Board of Visitors summary of actions and discussions

The James Madison University Board of Visitors met Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, in the Festival Conference and Student Center.  

The following is a summary of actions taken by the board and key areas of discussion at the board meeting:  

Approved the Sept. 13, 2024, Board of Visitors meeting minutes. 

Accepted committee reports from Academic Excellence, Academic Excellence & Student Affairs Committee, Advancement and Engagement, Athletics, Audit, Risk and Compliance, Finance & Physical Development, Governance Committee, and Student Affairs. 

Presentations to the Board of Visitors  

Faculty Senate Speaker Kathy Ott Walter provided an update from the Faculty Senate: 

• Awarded 16 mini grants this year from faculty across the university, which showcases diverse faculty engagement. 

• Workload equity conversations are starting across campus. 

• Faculty searches are going smoothly. Exploring why candidates are turning down job offers. 

• Political science and psychology faculty accomplishments and new grants. 

Sydney Stafford, Student Representative to the Board, provided the following updates: 

• JMU communication from the student perspective, including formal communication, feedback mechanisms, transparency and engagement. 

• Effective communication with departments that serve all students, to include student testimonials.  

• Upcoming events include the Virginia student representative conference, meeting with students and finishing the semester strong. 

 President Charles King presented during his report: 

• Some major university events were recognized to include Family Weekend, Homecoming Week, Lab School celebration and the adoption of the Okanagan Charter.  

• The recent University Career Fair was the largest in JMU’s history, featuring over 160 employers and over 2,000 students in attendance. This was also the first time the event was held in the Atlantic Union Bank Center. JMU is planning for the spring 2025 fair.  

• Several faculty members were recognized with awards and recognitions: Christopher Clinard and Erin Piker (Communications Sciences and Disorders) received a scientific research grant of $2.06 million from the National Institutes of Health. Geary Albright (Physics and Astronomy) was awarded the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Faculty of the Year Award. JY Zhou (Center for Global Engagement) and David Kirkpatrick were awarded a major grant (~ $500, 000) from the U.S. Dept. Of State. This partnership with the University of Montana brings emerging leaders to JMU from institutes focused on U.S. government and civic leadership.  

• JMU was recognized as a STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System) Gold Institution by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education. 

• Upcoming legislative priorities include: Fast Flex Nursing Program, Johnston Hall, New Residence Hall, Cox Bill (Athletic Legislation), Governor’s 2025 Budget, General Assembly dates (Jan. 8-Feb. 2), and the Legislative Reception Jan. 28, 2025.  

• The JMU podcast Being the Change is produced by Madison Magazine as an extension of the Being The Change initiative. 

• 2027 Campus Master Plan: The last plan update was in 2017. Sasaki Associates Inc. have been selected, have worked with over 600 universities globally and have been recognized for innovation and creativity.  

• JMU Athletics update: JMU men’s soccer is #16 in the nation (as high as #8), JMU women’s soccer conference season is sitting at 11-3-5, making them the 2024 regular season champs, JMU football: all games are sold out except for the upcoming Marshall game, student tickets sold out in less than an hour every game, and the team is bowl eligible, JMU field hockey is 14-5 overall and 7-1 in the first season in MAC. 

The President’s Report will always conclude with future items. The following items are being considered for the next board meeting: NCAA scholarships and roster limits, name, image and likeness (NIL/Honors1), 2025 General Assembly update, Capital Campaign. 

Melinda J. Wood, Vice President, Enrollment Management, presented information on future enrollment strategy:  

• Enrollment Cliff: directly connected to lower birthrates in 2008-2009, sharp trajectory of high school graduates peaking in 2025, slight projected decline in 2026 and beyond, slow, steady growth for JMU to meet enrollments goals. 

• National Demographic Projections: declines across the U.S. between 2025-2035. 

• Virginia Demographic Projections: JMU better positioned for enrollment opportunities, 12.5 growth (2015-2025), 7% decline (2025-2035), declines in Virginia are in central and southwest Virginia, growth in areas around northern Virginia, Richmond and beach areas. 

• There is stability planned for Virginia. 

• Goal to increase out of state student efforts: JMU has benefited from the migration of students from the northeast to the south. 

• Future enrollment strategy: develop high school underclassman prospective student funnel, capitalize on brand awareness, campus visit programming (on campus and virtual), grow first-year applicant pool, identify and increase presence in new and emerging markets, expand transfer recruitment, and grow scholarships for recruitment. 

Bob Kolvoord, Interim Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs, and Melinda J. Wood, Vice President, Enrollment Management, presented on Test-Optional Admission: 

• History of admission standards: test optional policy adopted in 2018, JMU joined the Common Application in 2021.  

• Advanced study diploma vs. JMU admission: every student must meet academic requirements. 

• System of checks and balances: annual review of advanced studies diploma, extensive application reader training, utilize three years admission decisions by high schools. 

• Measures of success: retention rates have remained above 89% for the past 30 years, graduation rates have fluctuated between 80-84% over the past 15+ years. 

• JMU should remain test-optional: no evidence of change to academic success, proven methodology to identify students for admission, increase applications for first-generation, rural and Pell students, remain competitive for applications.  

The following items were voted on by the Board of Visitors:  

• Personnel action report. 
• To conduct a feasibility study to evaluate replacing the presidential home. 
• To grant rights to the student representative to the Board of Visitors to vote on matters pertaining only to the presidential search.