MSU President's Newspaper Column

September 28, 2024

The future is bright for the Comets of today and tomorrow

On Friday, Sept. 27 we hosted a celebration marking the start of demolition in the very exciting Mayville State Old Main renovation project. It was wonderful to be able to share this special time in the history of Mayville State with our students, employees, alumni, community members, legislators, state officials, and other stakeholders.

The swinging of the golden sledgehammers that followed a short program signified the official start of demolition work in the renovation project. It was our honor to have local legislators Jared Hagert, Mike Beltz, and Randy Lemm join in the festivities. These men played a very important role in securing the funding needed for this extremely important project that is having an impact locally and beyond.

Mayville State was extremely fortunate to be granted $52,254,901 in state funding for the renovation of Old Main through the work of the North Dakota 68th Legislative Assembly in 2023. Preliminary work began shortly after and has continued during the months that have followed. The renovation of Old Main will be transformational not only for the building, but also for the entire university, community, and region. Renovation completion is planned for the summer of 2026.

Abatement will begin on Oct. 1. During this process, crews will be removing hazardous materials from the building. Only contractors will be allowed in the building from that point forward. We’ll be providing progress updates as new phases and activities in the project come into play.

We are ecstatic about the great progress that has been made in the Campus Center remodeling project over the last week or two. Crews have been working tirelessly with the goal of having a good part of the area ready to use in time for the Homecoming/Farmers Bowl weekend. Since the mailroom is currently housed in Old Main, there is a big push to have the mailroom portion of the space ready for use when Old Main is no longer accessible starting on Oct. 1.

We look forward to having this beautiful new space available for all. In addition to new space for the bookstore and mailroom, there will be a beautiful student lounge and a nice vending area.

Our student recruiters have been busy visiting with prospective students at college fairs during the last few weeks. They’re also making plans to host events on campus so that those prospective students can experience first-hand what Mayville State has to offer.

If you know of someone who would benefit from a Mayville State education, please ask them to consider attending one of our campus visit days on October 17 and 18. Visit Days will be the perfect time for students to learn more about Mayville State, meet our students, and visit with faculty and key staff. You’ll find more information and a link to register at www.mayvillestate.edu/visitdays.

Do you know about the great scholarship opportunities Mayville State offers? All new first-year freshmen and transfer students are eligible to receive Honor Scholarships. The award amount is based on grade point average. Students who are considering Mayville State can know immediately what their scholarship amount would be should they choose to enroll. In addition, the Honor Scholarships can be stacked with other competitive scholarships offered by the MSU Foundation. Our affordable costs, combined with great scholarships, help to make a Mayville State education an outstanding value. Top this with Mayville State’s legendary personal service, and you’ve got a recipe for success!

Every day is a great day to be a Comet, and this is an especially exciting time. Students are engaged in the classroom and in the community, and they’re earning degrees that will make a difference in the workforce needs of North Dakota. Further, many of our students hold jobs in the community and the region while attending school. We encourage anyone considering a path in higher education to check out Mayville State.

For more information about enrolling at Mayville State, go to www.mayvillestate.edu or contact our enrollment office at recruitment@mayvillestate.edu or 701-788-4842.