Morningside College welcomed its fourth-largest group of full-time, first-year students in the fall of 2020.

Sioux City, Iowa – Morningside College welcomed its fourth-largest group of full-time, first-year students to campus in August as it kicked off the 2020-2021 academic year. The Morningside College Class of 2024 is comprised of 358 students from 17 states and 8 countries.

The top three largest classes came in 2012 with 377, 2015 with 372, and 2019 with 368.

 “Given all the uncertainty that 2020 has created, it’s refreshing to be able to welcome this group of new students,” said Morningside College President John Reynders. “Our mission remains the same even amidst a global pandemic, and our team is committed to doing everything we can to give this group of students the best Morningside experience possible with opportunities to learn, lead, grow, and engage in active learning experiences.”

In addition to welcoming new first-year students, Morningside also saw record enrollment in its Teacher Intern and Special Education Certification Only programs. Both are post-baccalaureate options for individuals interested in using their existing bachelor’s degree to become a teacher in the state of Iowa in less than two years. Morningside offers one of two such programs in the state.

“Morningside has a long and storied history for producing outstanding teachers at both the undergraduate and graduate level,” said Vice President of Academic Affairs Chris Spicer. “The Teacher Intern and Special Education Certification programs are an extension of that success that also help meet a demand for school districts facing teacher shortages.”

 As fall begins, Morningside is also finding new footing with its other post-baccalaureate and graduate degree options. The recently launched RN-to-BSN program will begin its first semester, the Doctor of Nursing Practice program launched last fall starts its second year, and the Master of Science in Nursing programs continues to serve as an important educational resource for nursing professionals. Graduate Education will begin its first semester with a number of curriculum changes to its Master of Arts in Teaching, including the addition of 11 new tracks. Additionally, the college will be conducting a search for a new dean of business and continuing studies this fall and among other things, plans to bolster its online bachelor’s degree completion options for individuals who may have started college and wish to finish their degree. Though Morningside is best known for its undergraduate programs locally, more than half of its total enrollment of 2,411 students is in graduate, post-baccalaureate, and degree completion programs that serve as a vital regional resource for adults who wish to change careers or continue their education.

“Students continue to be at the center of every decision we make and every action we take here at Morningside,” said Reynders. “This experience matters, and we want to do everything possible to ensure that all our students at any point in their educational journey can leverage their Morningside education to help them reach their goals, start a new chapter, or simply continue on the pathway to a more prosperous future.”