Operational plans for Thursday night football games

Faculty and staff, 

For the first time, James Madison University will host a nationally televised football game on Thursday, Oct. 10, against Coastal Carolina University at 7:30 p.m. 

As an institution that prioritizes academic excellence and a positive student experience, we have been carefully planning to ensure a safe and successful event. Some plans are still underway, and we want to share the current information that has been finalized by a group of faculty, staff and administrators to ensure all employees have ample time to plan accordingly. 

Traffic and closures

Traffic will be impacted significantly for the university community; therefore, the following measures will be taken to decrease congestion:

• University employees with current telework agreements and schedules are strongly encouraged to work fully remote on Thursday, Oct. 10. These personnel are expected to work their normal schedule.
• Administrative offices will close at 3 p.m. for faculty and staff to exit campus and to reduce the traffic and congestion.
• Designated employees will continue with their normal shifts.
• Please refer to Policy 1309 (Closings, Class Cancellations and Exam Postponements Due to Inclement Weather or Emergencies) for additional information about university closings but know there are likely some unique circumstances to be reviewed and considered by your immediate supervisor. Therefore, supervisors should review the policy in anticipation of this event and decide how best to communicate expectations prior to Oct. 10.
• The following services will remain open for their normal weekday hours: JMU Dining, UREC, Rose Library, JMU Counseling Center, University Health Center, Student Success Center, Festival and The Union.

Class meetings

• All online classes will be held as scheduled.
• Instructional faculty who teach in-person classes that begin after or extend past 3:35 p.m. may consider an alternative instructional method or location. Additional details and options were outlined in an email sent to instructional faculty on Monday, Aug. 5. 
• Faculty must communicate directly with their students regarding class requirements.

Parking

• Access to reserved football parking lots will be restricted starting at 1 p.m. on Oct. 10 and must be cleared by 3 p.m.
• Faculty, staff and students who need to stay on campus past 3 p.m. may use the Ballard, Grace Street, Mason Street or Warsaw parking decks; parking lots D3, C12, R4, or R5; and available parking spaces near the Bluestone section of campus, moving west to Main Street and Memorial Hall.
• At the conclusion of the game, attendees will be expected to depart campus within one hour to resume regular campus operations.

We want to acknowledge those designated staff members, who will work well beyond the 3 p.m. closure. We extend our appreciation for all you do to keep our campus operating and looking its very best. 

Please keep in mind this is a historic moment for our campus as JMU has never hosted a Thursday night football game of this caliber. The event offers another exciting opportunity for James Madison university to be highlighted as a national institution, and that is something we should all be proud of! 

More information will be shared as details are finalized and always available online. 

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and collaboration. 

Sincerely,

Charlie King, interim president

Matt Roan, director of Athletics

Malika Carter-Hoyt, vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

David Kirkpatrick, vice president and chief of staff

Bob Kolvoord, interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs

Nick Langridge, vice president for Advancement

Tim Miller, vice president for Student Affairs

Towana Moore, vice president for Administration and Finance

Melinda Wood, vice president for Enrollment Management

Anthony Tongen, vice president and chief research officer for Division of Research, Economic Development Innovation