Editing James Madison University

{{Short description|Public university in Harrisonburg, Virginia, US}}
{{Redirect|JMU}}
{{For|the public-policy college at Michigan State University|James Madison College}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = James Madison University
 | image                  = James Madison University seal.svg
 | image_upright          = 0.7
 | former_names           = State Normal and Industrial School (1908–1914)<br />State Normal School for Women at Harrisonburg (1914–1924)<br />State Teachers College at Harrisonburg (1924–1938)<br />Madison College (1938–1977)
 | motto                  = "Knowledge is Liberty"<ref name="JMU Seal">{{cite web |url=https://www.jmu.edu/commencement/JMU-Commencement-May2021-Digital.pdf |title=James Madison University Commencement |access-date=April 19, 2022 |publisher=James Madison University |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705183139/https://www.jmu.edu/commencement/JMU-Commencement-May2021-Digital.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 | established            = {{start date and age|1908|2|29|br=y}}
 | type                   = [[Public university|Public]] [[research university]]
 | accreditation          = [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools|SACS]]
 | academic_affiliations  = {{hlist|[[State Council of Higher Education for Virginia|SCHEV]]}}
 | endowment              = $154.7 million (2021)<ref>As of June 30, 2021. {{cite report |url=https://www.jmu.edu/foundation/market-value.shtml |title=JMU Foundation: Endowments Market Value |publisher=James Madison University Foundation |access-date=December 5, 2022 |archive-date=December 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205133426/https://www.jmu.edu/foundation/market-value.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>
 | budget                 = $628 million (2020)<ref name="JMU Facts">{{cite web| url=https://www.jmu.edu/budgetmgmt/jmu%20budget%20info%20and%20statistics/06-20-fy21-operating-budgets-by-revenue-source-major-expense.pdf| title=Operating Budgets by Revenue Source and Major Expense 2019-20 and 2020-21| publisher=James Madison University| access-date=March 22, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322044750/https://www.jmu.edu/budgetmgmt/jmu%20budget%20info%20and%20statistics/06-20-fy21-operating-budgets-by-revenue-source-major-expense.pdf| archive-date=March 22, 2021| url-status=dead}}</ref>
 | president              = Charlie King (interim)
 | faculty                = 1,463 (2022)<ref name="JMU Facts & Figures">{{cite web|url=http://www.jmu.edu/about/fact-and-figures.shtml|title=JMU Facts & Figures|access-date=July 20, 2023|publisher=James Madison University|archive-date=May 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531180526/http://www.jmu.edu/about/fact-and-figures.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>
 | students               = 22,224 (2022)<ref name="JMU Facts & Figures" />
 | undergrad              = 20,346 (2022)<ref name="JMU Facts & Figures" />
 | postgrad               = 1,878 (2022)<ref name="JMU Facts & Figures" />
 | free_label             = Other campuses
 | free                   = {{hlist|[[Antwerp]]|[[Florence]]|[[London]]|[[Washington, D.C.]]}}
 | free_label2            = Newspaper
 | free2                  = ''[[The Breeze (newspaper)|The Breeze]]''
 | city                   = [[Harrisonburg, Virginia|Harrisonburg]]
 | state                  = [[Virginia]]
 | country                = United States
 | campus                 = [[College Town|Small City]]
 | campus_size            = {{convert|721|acre|km2}}
 | colors                 = {{color box|#450084}}&nbsp;Purple<br>{{color box|#CBB677}} Gold<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jmu.edu/identity/our-style/color.shtml|title=James Madison University Colors|access-date=September 10, 2018|archive-date=May 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531174448/http://www.jmu.edu/identity/our-style/color.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>
 | sporting_affiliations  = {{hlist|[[NCAA Division I]] [[NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision|FBS]] – [[Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]]|[[American Athletic Conference|The American]]}}
 | sports_nickname        = [[James Madison Dukes|Dukes]]
 | mascot                 = [[Duke Dog]]
 | website                = {{URL|jmu.edu}}
 | logo                   = James Madison University logo.svg
 | logo_upright           = 
}}

'''James Madison University''' ('''JMU''', '''Madison''', or '''James Madison''') is a [[public university|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|normal school and teacher's college]] into a comprehensive university. It is situated in the [[Shenandoah Valley]], just west of [[Massanutten Mountain]].

== History ==
[[File:John Vanderlyn - James Madison - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[James Madison]], the university's namesake, by [[John Vanderlyn]] (1816)]]
[[File:JMU aerial photograph, 1937.jpg|thumb|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 colleges in the United States|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">{{cite news|title=History of James Madison University |url=http://www.jmu.edu/president/about/history.shtml|work=Office of the President|date=March 31, 2005| access-date=July 17, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070827105522/http://www.jmu.edu/president/about/history.shtml|archive-date=August 27, 2007}}</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 (Orange, Virginia)|Montpelier estate]] is located in nearby [[Orange, Virginia]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news | last=Quinn | first=Susan | date=April 30, 1944 |title='No college can be very much better than its teachers' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-no-college-can-b/151867397/ |access-date=July 23, 2024 |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |pages=43 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="Timeline">{{cite web |title=JMU Historical Timeline |url=http://www.jmu.edu/centennialcelebration/timeline.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531154409/http://www.jmu.edu/centennialcelebration/timeline.shtml |archive-date=May 31, 2019 |access-date=December 5, 2006 |publisher=JMU Centennial Office}}</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 and State University|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 {{convert|240|acre|km2}} 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 ===
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 in Virginia|Interstate 81]] but also on the west side of campus. In early 2005, JMU purchased the [[Sentara RMH Medical Center|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">{{cite news|first=Sarah|last=Shahmoradian|title=Legislature approves hospital purchase|url=http://www.thebreeze.org/archives/3.31.05/news/news2.shtml|work=The Breeze|date=March 31, 2005 |access-date=October 19, 2006|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927101234/http://www.thebreeze.org/archives/3.31.05/news/news2.shtml|archive-date=September 27, 2007}}</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">{{cite news|url=http://www.dnronline.com/news_details.php?AID=4519&CHID=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804171718/http://www.dnronline.com/news_details.php?AID=4519&CHID=2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 4, 2009 |title=Old School's Price Tag: $17 Million Proposals From JMU Go Before Council |last=Mellott |first=Jeff |date=May 24, 2006 |publisher=Daily News-Record |access-date=July 5, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="Memorial Hall">{{cite news |first=Jason|last=Burgene|title=Education to transfer in spring |url=http://www.thebreeze.org/archives/10.10.05/front/front3.shtml|work=The Breeze|date=October 10, 2005|access-date=October 19, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061105181335/http://www.thebreeze.org/archives/10.10.05/front/front3.shtml |archive-date=November 5, 2006}}</ref>

The rapid expansion of JMU's campus has at times created tension in the city-university relationship.<ref name="Candidates and Growth">{{cite news|first=Jeff|last=Mellott|title=Harrisonburg City Council Candidates Hear Concerns About Growth |url=http://www.dnronline.com/news_details.php?AID=4137&CHID=2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928115626/http://www.dnronline.com/news_details.php?AID=4137&CHID=2|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 28, 2007|work=The Daily News Record|date=April 26, 2006|access-date=October 19, 2006}}</ref> In 2006, the local [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate reported that the university had nearly doubled in size in the preceding 20 years,<ref name="Size">{{cite news|first=Shane|last=Symolon|title=James Madison Expansion|url=http://www.whsv.com/news/headlines/3190501.html|publisher=[[WHSV-TV]]|access-date=October 19, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070328034247/http://www.whsv.com/news/headlines/3190501.html|archive-date=March 28, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> including purchases of several local properties.<ref name="Kyger">{{cite news |first=Jeff |last=Mellott|title=Kyger Contributes To Candidates Challenging Rogers, Who Aided University Effort to Gain Property |url=http://www.dnronline.com/search_details.php?AID=4065&CHID=1&key=kyger&title=&author=&channelid=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928115740/http://www.dnronline.com/search_details.php?AID=4065&CHID=1&key=kyger&title=&author=&channelid=|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 28, 2007|work=The Daily News Record|date=April 25, 2006|access-date=October 19, 2006}}</ref><ref name="Harrisonburg HS">{{cite news|first=Calvin|last=Trice|title=Harrisonburg to sell school site to JMU|url=http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149188528518&path=!news&s=1045855934842|work=[[Richmond Times-Dispatch]] |date=June 16, 2006|access-date=October 19, 2006}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</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>{{cite news|url=http://www.whsv.com/news/headlines/27318974.html|title=Increased Patrols for JMU Students|publisher=whsv.com|date=August 23, 2008|access-date=April 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414183010/http://www.whsv.com/news/headlines/27318974.html|archive-date=April 14, 2010|url-status=dead}}</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>{{cite news|url=http://hburgnews.com/2010/04/10/hpd-asks-non-residents-to-clear-springfest/|title=Police reportedly use tear gas and pepper spray to disperse block party|publisher=hburgnews.com|date=July 17, 2006|access-date=April 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414102506/http://hburgnews.com/2010/04/10/hpd-asks-non-residents-to-clear-springfest/|archive-date=April 14, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://dnronline.com/news_details.php?AID=46189&CHID=64 |title=Party Escalates Into Riot |publisher=Daily News Record |access-date=April 11, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100416140206/http://www.dnronline.com/news_details.php?AID=46189&CHID=64 |archive-date=April 16, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.whsv.com/home/headlines/90544214.html|title=Harrisonburg Block Party Near JMU Turns To Civil Disturbance|publisher=Whsv.com|access-date=April 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412175423/http://www.whsv.com/home/headlines/90544214.html|archive-date=April 12, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> Several participants were airlifted to a medical center in [[Charlottesville, Virginia|Charlottesville]] for treatment.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.breezejmu.org/article_cf452ab5-f10a-563c-8ebf-e64635be85fe.html|title=Police Use Tear Gas and Rubber Bullets to Disperse More Than 8,000|publisher=The Breeze|access-date=November 4, 2010|archive-date=February 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219222031/http://www.breezejmu.org/article_cf452ab5-f10a-563c-8ebf-e64635be85fe.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The university condemned the block party attendees' behavior.<ref>{{cite web |author=James Madison University – Public Affairs |url=http://www.jmu.edu/jmuweb/general/news/general11151.shtml |title=James Madison University – Springfest: Message from President Rose |website=JMU.edu |access-date=May 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101105757/http://www.jmu.edu/jmuweb/general/news/general11151.shtml |archive-date=November 1, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</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>{{Cite web|last=News-Record|first=IAN MUNRO Daily|title=JMU Training Video Causes National Stir|url=https://www.dnronline.com/news/local/jmu-training-video-causes-national-stir/article_590bef11-b2bd-5df4-aa2b-7599ee91845f.html|access-date=August 25, 2021|website=Daily News-Record|date=August 24, 2021|language=en|archive-date=August 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825215611/https://www.dnronline.com/news/local/jmu-training-video-causes-national-stir/article_590bef11-b2bd-5df4-aa2b-7599ee91845f.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Stabile|first=Angelica|date=August 24, 2021|title=James Madison University students shred 'racist' campus training labeling Whites, Christians as 'oppressors'|url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/james-madison-university-students-racist-training|access-date=August 25, 2021|website=Fox News|language=en-US|archive-date=August 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825160828/https://www.foxnews.com/media/james-madison-university-students-racist-training|url-status=live}}</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>{{cite news |title=JMU announces Dr. James C. Schmidt as seventh president |url=https://www.jmu.edu/news/2025/03/26-seventh-president.shtml |access-date=26 March 2025 |publisher=James Madison University |date=26 March 2025}}</ref>

== Campus ==
[[File:Wilson Hall.jpg|thumb|[[Woodrow Wilson Hall (James Madison University)|Woodrow Wilson Hall]], the centerpiece of the JMU quadrangle.]]
[[File:Keezell Hall (JMU).jpg|thumb|Keezell Hall, home of the university's English and Foreign Language departments]]
[[File:Varner House (JMU).jpg|thumb|Varner House]]
[[File:Statue of James Madison -04- (50998927107).png|alt=James Madison statue in Bluestone area|thumb|upright|A statue of [[James Madison]] on campus.]]
[[File:Harrison Hall, James Madison University.jpg|thumb|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>{{cite web|last=White|first=Kenzie|date=September 27, 2021|title=Public ceremony of renaming buildings on the Quad commences|url=https://www.breezejmu.org/news/public-ceremony-of-renaming-buildings-on-the-quad-commences/article_5e2ec264-1fcb-11ec-9ad4-1f4b04ad9ca6.html|access-date=December 12, 2021|website=www.breezejmu.org|archive-date=December 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213021855/https://www.breezejmu.org/news/public-ceremony-of-renaming-buildings-on-the-quad-commences/article_5e2ec264-1fcb-11ec-9ad4-1f4b04ad9ca6.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Today, the campus has 148 major buildings on {{convert|721|acre|km2}}.<ref name="JMU Today">{{cite web|url=http://www.jmu.edu/centennialcelebration/today.shtml|title=JMU – JMU Today|access-date=November 12, 2006|publisher=JMU Centennial Office|archive-date=May 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517125507/http://www.jmu.edu/centennialcelebration/today.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> It has become Virginia's second most photographed location on social media sites like [[Instagram]] and [[Twitter]].<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://thetab.com/us/jmu/2016/12/03/jmu-named-2nd-instagrammed-place-virginia-3916|title = JMU named second most Instagrammed place in Virginia|date = December 3, 2016|access-date = April 20, 2022|archive-date = August 17, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220817124759/https://thetab.com/us/jmu/2016/12/03/jmu-named-2nd-instagrammed-place-virginia-3916|url-status = live}}</ref>

The original, historic Bluestone side of campus is located on South Main Street (also known as [[U.S. Route 11 in Virginia|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">{{cite web|url=https://www.jmu.edu/centennialcelebration/bluestone.shtml|title=JMU Centennial Celebration - The History of Bluestone|access-date=June 4, 2022|publisher=James Madison University|archive-date=June 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627032024/https://www.jmu.edu/centennialcelebration/bluestone.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

Beginning in 2002 JMU began receiving state and private funding to construct a performing arts complex. The facility is opposite [[Woodrow Wilson Hall (James Madison University)|Wilson Hall]] across South Main Street.<ref name="JMU Performing Arts">{{cite web|url=http://www.jmu.edu/jmuarts/forbescenter/|title=JMU – JMU Arts|access-date=December 29, 2010|publisher=JMU Forbes Center|archive-date=January 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102010141/http://www.jmu.edu/jmuarts/forbescenter/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Renaming historic halls ===
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>{{Cite web|last=News-Record|first=MEGAN WILLIAMS Daily|title=JMU Votes To Rename Three Buildings|url=https://www.dnronline.com/news/harrisonburg/jmu-votes-to-rename-three-buildings/article_26040fdd-108b-5b98-918d-ae2a790a6607.html|access-date=December 13, 2021|website=Daily News-Record|date=July 7, 2020|language=en|archive-date=July 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715032228/https://www.dnronline.com/news/harrisonburg/jmu-votes-to-rename-three-buildings/article_26040fdd-108b-5b98-918d-ae2a790a6607.html|url-status=live}}</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>{{Cite web|title=JMU Location: Gabbin Hall|url=https://www.jmu.edu/directory/buildings/GABB.shtml|access-date=December 13, 2021|website=www.jmu.edu|language=en|archive-date=December 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213021857/https://www.jmu.edu/directory/buildings/GABB.shtml|url-status=live}}</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>{{Cite web|title=JMU Location: Harper Allen~Lee Hall|url=https://www.jmu.edu/directory/buildings/HALH.shtml|access-date=December 13, 2021|website=www.jmu.edu|language=en|archive-date=December 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213021855/https://www.jmu.edu/directory/buildings/HALH.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Justice Studies Hall (Jackson Hall) was renamed Darcus Johnson Hall after Sheary Darcus Johnson, the first black student to graduate from JMU.<ref>{{Cite web|title=JMU Location: Darcus Johnson Hall|url=https://www.jmu.edu/directory/buildings/DJH.shtml|access-date=December 13, 2021|website=www.jmu.edu|language=en|archive-date=December 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213021856/https://www.jmu.edu/directory/buildings/DJH.shtml|url-status=live}}</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>{{Cite web|title=Board of Visitors summary of actions and discussions|url=https://www.jmu.edu/news/2021/11/19-bov-summary.shtml|access-date=December 13, 2021|website=www.jmu.edu|language=en|archive-date=December 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205212655/https://www.jmu.edu/news/2021/11/19-bov-summary.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Organization and administration ==

=== Colleges ===
{{Main|James Madison University College of Arts and Letters|James Madison University College of Business}}

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>{{cite web |author=Sarah Sager |date=September 8, 2010 |title=JMU Forbes Center for Performing Arts Officially Opens |url=http://www.whsv.com/news/headlines/102417599.html |accessdate=October 7, 2010 |publisher=Gray Television, Inc. |archive-date=March 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307152504/http://www.whsv.com/news/headlines/102417599.html |url-status=dead }}</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>{{cite web |title=About the Forbes Center |url=http://www.jmu.edu/jmuarts/forbescenter/ |accessdate=October 7, 2010 |publisher=James Madison University |archive-date=January 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102010141/http://www.jmu.edu/jmuarts/forbescenter/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The $82 million facility was funded by a Virginia higher-education bond package.<ref>{{cite web |author=Ken Slack |date=June 29, 2010 |title=JMU Opens New Performing Arts Center |url=http://www.nbc29.com/story/12654431/jmu-opens-new-performing-arts-center?redirected=true |accessdate=October 7, 2010 |publisher=WorldNow and WVIR |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232959/http://www.nbc29.com/story/12654431/jmu-opens-new-performing-arts-center?redirected=true |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Board of Visitors ===
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">{{cite web|url=http://www.jmu.edu/centennialcelebration/governance.shtml|title=Institutional Governance|access-date=November 12, 2006|publisher=JMU Centennial Office|archive-date=November 14, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061114013136/http://www.jmu.edu/centennialcelebration/governance.shtml|url-status=live}}</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>{{Cite web |last=report |first=-staff |title=Former JMU Board of Visitors member Carly Fiorina announces bid for president |url=https://www.breezejmu.org/news/former-jmu-board-of-visitors-member-carly-fiorina-announces-bid-for-president/article_5010fecc-f273-11e4-892c-637ceda41504.html |access-date=May 2, 2022 |website=The Breeze |date=May 4, 2015 |language=en |archive-date=April 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405183338/https://www.breezejmu.org/news/former-jmu-board-of-visitors-member-carly-fiorina-announces-bid-for-president/article_5010fecc-f273-11e4-892c-637ceda41504.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Turning Point Suffragist Memorial » TPSMA Honorary Board Members |url=https://suffragistmemorial.org/tpsma-honorary-board-members/ |access-date=May 2, 2022 |language=en-US |archive-date=May 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504121345/https://suffragistmemorial.org/tpsma-honorary-board-members/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== President ===
Charlie King currently serves as interim president. He will serve until June 30, 2025, or until a new president is selected.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Ashlyn |title=Charlie King Chosen As JMU's Interim President |url=https://www.dnronline.com/news/charlie-king-chosen-as-jmus-interim-president/article_97761fe7-06cb-5e78-a3c1-e2dd2e91178a.html |access-date=May 13, 2024 |work=Daily News-Record |date=April 19, 2024 |archive-date=May 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513013438/https://www.dnronline.com/news/charlie-king-chosen-as-jmus-interim-president/article_97761fe7-06cb-5e78-a3c1-e2dd2e91178a.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Jonathan Alger]] previously served as the university's sixth president until he became the president of [[American University]] on July 1, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BREAKING: Jonathan Alger named 16th president of American University - The Eagle |url=https://www.theeagleonline.com/article/2024/03/breaking-jonathan-alger-named-16th-president-of-american-university |access-date=March 25, 2024 |website=www.theeagleonline.com |language=en |archive-date=March 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240318183830/https://www.theeagleonline.com/article/2024/03/breaking-jonathan-alger-named-16th-president-of-american-university |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Presidents of JMU ====
* [[Julian Ashby Burruss]] (1908–1919)
* [[Samuel Page Duke]] (1919–1949)
* [[G. Tyler Miller]] (1949–1971)
* [[Ronald E. Carrier]] (1971–1998)
* [[Linwood H. Rose]] (1999–2012)
* [[Jonathan R. Alger]] (2012–2024)
* Charlie King (interim; 2024–present)
* [[James C. Schmidt]] (expected to take office July 2025)

== Academics ==
James Madison University is [[Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education|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>{{cite web|url=http://www.jmu.edu/jmuweb/general/news/general10818.shtml|title=JMU Awarded Prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Chapter|publisher=James Madison University|access-date=July 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528022417/http://www.jmu.edu/jmuweb/general/news/general10818.shtml|archive-date=May 28, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Reputation and rankings ===
{{Infobox US university ranking
| Forbes = 136
| USNWR_NU = 124
| Wamo_NU = 75
| THE_WSJ = 152
}}

The 2024 ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'' ranked JMU No. 124 among national universities.<ref>{{cite web|title=James Madison University|url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/james-madison-university-3721|website=[[U.S. News & World Report]]|access-date=March 28, 2024|archive-date=November 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119123718/https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/james-madison-university-3721|url-status=live}}</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>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings-2015/national-universities-rank.php |title=2015 National Universities Rankings |magazine=Washington Monthly |access-date=March 1, 2016 |archive-date=April 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401042727/http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings-2015/national-universities-rank.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2013, ''BloombergBusiness'' ranked JMU 15th among all undergraduate business schools in the country for return on investment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2013-04-26/the-top-undergraduate-b-schools-for-roi|title=The Top Undergraduate B-Schools for ROI|date=April 26, 2013|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.}}</ref> In 2014 it ranked JMU's College of Business 40th among undergraduate business programs in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2014-04-04/the-complete-ranking-best-undergraduate-business-schools-2014 |title=The Complete Ranking: Best Undergraduate Business Schools 2014 |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |date=April 4, 2014 |access-date=March 7, 2017 |archive-date=February 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202085837/http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2014-04-04/the-complete-ranking-best-undergraduate-business-schools-2014 |url-status=live }}</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>{{cite web |url=http://www.kiplinger.com/article/college/T014-C000-S002-past-years-rankings-of-top-public-college-values.html?page=2 |title=100 Best Values in Public Colleges |date=December 16, 2015 |publisher=[[Kiplinger]] |access-date=March 1, 2016 |archive-date=March 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309010102/http://www.kiplinger.com/article/college/T014-C000-S002-past-years-rankings-of-top-public-college-values.html?page=2 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Student life ==
{| class="wikitable floatright sortable collapsible"; text-align:right; font-size:80%;"
|+ style="font-size:90%" |Student body composition as of May 2, 2022
|-
! Race and ethnicity<ref>{{cite web|title=College Scorecard: James Madison University|url=https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?232423-James-Madison-University|publisher=[[United States Department of Education]]|access-date=May 8, 2022|archive-date=June 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625053617/https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?232423-James-Madison-University|url-status=live}}</ref>
! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Total
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic whites|White]]
|align=right| {{bartable|75|%|2||background:gray}}
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]]
|align=right| {{bartable|7|%|2||background:green}}
|-
| Other{{efn|Other consists of [[Multiracial Americans]] & those who prefer to not say.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|7|%|2||background:brown}}
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]]
|align=right| {{bartable|5|%|2||background:purple}}
|-
| [[African Americans|Black]]
|align=right| {{bartable|5|%|2||background:mediumblue}}
|-
| [[Foreign national]]
|align=right| {{bartable|1|%|2||background:orange}}
|-
! colspan="4" data-sort-type=number |[[Economic diversity]]
|-
| [[American lower class|Low-income]]{{efn|The percentage of students who received an income-based federal [[Pell grant]] intended for low-income students.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|14|%|2||background:red}}
|-
| [[Affluence in the United States|Affluent]]{{efn|The percentage of students who are a part of the [[American middle class]] at the bare minimum.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|86|%|2||background:black}}
|}
[[File:Converse Hall (JMU).jpg|thumb|upright|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">{{cite web|url= http://www.peacecorps.gov/news/resources/stats/pdf/schools2006.pdf|title=Peace Corps – Top Producing Colleges and Universities|access-date=December 8, 2006|publisher= Peace Corps|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060928233154/http://www.peacecorps.gov/news/resources/stats/pdf/schools2006.pdf| archive-date=September 28, 2006}}</ref> And in 2010, the food at JMU was ranked third in the United States.<ref name="Princeton Review Food">{{cite web|url=http://www.princetonreview.com/schoollist.aspx?type=r&id=683&RDN=1|title=Best Campus Food|access-date=November 4, 2010|publisher=The Princeton Review|archive-date=January 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112051804/http://www.princetonreview.com/schoollist.aspx?type=r&id=683&RDN=1|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2011 the student body was ranked 20th "happiest in the entire nation" by ''[[Newsweek]]'' and ''[[The Daily Beast]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/features/college-rankings/2011/happiest.all.html |title=Happiest Schools |access-date=April 11, 2012 |publisher=The Newsweek Daily Beast Company |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405184045/http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/features/college-rankings/2011/happiest.all.html |archive-date=April 5, 2012 }}</ref> These rankings take into consideration the surrounding area's activities, academics, as well as the social scene on campus.

=== ''The Breeze'' ===
{{Main|The Breeze (newspaper)}}

[[The Breeze (newspaper)|''The Breeze'']] is a student-run weekly newspaper serving JMU since 1922.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Breeze |url=https://www.breezejmu.org/site/about/ |access-date=May 2, 2022 |website=The Breeze |language=en |archive-date=May 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502202241/https://www.breezejmu.org/site/about/ |url-status=live }}</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>{{Cite web |title=ACP - 2012 Online Pacemaker Winners |url=https://studentpress.org/acp/awards/2012-online-pacemaker-winners/ |access-date=May 2, 2022 |language=en-US |archive-date=January 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124055407/https://studentpress.org/acp/awards/2012-online-pacemaker-winners/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=report |first=-sStaff |title=Breeze named best non-daily newspaper in region |url=https://www.breezejmu.org/news/breeze-named-best-non-daily-newspaper-in-region/article_ce449cd6-aa2c-11e2-a8f9-0019bb30f31a.html |access-date=May 2, 2022 |website=The Breeze |date=April 20, 2013 |language=en |archive-date=May 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502220153/https://www.breezejmu.org/news/breeze-named-best-non-daily-newspaper-in-region/article_ce449cd6-aa2c-11e2-a8f9-0019bb30f31a.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Matray |first=Margaret |title=The Virginian-Pilot named state's top large newspaper |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/news/article_c4ee06e3-0072-560a-9f88-b20b1512aa0e.html |access-date=May 2, 2022 |website=pilotonline.com|date=April 21, 2013 }}</ref>

=== Clubs and organizations ===
[[File:University Recreation Center (UREC).jpg|thumb|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>{{Cite web |title=Student Life: Clubs and Organizations |url=https://www.jmu.edu/student-life/clubs-organizations.shtml |access-date=September 16, 2024 |website=www.jmu.edu |language=en}}</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>{{Cite web|url=https://www.breezejmu.org/news/sga-senate-approves-amendment-to-student-government-financial-procedures/article_c7e69092-aaf4-11ec-87b7-1f597db8f46a.html|title=SGA Senate approves amendment to Student Government Financial Procedures|first=Kasey|last=Trapuzzano|website=The Breeze|date=March 23, 2022|access-date=April 19, 2022|archive-date=April 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419204856/https://www.breezejmu.org/news/sga-senate-approves-amendment-to-student-government-financial-procedures/article_c7e69092-aaf4-11ec-87b7-1f597db8f46a.html|url-status=live}}</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|thumb|Students on the James Madison University quad]] [[File:JMU East Campus from near Potomac Hall.jpg|thumb|JMU's East Campus overlooks distant mountains.]] [[File:JMU CISAT West.JPG|thumb|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.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} 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>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jmusaferides.com/|title=JMU SafeRides|website=JMU SafeRides|access-date=April 21, 2022|archive-date=May 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517083620/https://www.jmusaferides.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The JMU Student Ambassadors work alongside the [[College admissions|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>{{Cite web |title=MY SITE |url=https://jmusa.weebly.com/ |access-date=May 2, 2022 |website=MY SITE |language=en |archive-date=March 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309045823/https://jmusa.weebly.com/ |url-status=live }}</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">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20171229232114/https://www.jmuspeechteam.org/ "JMU Speech Team"]}} Retrieved on December 21, 2011.</ref>

JMU has the largest [[InterVarsity Christian Fellowship]] organization in the country.<ref>{{cite web|work=InterVarsity Christian Fellowship|url=https://intervarsity.org/news/move-week|date=August 25, 2010|title=Move-In Week|access-date=April 19, 2022|archive-date=August 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819231053/https://intervarsity.org/news/move-week|url-status=live}} Retrieved on April 19, 2022.</ref>

=== Greek life ===
James Madison University is home to over two dozen social [[Fraternities and sororities|fraternity and sorority]] chapters. A monument dedicated to the members of the Inter-Cultural Greek Council was built in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.breezejmu.org/news/cmss-honors-greek-multicultural-organizations-in-new-ssc-construction-project/article_63c39cf8-217f-11ec-8045-bb08b38333e3.html|title=CMSS honors Greek multicultural organizations in new SSC construction project|first=Alex Baker &#124; contributing|last=writer|website=The Breeze|date=September 30, 2021|access-date=June 9, 2022|archive-date=June 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607014617/https://www.breezejmu.org/news/cmss-honors-greek-multicultural-organizations-in-new-ssc-construction-project/article_63c39cf8-217f-11ec-8045-bb08b38333e3.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Music ===
{{see also|Marching Royal Dukes}}

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">{{cite web  | title = JMU School of Music: Ensembles: Marching Royal Dukes  | url = http://www.jmu.edu/music/mrd/about.html  | access-date = October 19, 2006 | archive-date = October 18, 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061018131439/http://www.jmu.edu/music/mrd/about.html  | url-status = live  }}</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>{{Cite web |title=James Madison University Brass Band - Brass Band Results |url=https://brassbandresults.co.uk/bands/james-madison-university-brass-band/ |access-date=March 2, 2022 |website=brassbandresults.co.uk |archive-date=June 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623164209/https://brassbandresults.co.uk/bands/james-madison-university-brass-band/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

JMU is home to ten a cappella ensembles: four all-female, three all-male, and three co-educational groups.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.breezejmu.org/culture/behind-the-scenes-look-of-jmu-a-cappella-group-auditions/article_c5dfa866-20e5-11e9-9763-9f3eaa259630.html|title=Behind-the-scenes look of JMU a cappella group auditions|first=Camryn|last=Finn|website=The Breeze|date=January 26, 2019|language=en|access-date=August 9, 2019|archive-date=August 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809172844/https://www.breezejmu.org/culture/behind-the-scenes-look-of-jmu-a-cappella-group-auditions/article_c5dfa866-20e5-11e9-9763-9f3eaa259630.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They are nationally recognized, with many of them featured on the Best of College A Cappella (BOCA) yearly compilation albums.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://varsityvocals.com/project/boca-2019/|title=BOCA 2019|website=Varsity Vocals|language=en-US|access-date=August 9, 2019|archive-date=June 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601024916/https://varsityvocals.com/project/boca-2019/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://varsityvocals.com/project/boca-2018/|title=BOCA 2018|website=Varsity Vocals|language=en-US|access-date=August 9, 2019|archive-date=June 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601034954/https://varsityvocals.com/project/boca-2018/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://varsityvocals.com/project/boca-2016/|title=BOCA 2016|website=Varsity Vocals|language=en-US|access-date=August 9, 2019|archive-date=October 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021220410/https://varsityvocals.com/project/boca-2016/|url-status=live}}</ref> Several of the groups, such as [[Note-oriety]] and The Overtones, have gone "[[Viral video|viral]]" for their music videos, "[[Pretty Hurts]]"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/09/17/beyonce-pretty-hurts-female-cappella-group/32543463/|title=Watch: Female a cappella group covers Beyonce's 'Pretty Hurts'|last=Rein|first=Kristen|website=USA TODAY|language=en|access-date=August 9, 2019|archive-date=August 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809174244/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/09/17/beyonce-pretty-hurts-female-cappella-group/32543463/|url-status=live}}</ref> and "Say Love",<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 17, 2015 |title=A Cappella Version Of Beyonce's 'Pretty Hurts' Conveys Powerful Message |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pretty-hurts-a-cappella_n_55fabc46e4b00310edf5dc06 |access-date=May 2, 2022 |website=HuffPost |language=en |archive-date=May 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502220152/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pretty-hurts-a-cappella_n_55fabc46e4b00310edf5dc06 |url-status=live }}</ref> respectively. Note-oriety also performed at the [[White House]] in 2019[[Washington, D.C.|.]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.breezejmu.org/culture/jmu-a-capella-group-note-oriety-to-perform-at-the/article_1da1b8f2-00a5-11e9-976d-ff12d4c0da2e.html|title=JMU a capella group Note-oriety to perform at the White House|first=Amy|last=Needham|website=The Breeze|date=December 15, 2018|language=en|access-date=August 9, 2019|archive-date=August 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809172843/https://www.breezejmu.org/culture/jmu-a-capella-group-note-oriety-to-perform-at-the/article_1da1b8f2-00a5-11e9-976d-ff12d4c0da2e.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Club sports ===
The JMU men's and women's club soccer teams are two of the most decorated club organizations in JMU school history.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

The JMU men's [[Ultimate (sport)|ultimate]] team, the Flying Hellfish, was founded in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hellfishultimate.weebly.com/about-the-hellfish.html|title=about the hellfish|website=hellfish ultimate|access-date=March 14, 2016|archive-date=March 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315034514/http://hellfishultimate.weebly.com/about-the-hellfish.html|url-status=live}}</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">{{Cite magazine|url=http://skydmagazine.com/2013/02/the-making-of-the-hellfish-bonanza/| last=Neeley | first=Jonathan | date=February 19, 2013|title=The making of the Hellfish Bonanza |work=Skyd Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=March 14, 2016|archive-date=March 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315035057/http://skydmagazine.com/2013/02/the-making-of-the-hellfish-bonanza/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Lynch|first=Jeffrey|title=Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in 'The Curse of the Flying Hellfish'|date=April 28, 1996|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0778451/|access-date=March 14, 2016|archive-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306042208/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0778451/|url-status=live}}</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|Major League Ultimate's]] Washington DC Current and the [[American Ultimate Disc League]]'s [[DC Breeze]].{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

== Athletics ==
{{Main|James Madison Dukes}}
[[File:James Madison University Athletics logo.svg|thumb|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 [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]'s [[NCAA Division I|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|thumb|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 and Zane Showker Field|Bridgeforth Stadium]] that increased seating capacity to approximately 25,000. Construction was completed in time for the 2011 football season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jmu.edu/bridgeforthstadium/|title=Bridgeforth Stadium|publisher=James Madison University|access-date=April 11, 2010|archive-date=March 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329075248/http://www.jmu.edu/bridgeforthstadium/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Basketball ===
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 ===
JMU football won the [[NCAA Division I Football Championship|NCAA Division I-AA]] national title in 2004,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Breeze |first=Jackson Hephner {{!}} The |date=September 12, 2024 |title=How JMU’s 2004 National Championship team propelled the program |url=https://www.breezejmu.org/sports/how-jmu-s-2004-national-championship-team-propelled-the-program/article_40a9551c-70ac-11ef-9fc1-e774bd1724c6.html |access-date=October 8, 2024 |website=The Breeze |language=en}}</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.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

== Notable alumni ==
{{Main|List of James Madison University alumni}}

A brief '''list of notable James Madison University alumni'''.

=== Athletics ===
* [[Daniel Brown (American football)|Daniel Brown]], football player
* [[Gary Clark (American football)|Gary Clark]], football player
* [[Jeff Compher]], Director of Athletics at [[East Carolina Pirates|East Carolina University]]
* [[Lindsay Czarniak]], news anchor<ref name="Lindsay Czarniak">{{cite news |title = Meet the News Team |url = http://www.nbc4.com/meetthenewsteam/4723557/detail.html |work = [[WRC-TV]] |accessdate = July 16, 2007}}</ref>
* [[Ben DiNucci]], football player
* [[Dion Foxx]], football player<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/dionfoxx/2500693/profile|title =   Dion Foxx | publisher= NFL Enterprises LLC|accessdate= December 10, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Charles Haley]], football player<ref name="Charles Haley">{{cite news|title=Charles Haley |url=http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HALEYCHA01 |work=Databasefootball.com |accessdate=July 21, 2007 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205044542/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HALEYCHA01 |archivedate=February 5, 2007 }}</ref>
* [[Tiombe Hurd]], track & field athlete<ref>{{cite news |title = Tiombe Hurd bio |url = http://www.tiombehurd.net/bio.asp |work = tiombehurd.net |accessdate = January 21, 2015 |archive-date = February 20, 2014 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20140220112419/http://www.tiombehurd.net/bio.asp |url-status = dead }}</ref>
* [[Akeem Jordan]], football player<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JordAk99.htm|title=Akeem Raphael Jordan|publisher= Pro-Football-Reference.com|accessdate= December 21, 2012 }}</ref>
* [[Kevin Kelly (pitcher, born 1997)|Kevin Kelly]], baseball player
* [[Alan Mayer]], soccer player
* [[C. J. Sapong]], soccer player
* Aaron Stinnie, Football

=== Academia ===
* [[Marcia Angell]], professor of medicine<ref>[https://www.nlm.nih.gov/changingthefaceofmedicine/physicians/biography_10.html Dr. Marcia Angell] at the [https://www.nlm.nih.gov/ National Library of Medicine]. Accessed July 17, 2007.</ref>
* [[Matt Bondurant]], novelist
* [[Kembrew McLeod]], professor of communication
*[[Marney A. White|Marney White]], professor of psychology

=== Business ===
* [[Jason Harris (marketer)|Jason Harris]], professor of business
* [[Jennifer Morgan]], Co-Chief Executive Officer of [[SAP SE]]
* [[John-Paul Lee]], founder and CEO of [[Tavalon Tea]]
* Tom Rametta, CEO of [[Ultimate Medical Academy]]
* [[Christina Tosi]], owner of [[Momofuku Milk Bar]]; ''[[MasterChef]]'' judge; [[James Beard Foundation]] Award winner: Rising Star Chef
* [[Kathy J. Warden]], CEO of [[Northrop Grumman]]

=== Entertainment ===
* [[Sarah Baker (actress)|Sarah Baker]], actress
* [[Ashley Iaconetti]], television personality
* [[Steve James (producer)|Steve James]], documentary producer and director
* [[Nathan Lyon (chef)|Nathan Lyon]], television host
* [[PFT Commenter]], blogger
* [[Reshma Shetty]], actress
* [[Patricia Southall]], Miss Virginia USA
* [[Sara Tomko]], actress

=== Journalism ===
* [[Jim Acosta]], Senior White House Correspondent for [[CNN]]<ref name="Jim Acosta">{{cite news
 |first = Liz
 |last = Taylor
 |title = CBS News' Jim Acosta ('93) joins Dan Rather on the set for blackout story
 |url = http://www.jmu.edu/monty/AssignmentAmerica.shtml
 |work = Montpelier
 |date = December 1, 2004
|accessdate = June 24, 2007
}}</ref>
* [[Cornell Belcher]], writer, [[pollster]], and [[Political consulting|political strategist]]; regular contributor on [[NBC News]], [[MSNBC]], and [[NPR]]
* [[Julia Campbell (journalist)|Julia Campbell]], newspaper journalist and reporter for [[TruTV|CourtTV]]
* [[Lawrence Jackson (photographer)|Lawrence Jackson]], photojournalist<ref name="Ziu">{{cite news |last1=Ziu |first1=Christina |title=JMU alumnus photographed Obama presidency |url=https://www.breezejmu.org/news/jmu-alumnus-photographed-obama-presidency/article_09808128-0f7a-11e7-a2df-0343186cabf8.html |access-date=November 27, 2020 |work=The Breeze |date=March 23, 2017 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Alison Parker (reporter)|Alison Parker]], television reporter who, along with videographer [[Adam Ward (murder victim)|Adam Ward]], was [[Murders of Alison Parker and Adam Ward|killed during a live interview]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wdbj7.com/news/local/law-enforcement-investigating-incident-at-bridgewater-plaza/34923086 |title=Two WDBJ7 employees killed in attack at Bridgewater Plaza &#124; Local News - WDBJ7.com Central and Southwest VA |accessdate=August 26, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826131524/http://www.wdbj7.com/news/local/law-enforcement-investigating-incident-at-bridgewater-plaza/34923086 |archivedate=August 26, 2015 }}</ref> in 2015
* [[Chuck Taylor (Billboard writer and editor)|Chuck Taylor]], music journalist

=== Music ===
* [[Everything (band)|Everything]], '90s rock band
* [[Halestorm|Joe Hottinger]], musician ([[Halestorm]])
* [[Keith Howland]], musician ([[Chicago (band)|Chicago]])
* [[Illiterate Light]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Greenberg |first=Rudi |date=January 22, 2020 |title=Illiterate Light and its very specific sound as a band: Massive |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/music/illiterate-light-and-its-very-specific-sound-as-a-band-massive/2020/01/17/b6e1deba-3872-11ea-bf30-ad313e4ec754_story.html |access-date=September 10, 2024 |work=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> rock band
* [[Leroi Moore]], musician ([[Dave Matthews Band]])
* [[Old Dominion (band)|Old Dominion]], members Whit Sellers, Geoff Sprung, Brad Tursi, country musicians and songwriters
* [[Nate Smith (musician)|Nate Smith]], drummer, songwriter, producer
* [[Butch Taylor]], musician (Dave Matthews Band)
* [[Phil Vassar]], country music singer; awarded honorary degree
* [[Andrew York (guitarist)|Andrew York]], musician and composer

=== Politics and government ===
* [[Kirk Cox]], former [[List of Speakers of the Virginia House of Delegates|Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates]]
* [[Emmett Hanger]], [[Senate of Virginia|Virginia State Senator]]
* [[Jason Miyares]], [[Attorney General of Virginia]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vpap.org/candidates/35057-jason-miyares/www.vpap.org/candidates/35057-jason-miyares/|title=vpap.org|website=The Virginia Public Access Project}}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* [[Matt Rinaldi]], former [[Texas House of Representatives|Texas State Representative]] and chairman of the [[Republican Party of Texas]]
* [[Walter Shaub]], former director of the [[United States Office of Government Ethics]] and senior director, [[Campaign Legal Center]] 
* [[Joseph R. Slights III]], Vice-chancellor, [[Delaware Court of Chancery]]; Judge, [[Delaware Superior Court|Superior Court of Delaware]] 
* [[Levar Stoney]], Mayor of [[Richmond, Virginia]] and former [[Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia]]
* [[Matthew Wasniewski]], [[Historian of the United States House of Representatives]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category-inline}}
* {{Official website}}

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{{James Madison University}}
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