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Midland University Acquires Dana College Campus

Midland University along with its business partners recently closed on the former Dana College campus.

Ben Sasse, President of Midland University, says Midland has a long-term lease on the property with a purchase option. 

Sasse says the university now will switch gears from looking at finances to fixing up the beautiful 130-year old campus. 

He says Midland is the fastest growing college in Nebraska, having expanded 85% in the last few years.

"We believe most 18-year olds are well-rounded kids who are not yet ready to totally specialize.  And a lot of the learning and character development happens outside the classroom in addition to in and so we believe in sports and theatre and performing arts and living in a community in a residence hall and working out disputes with roommates and community service and all of that. Midland has had a really successful run but we are landlocked and there’s no easy way to grow.”

Sasse says they expect to break ground late summer or early fall of 2014 and that it will take 1-2 years to do the work. 

Right now, they are calling the campus Dana College of Midland University. 

Midland and Dana are separated by 23 miles.