MSU President's Newspaper Column
March 22, 2025
Collaborations support the strategic plan goals of the State Board of Higher Education
At Mayville State University, we are committed to serving the workforce needs of North Dakota. Workforce development is one of the six pillars of the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education’s strategic plan. By collaborating with other North Dakota University System institutions while working toward the commitment to workforce needs, we are also leaning into another SBHE strategic plan pillar, maximizing the strengths of a unified system.
During the last year, Mayville State has entered into Memorandums of Understanding with Dickinson State University and Williston State University. Through these agreements, we are partnering with our sister institutions out west to provide coursework and degrees for individuals who wish to become educators. Teachers are among the individuals most needed in the workforce. In addition, we are collaborating with Dickinson State in the area of nursing, another of North Dakota’s workforce greatest need areas.
Last November, Mayville State established a partnership with Williston State College (WSC). Through the agreement, Mayville State University will offer the four-year Bachelor of Science in Education degree programs in mathematics, English, and social science. The secondary education programs will be offered on the Williston State campus, utilizing in-person, hybrid, and virtual learning formats.
WSC offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, and Associate in Applied Science degrees and certificates. This new collaboration opens a pathway for Williston State students who earn associate degrees at WSC and wish to remain in the Williston area to earn bachelor’s degrees. Students will benefit from joint advising, ensuring a seamless experience from associate to bachelor’s degree completion. The partnership provides a cost-effective option for students, while offering local access to higher education. Students are currently being accepted for the Fall Semester of 2025.
Mayville State and Dickinson State University (DSU) formed the Border to Border Education Consortium last summer. This innovative partnership aims to enhance educational opportunities across North Dakota by combining the strengths of both institutions. We are currently collaborating with DSU to offer mathematics opportunities for students, and we are planning to expand the partnership in the area of physical education.
In Mayville State’s partnerships with WSC and DSU, all institutions are dedicated to maintaining compliance with state and national accreditation guidelines to ensure quality. They will deliver high-quality programs of study to students in a convenient, timely, and cost-effective manner. The collaborations strengthen ties within the North Dakota University System and support students and the broader community.
In addition to partnering in the area of secondary education, Mayville State is also involved in a collaborative agreement supporting the nursing program at DSU. Last summer, DSU faced an urgent situation in its nursing program. In response, Mayville State made the commitment to provide shared nurse administrators to support DSU’s efforts in maintaining its nursing accreditation. The collaboration has allowed DSU students to continue their education in accredited programs, ensuring their progress and future success.
The agreement began in July of 2024 and is set to conclude on May 20, 2025. During this time, Mayville State’s Division of Nursing Chair Collette Christophers and Dean of Nursing Dr. Carey Haugen have been serving as co-administrators at DSU, while maintaining their administrative responsibilities within the Division of Nursing at Mayville State.
Christoffers and Haugen have been and continue to be extremely committed to helping DSU maintain its accreditation status while assisting students to achieve the education they are seeking. The effort represents a significant step in ensuring that nursing education in North Dakota remains robust and responsive to the needs of students and the healthcare sector. They have worked excessively hard and have generously given of their time and resources to ensure positive outcomes for both institutions and the communities served. We owe them and the entire Mayville State Division of Nursing, who have all made sacrifices, a huge debt of gratitude.
Collaborations such as these represent a high level of commitment to being flexible and innovative in providing our citizens and state with the best possible educational opportunities. I thank all who go above and beyond to make this happen.