JMU is planning for an in-person Fall 2021 semester

Dear JMU Community,

I am delighted to share the good news that James Madison University is planning for the Fall 2021 semester to be held in person. While there is much work to be done in the coming weeks, we have seen a decline in the positivity rate of COVID-19 and an increase in the availability and distribution of vaccines. We are proud that our community has banded together admirably to make this transition possible.

Given these trends, we also anticipate that restrictions for public gatherings and physical distancing will gradually continue to be lifted, which will allow for more of a pre-pandemic classroom and campus experience for students, faculty and staff. We know that the heart of the JMU experience involves interpersonal interactions in and outside of the classroom, and we want to maximize those opportunities for all of our students. Of course, we have also learned and grown during this difficult experience, and many of the innovations we’ve developed will continue to augment and improve university operations in the years to come.

Students can choose from an array of classes being planned for the fall when registration begins on April 19. Based on the latest health and safety information, no changes in the class delivery mode or location shown at the time of registration and the start of the fall semester are anticipated.

While we have all made extraordinary steps to overcome the challenges of the coronavirus, we will continue to monitor public health guidance and be prepared to make adjustments as needed in an effort to keep ourselves and others around us healthy and safe. We fully anticipate health precautions, such as isolation space and testing, to remain in place for the Fall 2021 semester. As that time draws near, those updated expectations and guidelines will be communicated with all members of the JMU community.

I am also pleased to report that we continue to serve as a partner to our local Central Shenandoah Health District by serving as a vaccination location and providing volunteers to help administer vaccinations. More faculty and staff are getting vaccinated and as health officials progress through the next phase, I strongly encourage students to register for their vaccines.

I continue to be proud of our students, faculty and staff as we navigate these uncertain times together. While hope of a more traditional campus experience is near, we must still maintain proper precautions to ensure that these plans unfold successfully in the fall.

Thank you for your cooperation, patience and perseverance. I’m looking forward to seeing many of you in person on campus this fall!

Warm regards,
Jonathan Alger
President, James Madison University