Transfer Student

Paying your deposit is your official way of accepting JMU’s offer of admission. Once you do so your deposit is then credited toward your tuition bill. Your deposit is due postmarked by the deadline indicated in your acceptance packet. Once your deposit is received and processed (it typically takes several days), you will start to receive additional information from key offices at the university that are ready to welcome you to JMU! For more information and to pay your deposit click here

The Transfer One Book is your pre-JMU guide! In order to guarantee that you get started on the Transfer One Book (and complete them as soon as possible), as well as to comply with JMU and oIP's greening efforts, the Transfer One Book is made available to you online. The Transfer One Book complements the Transfer One Book website. [Please note that a printed version of the Transfer One Book can be sent to you. Do take into consideration that it may take at least 15 business days before it arrives. Inform Thomas Lavenir of your request, and make sure to include your mailing address as it should appear on the envelope, and telephone where the shipping provider can reach you].

Make sure to complete the Transfer One Book steps as soon as possible to begin following important steps such as indicating what major you intend to declare, what classes you would like to be pre registered in and to complete your housing assignment and math placement test.

If the deadlines are past due, you must still complete all of the steps in the order that they appear.

Several orientation programs at JMU are offered to ensure that you obtain all of the necessary information, yet this can be quite confusing.

The first orientation program is the Summer Springboard orientation which is offered throughout the month of June and July for all new transfer students. If you are residing in the United States or can attend the June, July orientation plan to do so, yet we realize that it may be impossible. Whether you are able to attend the international student Summer Springboard orientation you must complete the reservation form.

A special international student orientation (Transitions which will take place Monday August 22 and Tuesday August 23) 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 Summer Springboard orientation, 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 Summer Springboard orientation. 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 during this fun, two-day orientation program held before the general August orientation. More importantly you will also meet with your academic advisor who will explain academic requirements and procedures.

In addition to the special international orientation, every new Transfer students are expected to attend the August campus-wide 1787 orientation in the days following Transitions. This is where you will meet your assigned academic advisor and if you have been pre registered for classes, go over your schedule with your advisor. If you have not been pre registered for classes this is when you will have an opportunity to make an appointment with your advisor for the first week of classes to develop a schedule.

If you will be residing on campus, please note that a special early move-in day has been arranged for international students to move-in prior to Transitions on Sunday August 21. Move-in times are limited to 12pm - 3pm and 8pm - 10pm.

We urge you to fly into Shenandoah Valley Airport (SHD) - located 30 minutes away from JMU - as we will offer to pick you (this one and only time). Send your itinerary to Thomas Lavenir at least 10 business days prior to your arrival so that she can arrange to have a JMU driver pick you up from this airport.

If you should choose to fly directly to Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) keep in mind that it will take you an extra hour after landing to go through customs, and it will take you a good 2 hours to drive over to JMU.

If you should arrive before the 21 and reside on-campus, you will need to arrange for your own hotel accommodations. We recommend that you stay at the Best Western Hotel. By staying at the Best Western hotel you will benefit from a special rate of $59 + tax per room per night and we will provide transportation assistance from the hotel room to your assigned residence hall on Sunday, August 21 (only).

Your e-ID gives you access to JMU's virtual student campus: e-campus. This is the online system you will use to keep track of your academics as well as any financial obligations and also access your JMU student e-mail account. You must also activate your e-ID in order to take the important math placement test and complete other One Book steps.

In order to activate your e-ID, you will 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 an official U.S. Social Security number and it may only be used at JMU. If you have not yet received it and need to obtain your temporary number, please e-mail Thomas Lavenir.

Students who attend transfer orientation (June 2, 3, 6 or 7) will meet with an academic advisor and register for fall classes. If you are unable to attend orientation, you must complete your one book steps, AND make sure to indicate under step 4 that you are unable to attend orientation. This will prompt the University Advising office to register you for fall classes based on your credit evaluation and your major.

Transfer students who do not attend orientation and do not notify the Orientation Office (through step #4) will need to register for classes upon arrival at the university. You will be assigned to an advisor in your major and meet with him/her to plan your schedule and register for classes based on your interests, general education, degree and major requirements you need to complete and credits you may have already completed.  In some cases you may be pre registered for a couple of classes prior to your arrival. The same criteria indicated above will be used to determine what classes to schedule you for.

Prior to your arrival at JMU, you should begin to familiarize yourself with academic requirements.  All students who want to graduate from JMU must complete General Education (referred to as Gen. Ed.) or core requirements, which are classes in a variety of areas that may relate to your major and some that may not. Regardless, you must fulfill those requirements. Go to the General Education website to learn more about Gen. Ed. requirements and to the University Planning website for information on majors to familiarize yourself all of these academic requirements.

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 as soon as possible. Any work completed at an American College or University can be submitted directly to the office of the Registrar at:

Office of the Registrar James Madison University 800 S Main Street - MSC 3528 Harrisonburg, VA 22807 USA

If you have completed university/college level work at a university outside the United States , then you must submit your transcript to one of the global evaluation services. Until our registration office has received a copy of your work translated by one of these services we will not be able to determine appropriate classes for you to register in.  The following is a list of global evaluation services. This is not a comprehensive list, these are just some of the services we have received transcripts from previously.  Choose the Global Evaluator according to your preferences. The university does not endorse any one service.

When you submit your work to the Global Evaluation Service of your choice please have the service mail your results directly to the registrar at the following address:

JMU Office of International Admissions 481 Bluestone Drive - MSC 0101 Harrisonburg, VA 22807 - USA

Please keep in mind 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. In other words, please note that the global evaluation is simply a translation of your work, it is NOT a guarantee of credit.

IS 202 for International Students-Most international students will automatically be pre registered for IS 202 for International Students for the first semester you attend JMU. This is a one credit course that will provide you with additional support as you transition intellectually, emotionally and physically to university life in the United States. The credit you receive for successfully completing the class can count toward credits you need for graduation. The course is taught by members of the Career and Academic Planning Staff. For more information on this course please contact Heather Patterson

When you arrive in August 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.

Please keep in mind the following two points:

• If you attend June/July Orientation you will register for classes at that time.
• You may only be registered into one or two classes that count for your major during your first semester and this is considered “typical” for JMU students.

For questions related to transfer of credits, contact Kate McDaniel.

If you have completed and received credit for college/university level mathematics then that is what you and your advisor will use to determine which if any math classes you should take at JMU. 

All students at JMU are required to complete both an introductory writing course (GWRITC 103) and a literature class. Your placement into those classes, or credit you have for those classes will be determined by previous college credits you have reported to the university and/or TOEFL scores.

Questions? Contact Kate McDaniel

This may be a hard decision to reach being so far removed from Harrisonburg!

In order to be eligible to be living 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 the Madison International community. This living community (hosted in newly renovated Hoffman Hall) provides a very welcoming place for international students and US citizens who are looking forward to living and learning together in this close-knit community to learn from one another and make lasting friendships.

The Off Campus Life office has an online housing and roommate database: which makes it very convenient for anyone to look for available apartments, roommates and/or sublets. Please note that finding a single apartment is very rare. What you also need to take into consideration is also the fact that some apartments may not be furnished. You will need to find out where the apartments are located, in relations to the bus route. Furthermore some students may like to party more than you or may not like to clean up after themselves… so once you find a place that would work, you will need to make sure to get in touch with all of your roommates (most likely three – most of the apartments are set up as follows: 4 bedroom apt. with 2 bathrooms, a shared kitchen and living area) to figure out if you are compatible and if you think it will work.

Contact Thomas Lavenir to inform him of your decision.

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.

All international students will be enrolled in mandatory health insurance with Cultural Insurance Services International, CISI. Your insurance card, policy information and claim form can be obtained from the International Student & Scholar Services Office

If you currently have an insurance policy that will cover you for your duration of your academic career and meets certain requirements, you may be exempt from the insurance fee placed on your account. If you wish to apply for a waiver for this coverage with CISI, you must complete an Insurance Waiver Form and return it in person to ISSS along with a copy of your policy in English. Please note that you must submit your waiver request no later than the first Friday of the semester, and that the waiver must be approved by ISSS.

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 one 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:
  
  Wachovia Bank
  ABA Number: 051400549
  Account Number: 2000051029274
  Originator to Beneficiary Info: Include Student Name and Student ID Number for identification of recipient
  Cage Number: 0E9W6
  Duns Number: 879325355
  Wachovia Bank: 141 E. Market Street - Harrisonburg, VA 22801
  
• pay online by credit card. [Please 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 Transitions.

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 in Harrisonburg at one of our many discount or department stores. Please note that there will be many opportunities during Transitions and afterwards to go shopping! There is a link off of the Office of Residence Life that students can use to access the linen company for orders. You can have your order be sent to:

Your first & last name c/o Thomas Lavenir James Madison University - Office of International Programs 1031 South Main Street - JMAC 6, Suite 23 Harrisonburg, VA 22807 - USA

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.

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.

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.

Kate McDaniel regarding math placement tests, course scheduling, major preferences, general education and any other academic questions.