Graduate Students

Please read and apply this information carefully!

  • Make sure to check the Graduate School's website to find out the answers to many of the questions that you may have related to housing, registering for classes, etc.

  • Your e-ID gives you access to JMU's e-mail system. This is the online system you will use to keep track of your academics as well as any financial obligations.  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 the official U.S. Social Security number and 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.

  • Finding an apartment: 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. With that in mind, you should know that finding a single apartment is very rare. What you also need to take into consideration is 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 to figure out if you are compatible and if you think it will work. Please note: if you do not have a social security number you may be expected to pay a deposit equivalent to 3 times your monthly lease. Feel free to contact Thomas Lavenir for further assistance and especially as you may need a special letter from me to allow you to move-in earlier than the official contract date (to ensure that you can get settled-in before Transitions begins)!

  • Flight & Hotel Reservation: Transitions (international student orientation) and the Graduate School Orientation begin on Monday, August 20. The International Student and Scholar Services office will provide 3 special JMU buses from Washington DC International Airport [IAD] to JMU on Sunday August 19 at 10am, 2pm and 5pm. To take advantage of this special service (this one and only time to ensure that you attend Transitions), make sure to complete this online Arrival Form no later than August 5th. If you should need to arrive earlier in Harrisonburg, you should consider taking a connecting flight to Staunton/ Shenandoah Regional Airport [SHD] as there is no convenient and cheap way to get from IAD to Harrisonburg at this time of the year. Once in Harrisonburg, we recommend that you stay at the Best Western hotel. Due to its convenient location and the special JMU rate of $60 [make sure to ask for or to mention: JMU student rate].

  • To view your bill, you need to login to QuickBill by accessing it on e-campus (for students). QuickBill provides you and your family with instant access to your student account charges. QuickBill 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 QuickBill, 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:

        Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
        420 Montgomery Street, 7th Fl.
        San Francisco, CA 94104-1298
        ABA Number: 121000248
        Swift Code: WFBIUS6S
        Chips Participants Code: 0407
        Account Number: 91930000000000002
        Checking Account Name: JMU Concentration Depository
        Cage Number: OE9W6
        EIN Number: 546001756
        Originator to Beneficiary Info: Include Student's Name and Student ID Number for identification of recipient
        Electronic Funds Coordinator: Tammy L Kiser - (540) 568-7907

    • 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 the first or second week of classes .

  • All international students will be enrolled in mandatory health insurancewith 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.

  • When you pack your suitcase, remember:

    • Bring your Health Record Form. Without it, you will be unable to attend classes. . Click here to obtain different translated versions of the vaccination page.

    • 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 although, it can get as cold as 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit.

    • 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.

    • 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, 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.

    • If you are still unclear as to what you need to do please feel free to contact:

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

    • Gina Kudrav, for information related to immigration and visas.