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James Madison University

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James Madison University (JMU, Madison, or James Madison) is a public research university in Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1908, the institution was renamed in 1938 in honor of the fourth president of the United States, James Madison. It has since expanded from its origins as a normal school and teacher's college into a comprehensive university. It is situated in the Shenandoah Valley, just west of Massanutten Mountain.

History

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File:John Vanderlyn - James Madison - Google Art Project.jpg
James Madison, the university's namesake, by John Vanderlyn (1816)
File:JMU aerial photograph, 1937.jpg
Aerial view of campus from 1937, showing the original campus plan, prior to major expansions of the campus.

Founded in 1908 as a women's college, James Madison University was established by the Virginia General Assembly. It was originally called The State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg. In 1914, the name of the university was changed to the State Normal School for Women at Harrisonburg. Authorization to award bachelor's degrees was granted in 1916. During this initial period of development, six buildings were constructed.<ref name="JMU History">Template:Cite news</ref>

The university became the State Teachers College at Harrisonburg in 1924 and continued under that name until 1938 when it was named Madison College in honor of James Madison, the fourth President of the United States, whose Montpelier estate is located in nearby Orange, Virginia.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Timeline">Template:Cite web</ref> In 1977, the university's name was changed to James Madison University.<ref name="JMU History" />

The first president of the university was Julian Ashby Burruss.<ref name=":0" /> The university opened its doors to its first student body in 1909 with an enrollment of 209 students and a faculty of fifteen.<ref name=":0" /> Its first twenty graduates received diplomas in 1911.<ref name="JMU History" />

In 1919, Burruss resigned the presidency to become president of Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Samuel Page Duke was then chosen as the school's second president.<ref name=":0" /> During Duke's administration, nine major buildings were constructed.<ref name="JMU History" /> Duke served as president from 1919 to 1949.

In 1946, men were first enrolled as regular day students. G. Tyler Miller became the third president in 1949, following Duke's retirement. During Miller's administration, from 1949 to 1970, the campus was enlarged by Template:Convert and 19 buildings were constructed. Major curriculum changes were made and the university was authorized to grant master's degrees in 1954.<ref name="JMU History" />

In 1966, by the action of the Virginia General Assembly, the university became a coeducational institution. Ronald E. Carrier, JMU's fourth president, headed the institution from 1971 to 1998. Carrier Library is named after him.<ref name="JMU History" />

21st century

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During the first decade of the 21st century under Linwood H. Rose (JMU's fifth president), the university continued to expand, not only through new construction east of Interstate 81 but also on the west side of campus. In early 2005, JMU purchased the Rockingham Memorial Hospital campus just north of the main JMU campus for over $40 million. The hospital has since moved and JMU now occupies the site.<ref name="RMH">Template:Cite news</ref> In June 2005, the university expanded across South High Street by leasing, and then purchasing the former Harrisonburg High School building.<ref name="DNR24May2006">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Memorial Hall">Template:Cite news</ref>

The rapid expansion of JMU's campus has at times created tension in the city-university relationship.<ref name="Candidates and Growth">Template:Cite news</ref> In 2006, the local ABC affiliate reported that the university had nearly doubled in size in the preceding 20 years,<ref name="Size">Template:Cite news</ref> including purchases of several local properties.<ref name="Kyger">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Harrisonburg HS">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref>

The university has also experienced tension with local residents and local police when 2,500 students at an off-campus block party grew unruly in 2000.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Ten years later, police equipped with riot gear used force to disperse a group of 8,000 college-aged people at the party.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Several participants were airlifted to a medical center in Charlottesville for treatment.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The university condemned the block party attendees' behavior.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In August 2021, the university received national criticism from conservative political commentators and university alumni after an orientation leader training video and other publications surfaced that supposedly labeled white Americans and Christians as oppressors. In a statement to Fox News, the university stood by the training.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In March 2025, it was announced that James C. Schmidt would become the seventh president and he is scheduled to take office in July 2025.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Campus

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File:Wilson Hall.jpg
Woodrow Wilson Hall, the centerpiece of the JMU quadrangle.
File:Keezell Hall (JMU).jpg
Keezell Hall, home of the university's English and Foreign Language departments
File:Varner House (JMU).jpg
Varner House
James Madison statue in Bluestone area
A statue of James Madison on campus.
File:Harrison Hall, James Madison University.jpg
Harrison Hall

JMU's campus originally consisted of two buildings, Jackson Hall and Maury Hall, which are now known as Darcus Johnson Hall and Gabbin Hall, respectively.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Today, the campus has 148 major buildings on Template:Convert.<ref name="JMU Today">Template:Cite web</ref> It has become Virginia's second most photographed location on social media sites like Instagram and Twitter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The original, historic Bluestone side of campus is located on South Main Street (also known as U.S. Route 11, and historically as "The Valley Pike") and is the heart of the university. Many of the buildings in the Bluestone area have been constructed out of the same stone, known as "bluestone," which is a type of limestone that is locally sourced from the surrounding Shenandoah Valley.<ref name="Bluestone">Template:Cite web</ref>

Beginning in 2002 JMU began receiving state and private funding to construct a performing arts complex. The facility is opposite Wilson Hall across South Main Street.<ref name="JMU Performing Arts">Template:Cite web</ref>

Renaming historic halls

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In 2020, JMU's Board of Visitors approved the renaming of three historic buildings on the quad that were named in honor of three prominent Virginian Confederate soldiers: Ashby Hall (named after Turner Ashby), Maury Hall (named after Matthew Fontaine Maury), and Jackson Hall (named after Stonewall Jackson). They were given the temporary names of Valley Hall, Mountain Hall, and Justice Studies Hall, respectively.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2021, the halls were approved and given new names. Mountain Hall (Maury Hall) was renamed Gabbin Hall after Drs. Joanne V. and Alexander Gabbin, professors at JMU for more than 35 years;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Valley Hall (Ashby Hall) was renamed Harper Allen-Lee Hall after Doris Harper Allen and Robert Walker Lee, both notable former staff members at JMU;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Justice Studies Hall (Jackson Hall) was renamed Darcus Johnson Hall after Sheary Darcus Johnson, the first black student to graduate from JMU.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In late 2021, the ISAT/CS building was renamed King Hall in honor of Charles W. King; longtime Senior Vice President of the Administration and Finance Division at JMU.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Organization and administration

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Colleges

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The College of Visual and Performing Arts includes three schools: the School of Art, Design, and Art History; the School of Music; and the School of Theatre and Dance.

In September 2010,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the college opened the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, a complex composed of two connected buildings: the Estes Center for Theatre and Dance and the Roberts Center for Music Performance.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The $82 million facility was funded by a Virginia higher-education bond package.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Board of Visitors

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Like all public universities in Virginia, James Madison is governed by a Board of Visitors appointed by the Governor of Virginia.<ref name="JMU Institutional Governance">Template:Cite web</ref> In addition to the 15 members appointed by the governor, the speaker of the Faculty Senate and an elected student representative serve as representatives for the faculty and the student body respectively. The appointed members serve for a maximum of two consecutive four-year terms, while the student representative is limited to two one-year terms. The faculty representative serves for as long as he or she remains the speaker of the JMU Faculty Senate.<ref name="JMU Institutional Governance" /> Some appointed members of note include former presidential candidate Carly Fiorina and former first lady of Virginia, Susan Allen.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

President

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Charlie King currently serves as interim president. He will serve until June 30, 2025, or until a new president is selected.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Jonathan Alger previously served as the university's sixth president until he became the president of American University on July 1, 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Presidents of JMU

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Academics

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James Madison University is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High Research Activity". It offers 139-degree programs on the bachelor's, master's, educational specialist, and doctoral levels. It comprises seven colleges and 78 academic programs, including the College of Arts and Letters; the College of Business; the College of Education; the College of Health and Behavioral Studies; the College of Integrated Science and Engineering; the College of Science and Mathematics; the College of Visual and Performing Arts; and The Graduate School. Total enrollment in the 2012–13 academic year was 19,927—18,392 undergraduates and 1,820 graduate students. JMU granted 4,908 degrees in 2012–4,096 undergraduate degrees, and 812 graduate degrees.

On October 2, 2009, JMU was granted a chapter by the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Reputation and rankings

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The 2024 U.S. News & World Report ranked JMU No. 124 among national universities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2018 Washington Monthly college rankings, JMU ranked eighth among master's universities nationwide. Washington Monthly assesses the quality of schools based on social mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), research, and service.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

In 2013, BloombergBusiness ranked JMU 15th among all undergraduate business schools in the country for return on investment.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2014 it ranked JMU's College of Business 40th among undergraduate business programs in the U.S.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Kiplinger magazine's 2015 "100 Best Values in Public Colleges" ranked JMU 21st in value in the nation among public colleges and universities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Student life

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Student body composition as of May 2, 2022
Race and ethnicity<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Total
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File:Converse Hall (JMU).jpg
Converse Hall

The Princeton Review recognized James Madison as one of 81 schools in America "with a conscience", and in 2006 ranked JMU second in the nation behind only the University of Virginia in the number of Peace Corps volunteers it sent from its student body among "medium-sized" universities.<ref name="Peace Corps">Template:Cite web</ref> And in 2010, the food at JMU was ranked third in the United States.<ref name="Princeton Review Food">Template:Cite web</ref> In 2011 the student body was ranked 20th "happiest in the entire nation" by Newsweek and The Daily Beast.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> These rankings take into consideration the surrounding area's activities, academics, as well as the social scene on campus.

The Breeze

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The Breeze is a student-run weekly newspaper serving JMU since 1922.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Breeze has won numerous awards, including a 2012 Online Pacemaker Award, 2012 VPA award for Best in Show for a Non-Daily News Presentation, and a 2012 VPA sweepstakes award.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Clubs and organizations

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File:University Recreation Center (UREC).jpg
The university's main gym and athletic center is the University Recreation Center (UREC)

James Madison University has over 400 clubs and organizations for students.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

There are 10 front-end budgeted groups on campus, including the Black Student Alliance (BSA), Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC), Latinx Student Alliance (LSA), Madison Equality, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Panhellenic, SafeRides, Student Ambassadors (SA), Student Government Association (SGA), and University Program Board (UPB).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The funds allocated to these organization are voted on by the SGA, with the exception to the SGA budget which is approved separately by the administration. Some FEB organizations are more active than others, causing debate about their status from year-to-year.

File:Students on JMU Quad.jpg
Students on the James Madison University quad
File:JMU East Campus from near Potomac Hall.jpg
JMU's East Campus overlooks distant mountains.
File:JMU CISAT West.JPG
King Hall

SGA has initiated many of the university's traditional events and programs, such as Homecoming's Purple Out, Mr. and Ms. Madison, Ring Premiere, the Annual Tree Lighting, the Big Event, and SafeRides. They also vote on Front End Budgeted (FEB) organizational budgets each year and allocate contingency funds.Template:Citation needed Founded in 2003, SafeRides originated as a program run by the SGA. Inspired by a program at Texas A&M, the organization is a student-led non-profit: unpaid students drive students home at night at no charge. By 2022, they had given more than 100,000 rides.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The JMU Student Ambassadors work alongside the Admissions Office to offer student-led tours for prospective students. Formerly, the Ambassadors were also associated with the Alumni Office until the GOLD Network was established. Ambassadors are volunteers and are not paid.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The JMU Speech Team has received awards. JMU Forensics is the only program in the nation directed by two recipients of AFA's most respected coaching awards: Distinguished Service and Outstanding New Coach.<ref name="JMU Speech Team">Template:Usurped Retrieved on December 21, 2011.</ref>

JMU has the largest InterVarsity Christian Fellowship organization in the country.<ref>Template:Cite web Retrieved on April 19, 2022.</ref>

Greek life

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James Madison University is home to over two dozen social fraternity and sorority chapters. A monument dedicated to the members of the Inter-Cultural Greek Council was built in 2022.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Music

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James Madison University has the largest collegiate marching band in the nation, with 540 members as of Fall 2022. Nicknamed "Virginia's Finest", the Marching Royal Dukes have performed at the inaugurations of Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, the NFC title game between Washington and Dallas in 1983, and the Bands of America Grand National Championships in 1988 and 1991. The band has made four appearances in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, first in 2001, again in 2008, 2013, and most recently in 2018. In the past decade, the band has performed in Europe during winter break; they appeared in Athens, Dublin, Monaco, London, and Rome.<ref name="JMU-MRDs">Template:Cite web</ref>

The JMU Brass Band is one of only a few collegiate brass bands in the United States. Formed in the fall of 2000, the band has twice been named the North American Brass Band Association (NABBA) Honors Section Champion (2004, 2005), and is the 2024 Championship Section Champion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

JMU is home to ten a cappella ensembles: four all-female, three all-male, and three co-educational groups.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They are nationally recognized, with many of them featured on the Best of College A Cappella (BOCA) yearly compilation albums.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Several of the groups, such as Note-oriety and The Overtones, have gone "viral" for their music videos, "Pretty Hurts"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and "Say Love",<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> respectively. Note-oriety also performed at the White House in 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Club sports

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The JMU men's and women's club soccer teams are two of the most decorated club organizations in JMU school history.Template:Cn

The JMU men's ultimate team, the Flying Hellfish, was founded in 1997.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The team is named after the Simpsons episode 22, season 7, "Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in 'The Curse of the Flying Hellfish'"<ref name=":1">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref> Since 2005, the team has hosted an annual tournament known as "The Hellfish Bonanza," which attracts between 12 and 16 teams from across the east coast.<ref name=":1" /> Several current and former Hellfish play Ultimate professionally for Major League Ultimate's Washington DC Current and the American Ultimate Disc League's DC Breeze.Template:Citation needed

Athletics

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File:James Madison University Athletics logo.svg
James Madison Athletics block logo

James Madison University's athletic teams are known as the Dukes. An English bulldog, with a crown and cape, and Duke Dog, a gray canine costume in a purple cape and crown, serve as the school's mascot. The "Dukes" nickname is in honor of Samuel Page Duke, the university's second president. The school colors are royal purple and gold. Madison competes in the NCAA's Division I in the Sun Belt Conference and the Eastern College Athletic Conference.

Beginning in July 2022, the football program began competing in the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as part of the Sun Belt Conference. Before that, the team participated in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and within the Colonial Athletic Association.

File:James Madison University Football.jpg
The football team's stadium

Over 546 varsity athletes compete in football, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's tennis, women's swimming and diving, women's volleyball, baseball, women's lacrosse, field hockey, men's and women's golf, women's cross country and track and field, and softball. James Madison has won five national championships in football (2), field hockey, women's lacrosse, and archery, giving the Dukes the second-most national titles by a college or university in Virginia.

James Madison University invested heavily in new athletic facilities throughout the tenure of President Linwood Rose. JMU built a new multimillion-dollar baseball and softball field complex that opened in 2010. Additionally, after the last football game of 2009, the university began an expansion of Bridgeforth Stadium that increased seating capacity to approximately 25,000. Construction was completed in time for the 2011 football season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Basketball

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In 2013, James Madison University's men's basketball team won the CAA championship title for the first time since 1994. The Dukes then won their first NCAA tournament game in 30 years, defeating Long Island University-Brooklyn. The Dukes fell to Indiana in the second round, 83–62, finishing the season with a 21–15 record.<ref>"Top-seeded Hoosiers make quick work of No.16 James Madison." ESPN. March 22, 2013. Retrieved June 10, 2013.</ref>

Football

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JMU football won the NCAA Division I-AA national title in 2004,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with a 13–2 record, and in 2016 with a 14–1 record going undefeated in the FCS. The 2004 squad was the only team in history to win the title after playing four straight road playoff games. Since 2004, the JMU football team has appeared in the playoffs in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.Template:Citation needed

Notable alumni

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A brief list of notable James Madison University alumni.

Athletics

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Academia

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Business

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Entertainment

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Journalism

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Music

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Politics and government

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Notes

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References

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