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Greetings from the President
A university does not become, or remain, distinguished by happenstance.
America's truly outstanding institutions of higher learning achieve
their success by meticulous attention to detail, by carefully setting
lofty standards of excellence and striving relentlessly to achieve those
goals.
James Madison University has undergone an extensive procedure of formally
identifying those qualities that characterize our university - both
as it currently exists and as it will ideally exist in 2008 at the university's
100th anniversary.
For many years, it has been clear that JMU's overall objective is to
become the finest predominantly undergraduate university in the nation.
Although we are close to that goal - and, perhaps, have already accomplished
it - the university has never categorized the characteristics that are
vital to our continued success.
Shortly after being named president of JMU, I appointed the Centennial
Commission to define the ideal JMU of 2008. Commission recommendations
were reviewed by the entire university community. The Board of Visitors
and administration then consolidated the recommendations into 29 characteristics
that define how JMU can be the finest institution of its type in America.
The guiding force behind the characteristics is JMU's mission statement:
"We are committed to preparing students to be enlightened and educated
citizens who will lead productive and meaningful lives."
The 29 characteristics support that mission statement and establish
a road map for the present and future. By making these characteristics
a full reality, JMU will become the archetype for a new American university
- one that meshes the best qualities of small liberal arts colleges
with those of large research universities.
Drawing on liberal arts colleges, JMU will provide a student-centered
atmosphere, superlative teaching, high levels of service and support,
and a liberal education - along with character development for students
and a spirit of civic responsibility. At the same time, the university
will feature the best qualities of large doctoral universities: a wide
breadth of programs, a world-class faculty, modern facilities and academic
programs of national distinction.
Many universities can satisfy one set of characteristics. By embracing
both sets, JMU will become the institution of choice for prospective
professors and students.
The 29 characteristics cover the full range of JMU's academic and support
programs. Befittingly for a high-quality university, most of the characteristics
- more than two-thirds - deal primarily with academics. I urge you to
look on JMU's Web site at all 29 characteristics <http://www.jmu.edu/ie/JMUmission.htm>.
The characteristics are not prioritized or listed in any particular
order. Perhaps the most important is No. 22, which restates JMU's ultimate
commitment - a pledge to focus on the student in all that we do.
Another important characteristic calls for JMU to continue its primary
role in serving the region but to enhance the institution's national
reputation. We have made major steps toward that goal this year by bringing
to campus several nationally known speakers. We have also re-ceived
national attention for our service programs, like Alternative Spring
Break, and for JMU's ranking 21st nationally in the number of alumni
in the Peace Corps. Also receiving national attention are a number of
programs, like information security, communication sciences and disorders
and the doctoral program in assessment and measurement.
The importance of diversity is clearly set forth in a characteristic
calling for JMU to enhance the diversity of its faculty, staff and student
body. Our graduates will work and live in diverse settings. Diversity
enriches the educational experience and promotes growth.
The heart of any great institution of higher learning is its academic
program. We are pledged to providing new and innovative academic programs;
developing a limited, but distinguished, core of graduate programs;
enhancing private support for academics; and using JMU's notable assessment
program to provide guidelines for improving our existing efforts.
JMU is aggressively moving into the 21st century and aspiring to provide
a new level of excellence when we celebrate our institution's 100th
anniversary in seven years. Please join us with your support for planning
these improvements and helping to make them a reality.
Linwood H. Rose
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