Focus Areas
On this page, you will find...
International Student Development
Cultural Programming and Awareness
Leadership Development
Recruitment
Retention
Student Support
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT DEVELOPMENT
Various programs have been created to aid international students and heighten awareness of international dimensions at JMU.
CULTURAL PROGRAMMING & AWARENESS
CMISS provides a variety of activities to improve cultural awareness and appreciation on the JMU campus. The center exposes the JMU community to the leadership and influence of a variety of people of color and international persons, groups and perspectives. CMISS coordinates cross-campus events such as:
Speakers & Entertainers
- Elaine Chao
- Maya Angelou
- Rubin "Hurricane" Carter
- Christina Chan
- Winnie Mandela
- Angela Oh
- Coretta Scott King
- Julianne Malveaux
- Benjamin Chavis
- Jocelyn Elders
- Henry Louis Gates
- Nikki Giovanni
- James Edward Olmos
- Former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder
- Def Poetry Jam College Tour
- Sonia Sanchez & more
Diversity Awareness Months/Celebrations
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
- International Week
- Asian-American Awareness Week
- Hispanic Heritage Month
- Women's History Month
- Black History Month
Cultural Performances
- Hispanic Folklore Ballet
- Trail of Tears Intertribal Dance Troupe
- Negro Gato
- Nii Tettey Tetteh and the Kusun Ensemble
- Boy's Choir of Harlem
- The Blue Ridge Irish Music School
- Alvin Ailey II Dance Troupe
CMISS focuses on the education of students and faculty through a series of diversity and skill development workshops. These activities explore additional perspectives and facilitate the articulation of issues concerning cultural diversity.
CMISS provides opportunities for social interactions among students of color, international students and U.S. nationals through field trip excursions and Country Focus programs.
CMISS offers a variety of leadership programs and services. The programs are developed to allow students from a culturally diverse background the opportunity to develop as leaders. CMISS coordinates organizational opportunities to develop leadership knowledge and skills. Through focused leadership training, students are given the opportunity to nurture and enhance those skills.
CMISS trains and assists selected students to provide peer diversity training programs. The program is call SEED (Students Educating and Empowering for Diversity). Members of the Organizational Roundtable offer this program.
CMISS staff coordinates site visits and maintains availability as a reference for potential and incoming multicultural/international students. Two summer programs are instrumental in assisting with CMISS recruitment efforts: JMU Female Institute for Learning and Development and JMU Male Academy for Academic Achievement and Development.
Retention efforts are implemented by CMISS to ensure student success. Staff provides early intervention for freshmen students, direction to university resources, academic-year follow-up, academic advising resources, academic recovery strategies and a graduate mentor program.
The Center for Multicultural/International Student Services maintains close ties with various campus organizations. CMISS offers a variety of student support programs and services to multicultural/international students.
