In an environment where enrollment trends are declining nationwide, Midland has seen consistent growth by way of its non-traditional approach to higher education. The University’s most recent enrollment number of 1,408 students, representing 15 countries and 41 states, is the largest in its 136-year history.
“We think a little differently than traditional academic institutions,” said Midland University President, Jody Horner. “This allows us the flexibility to respond to market needs and enables us to offer an education that is relevant, so that our students leave Midland well prepared for success in their careers and lives as a whole.”
Midland’s nimble approach has propelled it into a new era of innovation best illustrated by intentional investments in the student experience. These investments have taken shape in the form of new capital structures and programmatic endeavors over the past several years. Midland has also recently formed unprecedented strategic partnerships with organizations across the state, providing scholarships and making college accessible to more students.
“This is such an exciting time for Midland,” said Merritt Nelson, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing. “We are committed to a relentless pursuit of relevance and excellence. From our Midland 1:1 Apple iPad initiative to the construction of a new state of the art residence hall, investing in our students and their experience will continue to be a top priority.”The Midland 1:1 Apple iPad initiative launched this fall with the distribution of Apple iPads and Apple Pencils for every full-time, undergraduate student in Fremont. Midland 1:1 is more than the deployment of trendy tech; it is the extension of a newly redesigned core curriculum that enhances learning outcomes by offering digital solutions for innovative teaching.
The new residence hall, Miller Hall, is scheduled to open in the fall of 2020 and is another example of a student experience investment. This state-of-the-art residence hall will provide comfortable, contemporary spaces for students to live and learn. Midland University’s Center for Graduate and Professional Studies provides marketplace-back innovation through the MBA for Life program and full-time Code Academy. The MBA for Life program is the result of alumni requesting ways to continue learning and engaging at Midland. The University responded quickly with this innovative program that allows alumni to take additional courses at no charge as their career needs change. The Code Academy offers a 12-week full-time intensive program, helping students become career-ready in web development. Through full-stack learning, students develop a solid foundation of technical skills necessary to compete for developer positions. The Code Academy also provides the opportunity to build a portfolio and professional network to empower students as they enter the job market.
Midland has also recently added a High Ability Learner (HAL) Endorsement to its expansive professional studies program offerings, making it one of the first in the region to offer such a program. The creation of this program was in response to a significant shortage of teachers in Nebraska with the HAL endorsement, which is essential for teaching gifted students. Midland has been able to identify the marketplace need and work backward to build a solution through this new program offering.
