Academics & Student Services

Academics and Activities

We expect parents and family members to play an active role in the success of your student. The challenge is how to be involved while ensuring that your student is the one making the decisions, learning the lessons and taking healthy risks. What makes this hard (and for some parents downright scary) is that your student has to learn how to balance newfound freedoms with an immense degree of responsibility.

think. choose. live. learn. Orientation This is a process which is encouraged at JMU's Orientation 2007.

Information

College is different than high school and one of the ways this difference is most profound is in managing academic challenges. The Counseling and Student Development Center web site addresses how parents can respond to poor academic performance.

FERPA

The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act is a federal law that keeps your student's records private including grades, health records, participation in university activities and bills. JMU is not allowed to disclose this information without the written consent of your student.

Study Abroad

Study, Intern and Volunteer Abroad The benefits of study abroad programs are as endless as the variety JMU offers. By challenging the student, he or she will increase their self-confidence and experience themselves in a whole new way. The student will gain insight, appreciation, and new perspectives regarding their home culture. They will build new friendships and increase their ability to interact effectively with people of other nationalities. In addition, foreign language proficiency is one of the most highly sought skills in today’s global workforce. In our increasingly interconnected society, international education strengthens their resume and adds merit to their degree. The study abroad experience will broaden their horizons, enrich their life, and swing the door wide open for future opportunities.

Understanding student housing options
Living environments affect every aspect of your student's college experience and academic success.
Off-campus apartment complexes use aggressive marketing campaigns to entice students to sign an apartment lease for the following year. For many students, off-campus living is just the right choice.
The Offices of Residence Life and Off Campus Life encourage students to live on campus for at least two years. That's because research shows that students who do so are more likely to graduate, are more satisfied with their college experience and are more involved with campus activities.
Talk openly with your student about the advantages of both on and off-campus living. Consult Residence Life and Off Campus Life for for assistance in this decision. Both offices can help provide students with information and guidance as they secure housing in Harrisonburg for the following year.

Please click on the icon above for more information.

Suggested Readings

Many parents have found the following list of books helpful in preparing for and dealing with adjusting to their student's new life in college.

Letting Go: A Parent's Guide to Understanding the College Years
By Karen Levin Coburn and Madge Lawrence Treeger

Don't Tell Me What to Do, Just Send Money: The Essential Parenting Guide to College
By: Helen E. Johnson and Christine Schelhas-Miller

Guide to the College Experience
By: Jacqueline Kiermana MacKay and Wanda Johnson

When Your Kids go to College: A Parent's Guide to Changing Relationships
By: Barbara Newman and Philip Newman

Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation
By: N. Howe and W. Strauss

Millennials Go to College
By: N. Howe and W. Strauss

Generations
By: N. Howe and W. Strauss

Purchase these and other helpful books at the: JMU Bookstore

Suggested Video

 

Letting Go of Your Adult Children - Video Stat Counter