MSU President's Column for Traill County Tribune
September 14, 2019
Enrollment looks positive as we near official census day
Enrollment on the first day of Fall Semester 2019 classes at Mayville State University was up slightly from the fall of 2018, with 1,182 students enrolled. This tops the headcount tallied on the first day of classes in 2018 by nearly one percent. Mayville State has seen consistent enrollment gains over the last several years.
We’re very pleased with the early projections for enrollment. Our enrollment stability shows that Mayville State continues to be a school of choice and that small public universities are necessary and play a vital role in North Dakota’s success. Affordability, easy access, and the personal service our students experience are significant factors that weigh into student decisions. We’re thankful that our faculty and staff continue to make personal service a priority at Mayville State University, and we’re very proud of their recruitment and retention efforts.
The first-day enrollment numbers are preliminary. Official final Fall Semester 2019 enrollment figures will not be computed until the week of Sept. 23, when all North Dakota University System institutions calculate final enrollment data.
MSU Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Andrew Pflipsen is pleased with the nice growth in a number of our online programs and he and his team, as well as faculty and staff across campus, have gone all-out to give a warm welcome to our new batch of first-year and transfer students, and returning students as well.
As is typical, the enrollment has fluctuated in the days since classes began as students work to find their place and decide whether Mayville State is the right fit. While others who have tried out other universities decide to make Mayville State their college home.
Our Comet family is committed to providing personal service at all levels, and we are grateful for all that they do. This week is State Employee Recognition Week and our Staff Senate has planned for and provided many thoughtful and meaningful ways to recognize all Mayville State employees for the work they do every day. I tip my hat to the Staff Senate. They are dedicated to making Mayville State the best it can be and their positivity is infectious.
I hope you will join us in celebrating Farmers Bowl 2019 this weekend. The much-anticipated annual event will kick off with the parade, followed by the legendary corn on the cob and hot dog feed, inflatable games for kids, and a farmers market.
Kickoff for the Farmers Bowl football game is scheduled for noon. The Comets will host Trinity Bible College. This is the day when the Comets will debut their Farmers Bowl helmets that feature a wheat stripe motif. These helmets, which will be worn each year going forward in the Farmers Bowl game, were made possible by a group of generous supporters who made contributions of $500 per helmet sponsored. They will be recognized at half time of the game with a presentation in which they will receive commemorative helmets of their own to keep. The project not only provided the helmets, it will also provide scholarship assistance for football. It’s a win-win, and we thank those who have made it happen.
The Mayville State volleyball team will host Lakehead University starting at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday in the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse. This will be a great opportunity to see the Comets in action.
Farmers Bowl 2019 will culminate with the Comet Athletic Club Sportsmen’s Raffle event, which will include the Farmers Bowl silent auction. Again our generous supporters have stepped up to provide some wonderful auction items on which to bid. It will be great fun, and all for a fantastic cause, helping Mayville State University and its students. I hope to see you there.
From the bottoms of our hearts, we thank our generous friends who have sponsored Farmers Bowl 2019. They are First State Bank - Portland, Mayville, Grand Forks, Thompson, and Buxton; AgCountry Farm Credit, Grand Forks, N.D.; Moore Engineering, West Fargo; Northern Feed & Bean - Larry and Kathy Lande, Lucerne, Colo.; Steele Traill County Mutual Insurance; and Citizens State Bank - Finley, Northwood, and Cooperstown. If you have the opportunity, please thank them for helping to make Farmers Bowl 2019 what we know will be a memorable and fun day.