In This Issue:
- A Letter from Dr. Miller
- New Families: The One Book Steps and Summer Springboard
- Madison Family Handbook
- First Year Send Offs
- Save the Date for Family Weekend Sept 30-Oct 2, 2022
- 2022-2023 Financial Aid Award Notices
- Football Single Game Tickets on Sale July 1!
- Welcome to the Office of Residence Life's New Director
- Dukes Making a Difference (DMAD)!
- Looking at what your student can get involved in?
The Madison Family Newsletter is created each month by the Office of Parent Relations in partnership with many members of the JMU community. For more family resources, visit our website.
A Letter from Dr. Tim Miller
Dear JMU Families,
I hope your summer is going well and you have had the opportunity to catch up with your Duke. I have seen some of you sending them off on study abroad experiences and it seems that many of you have already made some time for vacation. I was excited to run into a few families and students myself when Jamie, Duke Dog and I were in the Outer Banks just last week. I always love meeting JMU folks away from campus and hearing their stories about what JMU means to them always makes my day.
We are getting ready to welcome our newest Dukes and families at Summer Springboard Orientation and I can’t wait to meet all of you when you are on campus. For families who will be attending Summer Springboard, please get ready for a full day of conversations and sessions to prepare you for the rest of the summer and the years to come. You and your Duke will attend a number of sessions (some together, some separate) so I encourage you to take in all that is offered to help you be prepared to support your student in this next stage of their life.
This is also an opportunity to take care of a number of important tasks like setting up bank accounts, finding local doctors or other medical providers, and working with University departments like the Office of Disability Services, Dining and many more. I’ll be welcoming all first year families at Springboard and hope to meet many of you and your students. In addition to these sessions, I will be sending along a series of letters to our newest Dukes and their families to help you prepare for the Fall. There are several conversations and skills I recommend you have before arrival about:
- time management
- setting clear expectations about grades, finances and communication
- basic skills like cooking, cleaning, sharing space
- alcohol and drugs
- staying safe
- setting up systems of support prior to arrival in the Fall – accommodations, doctors, counselors, etc.
I hope you will take the time to read through these letters and discuss them as a family. After 25 years working with college students, the lessons in these letters are informed by hundreds of student experiences and I believe they can make a positive impact on your Duke’s experience at JMU.
To parents of our returning students, thank you for continuing to be amazing partners with us as we create the one of a kind JMU experience for your students. Whether this year is your Duke’s first or last at JMU, I hope it is their best year yet.
I want to remind you all to have your student continue to check their JMU email. This is the primary way we communicate with them and while I am very active on social media, that is not an efficient way to inform the whole student body of what’s happening on campus.
I already miss my fellow Dukes, and I can’t wait to see them again soon!
Go Dukes!
Dr. Tim Miller
Vice President for Student Affairs
Submitted by: Mollie Zenz, Marketing and Web Manager, Orientation
For our new Madison families: Encourage your student to keep working through their One Book steps. Some of these steps that assist your student in transitioning to JMU have deadlines that affect ability to make a Springboard reservation and enroll in classes. Both you and your student should be receiving monthly emails from us directly with information, upcoming deadlines and tips to be the most prepared for the rest of summer and fall. Please have your student reach out to us with any questions along the way.
We are here to best support them during this exciting and sometimes overwhelming time of their lives! We look forward to seeing you and your student at Springboard soon!
The Madison Experience is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will shape your student’s life and future. As JMU welcomes your student, the university extends the same warm invitation to you as their family.
To help you find your own place in the Madison Experience, the Office of Parent Relations has assembled this handbook to guide you through this new chapter. In it you’ll find valuable information with which you can support your student.
You, too, are a part of JMU. You, as well as students, faculty, staff and alumni, together, enrich your student’s Madison Experience.
Each summer, JMU Parents Council and the Office of Parent Relations team up to host First-Year Send Offs. These events provide a great opportunity for new members of the JMU family to meet fellow Dukes in their geographic area and ask any last-minute questions prior to move-in. Send Offs will be hosted both in-person and virtually, depending on geographic location.
In-person events are approximately 2 hours consisting of a meal, a program, Q&A opportunities and a bag full of JMU goodies. The JMU student may attend at no charge. The cost for adults (age 14+) is $14/person.*
Virtual events are free and are approximately 1 hour.
Registration is now open!
2022-2023 Financial Aid Award Notices
Submitted by: Brice Hostetler, Assistant Director for Grants, Financial Aid and Scholarships
Your JMU official financial aid award notice will be available towards the end of June. In order to receive federal aid, make sure you or your student has filled out a 2022-2023 FAFSA. When award notices are created, an email will be sent to your student's JMU Dukes email account letting them know their financial aid is available to view. They will be able to review their financial aid award notice on My Madison and accept their aid at that time. If they don’t receive an award notice, they need to check their To Do list on My Madison for any missing documents we require. Our office is open all summer and our team is available to help you and your student navigate financial aid at JMU.
For more information about JMU’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, including helpful links and videos, visit the website.
Submitted by: Nick Ocampo, Assistant Director of Fan Engagement, Athletics
Single game tickets for the 2022 James Madison football season, presented by CarMax, go on sale Friday, July 1. Family Weekend is scheduled for the October 1 contest against Texas State, and Homecoming is slated for October 22 against Marshall.
Season tickets are still available for purchase! Season ticket provide the best seating options and include one (1) complimentary parking pass.
Fans may purchase tickets by visiting JMUTickets.com or by calling the Athletics Ticket Office at (540) 568-3853
Submitted by: Sydney Arnold, Social Media and Marketing Manager, Residence Life
The Office of Residence Life is happy to announce that we have officially welcomed Kathleen Campbell as our Director. Kathleen has been with Student Affairs across the country since 1988 when she was a Resident Advisor. Her passion for Residence Life continued to grow as she joined James Madison University 18 years ago in 2004. Most recently, Kathleen was the Associate Director of Student Learning Initiatives and assisted in numerous building projects across campus such as Apartments on Grace and Paul Jennings Hall. We are extremely happy to have her move forward with her career and lead our whole team.
Dukes Making a Difference (DMAD)!
Submitted by: Lindsey Richards, Administrative & Operations Assistant, Coummunity Service-Learning
Community Service-Learning (CS-L) is EXCITED to ensure campus feels like your student’s home away from home as we kick off their JMU experience even BEFORE they participate in Weeks of Welcome (WOW)!
As part of your student’s 2022-23 JMU experience, they can join us for Dukes Making a Difference (DMAD)! DMAD is August 17-20 and specifically tailored to new students. Your student will meet fellow students with shared interests, connect with peer leaders, and embark on an impactful volunteer experience before their academic year begins. Your student will also get to explore Harrisonburg, including its diverse and delicious local restaurants. What an incredible way to really anchor their JMU career!
DMAD is facilitated by two trained student leaders and supported by a faculty/staff advisor who enhances student learning and growth. Your student will move into their residence hall early and volunteer with local non-profits to really make Harrisonburg their new home.
Online registration is open NOW with a priority deadline of July 17 (but open until July 24 or spaces fill).
For questions, check out the button below, email csl@jmu.edu or call 540.568.6366. Encourage your student to find more details and sign-up below for their DMAD experience.
Looking at what your student can get involved in?
Submitted by: Sydney Arnold, Social Media and Marketing Manager, Residence Life
Your student can come work for Residence Life and make a difference! By becoming an RA your student will not only advance their already growing leadership but will also have the opportunity to impact other students as they are going through their time at James Madison. We encourage upperclassmen and transfer students to apply as soon as possible for PRIORITY APPLICATION PROCESSING AT THIS TIME.
Join 5,600+ fellow JMU parents and guardians in the official Facebook group! This group was created by the Office of Parent Relations in an effort to provide a safe online environment for parents to engage with one another. Request to join the group here »
Connect with the JMU Family!
