MAYVILLE (AP) - Mayville State University is getting nearly $2 million over five years in federal grant money, for work in distance education.

The money from the U.S. Department of Education will help the university reach its goal of increasing enrollment in distance education by about 150 percent, and also help with student retention, President Gary Hagen said.

Mayville State had about 270 students in distance education last spring and plans to have 650 by 2011, he said.

"It's the changing nature of students," Hagen said. "Students really expect options in this day and age, and they expect convenience."

Mayville State already has increased enrollment in distance education by 79 percent since 2004, providing programs to students in Hawaii and Ohio as well as North Dakota.