Earlier this month, nearly 600 students celebrated the completion of their undergraduate or graduate degrees as part of Minot State University’s Class of 2025. During this celebratory season, it is an appropriate time to reflect on some of the past year’s happenings at MSU.

The academic year began with a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the $26.6 million renovation of Hartnett Hall, one of the largest academic buildings on campus. Many of MSU’s general education and humanities courses are delivered in Hartnett, and it is also home to Aleshire Theatre, KMSU-TV, a new recital hall, MSU Esports, many classrooms and faculty offices, and a beautiful new collaborative space for campus and community gatherings. Other facility upgrades this past winter included the replacement of our decades-old campus greenhouse with a larger and more modern facility, and a significant renovation to the spaces used by our Severson Entrepreneurship Academy in Old Main. A new weight room and strength and conditioning facility was also completed for Beaver Athletics in the MSU Dome’s lower level.

New academic programs have been added to help address key workforce shortage areas and further ensure graduating students will have ample career opportunities. New programs added this year include: a Bachelor of Science (BS) in biomedical science with three specific track options in healthcare, research, and allied health; a BS in environmental science with tracks in conservation, earth systems, and environmental health; two-year associate degrees within the criminal justice program in policing as well as a two-year degree in early childhood education; a new certificate and minor in applied artificial intelligence (AI); the implementation of an entirely online option for MSU’s Bachelor of Social Work program (in addition to the already in-person options on the MSU, NDSU, and Bismarck State College campuses); and a complete revision and modernization of MSU’s general education curriculum.

This past year, MSU also hosted comprehensive accreditation visits for several important academic programs: nursing, teacher education, and school psychology. These external accreditation visits typically only occur every 5-7 years, and serve as an exhaustive review of the program’s quality and outcomes. All three visits resulted in very strong reviews and affirmed the academic excellence of nursing, teacher education, and school psychology at MSU.

It was a busy year for our students, faculty, and community members in the performing arts. Two terrific operas (La Boheme and Oliver!) were staged this year in Ann Nicole Nelson Hall by Western Plains Opera; the 99th season of the Minot Symphony Orchestra had terrific audiences for all six performances; members of the MSU choir traveled to Norway in May with the Minot Chamber Chorale to perform in conjunction with Syttende Mai celebrations; the MSU Concert and Jazz bands held multiple performances during the year; the 17th annual NOTSTOCK Arts festival was held last fall; two mainstage theatre productions were performed; and we are nearing the start of the 60th season of MSU Summer Theatre with five productions to be staged.

In Beaver Athletics, notable highlights included: the men’s basketball team winning the most games (26) in program history as well as advancing for the first time to the NCAA Division II national playoffs; Beaver football winning the most games in the Division II era; both men’s and women’s hockey teams advancing to the ACHA national playoffs with outstanding regular seasons; the women’s soccer team advancing to the NSIC championship game; and our men’s club soccer team winning its conference championship for the second consecutive year. There were also a couple outstanding individual achievements with Caleb Van De Griend earning All-American status and setting the single season MSU men’s basketball scoring and rebounding records. Wrestler Jake Swirple finished sixth in the nation in the heavyweight division and earned All-American status for the second time in his career.

MSU continues a very strong relationship with the Minot Air Force Base through numerous initiatives and events. In March, MSU was recognized for “Outstanding Military Support” during the annual Minot Area Chamber EDC meeting for being the most supportive community organization of the MAFB. We are humbled by this recognition and so proud of our longstanding association with the US Air Force.

We recently concluded the largest capital campaign in MSU’s history, and at our annual gala a few weeks ago announced that $54.8 million had been raised. The majority of funds raised in this “EMPOWER” campaign will support scholarships, academic programs, campus facilities, and athletics for decades. THANK YOU to all who help MSU and our students with your generosity through support of the MSU Development Foundation.

The university-community relationship between MSU and the city of Minot has been rock solid for over a century, and we look forward to more positive initiatives in the year ahead!