about this time of year. We’re excited to watch our new graduates who have lived and studied on campus enter the world of the adult workforce or graduate programs. We are equally excited for those who have studied online with us and who will continue their roles within the workforce equipped with the credentials to move up and make a greater impact.
We are proud of the accomplishments of all Mayville State students. However, there is another side of us that makes us sad to see the very students we pour our hearts and souls into leave the nest of the university.
Deep bonds are made with the residential students, as well as our adult students. We know about their families, their challenges, and what make them successful. We’ve watched and helped them go through the highs and lows of their college experience, have trouble in a class, feel the loss of a friend or family member, endure the separation of a relationship, and face many more challenges. These challenges tie us to the students forever.
We see them walk across the stage and we beam with pride. When the program is over, we walk together with them outside the fieldhouse to meet their families, who we’ve heard about for years. We often take pictures with them and their families, and then the formality of the day is complete. So, what is next?
From my perspective great educators are not always the individuals who are the top 1% of the content area. They are often the faculty, staff, and administrators who do the extra things with students.
People often ask me why Mayville State? It’s simple, really. We have many great educators.
The learning our students do on this campus is not designated solely to a classroom experience. Instead, it happens in the hallways, at athletic games; during concerts, recognition events, intramural games where faculty, staff and administrators participate, pickleball tournaments, and Collegiate DECA competitions; sitting in the cafeteria at night; and at the Pizza Shop and many other locations. Often, the most important education comes through those activities.
For the online students, it happens in the chat rooms and in the one-on-one interactions they have with their instructors virtually, on the phone, and sometimes in person.
I’m very proud to say that this is a specialty class at Mayville State University. Many faculty, staff, and administrators do the extra things for our students. This is why Mayville State University continues to flourish. AI will never replace the human interactions that create a learning opportunity outside the classroom. Lessons about right and wrong, being good citizens, helping your community, and taking pride in helping others are essential for society.
When Fall Semester 2025 courses start, we begin again. Relationships will be established and preparation for the workforce will begin. Behind those efforts will be the very bonds that hold us together, personal relationships that allow students to flourish and feed great educators.
So, as I sit here, a little glassy eyed, I affirm that we’re proud of 2025 graduates at Mayville State University. We’re proud of the relationships we’ve built with these students too. We celebrated their successes on Friday, May 16, but we also quietly mourn the departure of these students from our university and many from our community.
To the new graduates, I say … Please come back often to the place we can all call our home, Mayville State University. We are eager to hear about your successes, as we know there will be many. God’s speed for a great summer and a great start to your careers!
Sincerely,
President Van Horn