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Spring Admits

Welcome!

Please read and apply this information carefully as it will answer many of your questions!

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Paying your deposit:

To officiall accept JMU's offer of admission and start your pre-arrival steps, you must pay a deposit. Refer yourself to the acceptance packet you received from the Admissions Office.

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Pre-Arrival Steps:

Every new transfer students

Are required to complete all of the One Book steps to ensure that JMU is ready for your arrival. [Complete these steps even if the deadlines are past due, and in the order that they appear]
Must plan their arrival in Harrisonburg/JMU on or before Sunday, January 8.
Are strongly advised to read the remaining information found as it will answer many if not most of your questions, and concerns.

Every new first year students (also referred to as Freshmen), must complete the following steps:

Activate their e-ID. [Please contact Thomas Lavenir once you have done so in order to be granted access to the Math Placement Test].
Complete the online Housing Contract and decide whether you wish to participate in the Madison International Program by living in Ashby Hall. If you do, make sure to contact Thomas Lavenir as soon as possible.
Complete the Math Placement Test.
Complete the Health Record Form. You will turn it in during Transitions (international student orientation)
Must plan their arrival in Harrisonburg/JMU on or before Sunday, January 8.
Are strongly advised to read the remaining information found as it will answer many if not most of your questions, and concerns.

If you have any questions concerning the One Book and/or the general steps that you must take care of, please contact Thomas Lavenir.

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Orientation:

A special international student orientation (Transitions) has been developed to address some of the information and opportunities that you need to know as well as to enable you to transition here at JMU. Unlike the December orientation, every new international students must attend Transitions. It will address immigration requirements for maintaining your temporary status, as well as health insurance, classroom issues, safety, transportation and resources for internationals, and the information that you will have missed by not attending the December Transfer Orientation on Friday December 9th, 2011. A campus tour, shopping trips, opening a bank account, as well as issuing you your new JMU card (JAC Card) are also part of the agenda. You will also make new friends, and get answers to your questions. In addition you will meet with your academic advisor who will explain academic requirements and go over the schedule of classes you will be taking during the Spring semester. Transitions will take place Sunday, January 9. More specific informationregarding the location, timing and a schedule will be sent to you directly

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Flight & Hotel Reservation:

In order to be able to fully participate in Transitions, we strongly urge you to arrive on campus on Sunday, January 8th or earlier. You should fly into Shenandoah Valley airport (SHD) as there is no easy way to travel from other airports to JMU/Harrisonburg. Please note that if you will reside on-campus, the residence hall staff will be available to check you in no earlier that on Sunday, January 8th. Be sure to send your itinerary to Thomas Lavenir by Monday, January 2 the latest so that he can arrange to have a JMU driver pick you up from Shenandoah Airport only (this one and only time).

A list of local hotels can be found at this link, however we recommend that you stay at the Best Western Hotel in light of its location and price, and especially due to the fact that this is the only location where a JMU van will come and pick you up on Sunday to help you move-in into your residence hall. When you make your reservation, make sure to inform them that you are a JMU student as you may be given a student discount.

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Activate your JMU e-ID:

Your e-ID gives you access to JMU's e-mail system and is your key to the JMU virtual community.

In order to activate your e-ID, you need to use your U.S. Social Security number. If you do not have one, JMU has assigned you a “temporary number.” It is NOT the official U.S. Social Security number and may only be used at JMU. A mailing containing the One Book has been sent to you informing of your temporary number. If you have not received your temporarynumber" please e-mail Thomas Lavenir.

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Classes & Credits :

You will be registered for 4-6 classes or 12-16 credits (is the recommended number of credits for ALL new students at JMU) for your first semester prior to your arrival. All students at JMU regardless of major must complete all general education requirements in order to graduate from JMU. Some of the requirements in General Education may be similar or count for your intended major, some may not. Regardless, all students must complete general education. The classes selected for you for your first semester will be based on the cluster one and five preferences you indicate as well as your math placement test and TOEFL scores and any other college level credit you have received.

In order for your advisor to be able to work with you to determine appropriate classes, the university must have an official copy of your college level work completed outside JMU. If you have completed university/college level work at a university outside the United States, you must submit your transcript to one of the following credential services approved by James Madison University.

GCE – Global Credential Evaluators
P.O. Box 36
28 Westhampton way
Richmond, VA 23173
Phone: 1 (804) 639 3660
E-mail: jringer@mail.myriad.net

WES - Worl Education Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 57026
Washington, DC 20037-7206
Phone: 1 (202) 331 2925
Fax: 1 (202) 331-2927
E-mail: de@wes.org

The credential evaluation service, and/or the American College/ University where you have studied prior to JMU will need to send your results to:

Please keep in mind that the university may not be able to count all previous college/university work you have completed toward specific requirements in your major, minor, general education or degree requirements.

During Transitions, you will be given a copy of your schedule for the semester. An advisor will explain how the credits you are registered in will count for general education, degree requirements, electives and possibly major requirements.

Prior to your arrival, familiarize yourself with the majors at JMU as well the General Education program.

Questions: Contact JoAnn Benjamin.

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Placement Tests:

You will NOT be pre-registered for classes unless you complete the Math Placement Test. The math placement test is what we use at the university to determine the appropriate math class for you. To take the test you must:

Pay your deposit
Activate your JMU E ID

Complete the test at the One Book math placement test website by the deadline indicated. If it is past the deadline you must still take the test.

Students without a math placement test score WILL NOT be eligible to take a math class during the spring semester.

All new students at JMU are required to complete an English Composition course (GWRIT 103) by the end of their first year. If English is not one of your native languages your placement into the class will be based on your TOEFL or SAT scores, any intensive English language training you have received, or any university level credit you have received in English Composition. It is common for some students to complete WRIT 100 (an introductory composition course) prior to taking GWRIT 103. Many students will be pre registered for this class which will give them an excellent opportunity to further develop skills in American Academic Writing.

Questions: Contact JoAnn Benjamin

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Housing :

In order to be eligible to live on campus, you must sign a housing contract. Once you have signed a housing contract you may opt to participate in exciting theme housing options. The office of International Programs recommends that you consider living in Madison International Learning Community. In this reseidence hall many US students and international students live there as they share the same interest in learning about cultures, language, countries. Furthermore it provides a very welcoming place for international students and US citizens who are looking forward to living in this close-knit community to learn from one another and make lasting friendships. Click If you are an upperclass student only, you may choose to live off-campus. You can get started by going to JMU's off-campus life website. The Office of International Programs will not provide assistance in finding off-campus housing. Keep in mind that most apartments in Harrisonburg require a signed lease ending in July, and oftentimes a co-signer.

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Health Record Form:

The office of International Programs will be collecting the JMU Health Record Form during Transitions. Click here to obtain different translated versions of the vaccination page. Should you require some vaccinations, note that you can get vaccinations at the Student Health Center by making an appointment and paying a small fee… however, you need to make sure that all of your vaccination requirements, check-up and your doctor or health practitioner’s signature is taken care before you arrive to JMU, since it is crucial that the Health center receives your health record

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Health Insurance:

All JMU international students are required to have health insurance. You will be automatically enrolled in the CISI – Cultural Insurance services International health insurance plan unless you show us proof that you have you are enrolled in a health insurance plan (by presenting your insurance card and policy to Gina Kudrav once you are on campus).

Currently each student is billed approximately $310 per 6 months of coverage. Coverage starts on August 15th and runs until February 15th and then again until August 15th. It does not cover preventative costs such as physicals, shots or teeth cleaning. CISI’s policy is written specifically for international students and is valid here in the U.S. as well as anywhere else in the world. If you need to go to the hospital or doctor, you will need to present your insurance card first and you will need to pay a deductible of $50. To be reimbursed for medical care outside the JMU Health Center, you will need to submit a completed claim form and receipts from payments made to the doctor or medical facility.

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Tuition & Payment:

To obtain an estimated breakdown of the expenses that you can expect as a JMU student, go to t the University Business Office’s website. Please note that the cost of textbooks (approximately $300/semester), for example, is not included!

To view your bill, you need to login to QuickBill by accessing it on e-campus (for students). QuikBill provides you and your family with instant access to your student account charges. QuikBill is currently configured so that the student is the only who can view and pay his or her bill online through this system. If a family member or sponsor of that student needs access to QuikBill, the student will need to enable this individual to view and/or pay the bill by creating an account for this individual. Also through QuickBill, an installment payment plan can be set-up. To make payments towards your tuition and bills, you can:

wire funds to JMU. All funds need to be in U.S. dollars and sent to:
pay online by credit card. [Pleas note that JMU handles MasterCard, American Express or the Discovery card only].
Set-up a bank account in the U.S. This will facilitate the transfer of funds from your home country to the U.S. You will then be able to write checks and/or transfer money directly from your bank account to your JMU student account online. A trip to the downtown Bank of America will be scheduled during the first or second week of classes .

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Don't Forget

Bring your completed and signed Health Record Form. Without it you will be unable to attend classes.

The residence halls do NOT provide bed linens, pillows, blankets, or towels. You may purchase these items in advance on the Office of Residence Life's website or during Harrisonburg during our shopping trip scheduled during Transitions.

In the winter we have snow and ice. You will want a warm coat to wear as you walk between classes on campus. The normal winter temperature is in the range of 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit (around 0 degrees Celsius) although, it can get as cold as 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit (around -15 degrees Celsius).

Bring a few items that remind you of home (pictures, crafts, clothing, sports equipment, etc.) and to share with other students, including traditional clothes. You will have several opportunities throughout the year to showcase your culture and country.

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Advice

Allow plenty of time to say good-bye and plan how to keep in touch. You will be extremely busy during your first weeks and months, so it is important that you explain to your family and friends that long periods between communications should not alarm them. It will all be part of this new adventure.

Organize your passport and all of your visa documents and supporting documents in one place on your person, not in your checked luggage so that they are easy to find and manage. Make sure that you have your: (a) valid passport with proper, currently valid stamp; (b) form I-20 or DS-2019; (c) evidence of funding as appropriate to the visa classification and your intended activities in the U.S.; (d) contact information for the International Student and Scholar Services; (e) your SEVIS receipt.

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Whom should I contact?

Thomas Lavenir, for information related to Transitions and to the different steps that you need to fulfill.

Gina Kudrav, for information related to immigration and visas.

Heather Patterson [for Freshmen] regarding math placement tests, course scheduling, major preferences, general education and any other academic questions.

JoAnn Benjamin [for Transfer students] regarding math placement tests, course scheduling, major preferences, general education and any other academic questions.

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