Welcome students

Dear JMU students,

Welcome to our campus! On behalf of the faculty and staff at James Madison University, I am excited to have you back and extend a special welcome to the Class of 2028! I trust your first day of classes is going well.

Along with the members of senior leadership, I am so glad to have you as a member of the JMU community and I look forward to the historic journey we will share this year.

For those I’ve not yet met, I’m Charlie King (pictured above with wife Sherry King and JMU students) and I have the honor of serving as the university’s interim president. JMU is a place I love and where I served 25 years as the chief financial officer and senior vice president for the Administration and Finance Division, before trying to retire two years ago. Saying “yes” to coming back as the interim president was an easy choice as my commitment and dedication to JMU has remained. I bleed purple!

As I have previously said, I will work to keep JMU’s many trains running on schedule; however, as president my goals extend beyond monitoring the time. My vision is to be an active leader in providing an exceptional and welcoming collegiate experience for all students.

I encourage you to take a moment to think about the many facets of the institution that ensure your success as a student. Beyond delivering academic content, we are dedicated to ensuring payroll is met, maintaining our facilities and grounds, troubleshooting the federal challenges of financial aid, getting you through the D-Hall line, providing support in the health and counseling centers, and so much more. Be sure to take a moment to thank these staff members as they are working hard to help ensure your success as well.

Please remember this advice as I believe it will make a difference for you throughout your time at JMU:

1. Go to class. Make attending and participating in class a habit. Your professors will see your efforts and you will learn more from engaging with new people and hearing a variety of perspectives.
2. Be candid with your roommate. Disagreements will occur, but it is important to learn how to talk through those issues and be understanding of one another. You will need this trait throughout your life.
3. Get to know your faculty. Faculty have a desire to help you learn and grow individually. Take advantage of their knowledge and the time you have together. If something comes up in the classroom, your instructor should be your first contact.
4. Work ahead. When your work is completed early, you won’t have to rush and the quality of your work is higher. You will also be prepared for the unexpected and can even enjoy an invitation from a new friend.
5. Find a place to study. Discover different areas of campus and find a place that makes it easy for you to learn and spend time focusing on your academics.
6. Be a good friend. The friendships and memories you make at JMU will last your lifetime. This sounds simple, but it takes skills such as listening, investing in others, and showing care and grace to do it well.
7. Expect noise. Joining thousands of peers on a college campus will generate a new level of noise you may not be used to. This is why I recommended #5.
8. Form study groups. I’ve heard so many employers say they hire graduates because of their ability to work in teams, and you can begin practicing this skill now. Learn from one another, understand new perspectives and enjoy the company that surrounds you.
9. Remember the “why.” Attending college is a wonderful opportunity that will open doors for you in the years to come, so always remember why you said, "Yes!," to JMU. Don’t forget to thank those who have supported you and helped you to become a Duke. We appreciate all of those people too!
10. Have fun and be safe! Have fun only after achieving items #1-9! It is my sincere hope that you enjoy your time at JMU, as it will go by too fast. These can be the best years of your life, and I encourage you to take advantage of all that JMU has to offer.

You have many privileges as a student, and they carry with them some important responsibilities. It is time to embrace your new role as part of this community. Part of being successful is understanding your expectations, taking responsibility for your actions and reading your student email! There have been a number of updates outlined in the Student Handbook that will cover policies for all students. It is important to read this information and seek out answers if something is unclear.

I wish you all a successful academic year and look forward to seeing many of you around campus.

All the best,
Charlie King,
President