The One Book is designed to be a one-stop-shop resource for students, but it also has a lot of information that can benefit the family and supporters of incoming students. In The One Book you can find an overview of the New Student Checklist, information about crucial campus resources and a directory of key offices. There is a publication specifically for incoming first-year and transfer students above. 

For Supporters of First-Year Students

Your student’s academic journey begins with their very first advising experience—and it sets the tone for everything that follows. First Year Advising is here to support your student as they transition from high school to college, helping them set meaningful academic goals and learn how to thrive within a university environment. 

We know you want to stay informed and involved. Explore our Family Resource Guide for Advising to get answers to common questions and discover how you can best support your student through this exciting new chapter. 

For Supporters of Transfer Students

Upon students completing the Orientation Reservation & Declaring a Major step within their New Student Checklist, they will be assigned an academic advisor for that major. The advisor will reach out to students on May 27 to start building a relationship with your student, learn about their goals, review their previous coursework, and help determine which classes to take in their first semester at JMU. 

For Supporters of First-Year Students

Course enrollment isn’t a one-time task; it’s a learning experience that helps students build independence and confidence. We encourage you to remind your student to take advantage of the many resources available to them, including their academic advisor, enrollment worksheets, and many planning resources introduced in the Prepare for Class Enrollment Modules. Look at our Family Resource Guide for Enrollment to better understand enrollment.  

Working together, we can empower your student to take ownership of their education and feel supported every step of the way. 

For Supporters of Transfer Students

Class enrollment takes place in MyMadison and your student will be assigned an enrollment appointment with a specific date and time that they can begin enrolling. Most enrollment appointments will be from June 3 through July 17. We strongly encourage students to have a full class schedule finalized by June 5 so their enrollment is complete prior to first-year students enrolling. 

Summer Orientation is an important part of your student's transition experience, but it can also be a valuable part of your experience! We view parents, families and supporters as partners through the educational journey, and we want to prepare you for the JMU journey as well! Families and supporters will have their own schedule of events throughout the day. During Summer Orientation we will share information about academic expectations, health and well-being, career outcomes and much more. Summer Orientation takes place during late June and July. Students should register you to their Summer Orientation reservation in their New Student Checklist.

The JMU Office of Family Engagement can be a valuable resource for you during your student's time at JMU. Make sure that you stay up to date on everything taking place on and off campus by following the Office of Family Engagement on Facebook and Instagram. The Office of Family Engagement's website also has a helpful gateway linking you to many valuable campus resources. 

New students at JMU are required by Virginia law to submit specific information about immunizations and complete a TB screening. This is one of your student's New Student Checklist items, and this step is vital because non-compliance could lead to a hold being placed on your student's account and a fee. You can learn more about the Pre-Entry Health Requirements on the University Health Center's website.

Fall 2025 statements will be available on Monday, July 14. Students can add anyone who is helping them pay for college to their JMU Madison Money Manager (M3) account as an authorized user. The University Business Office can only talk about the financial account with the student and their Authorized Users, so make sure that anyone who needs access is added. Students have a Madison Money Manager step in their New Student Checklist that can assist them in completing this process.

In college, grades are not automatically available to anyone other than the student as mandated in the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). It is essential to set expectations about how and when grades are communicated. The JMU Academic Calendar can assist you in planning when to have key conversations throughout the semester. 

Move-in will be August 15 & 16 for First-Year students and August 17 for on-campus Transfer Students. First-Year Students will receive an email to their JMU Dukes account on August 4 to select their move-in day and time. It is important to plan ahead, and students are encouraged to coordinate time with their roommate to allow for a seamless move-in process. Families should plan to say their goodbyes by 6 pm as students will start their Weeks of Welcome experience on the evening of their move-in date. 

As your new Duke prepares to move to Harrisonburg, packing can be an essential part of the process. The Office of Residence Life provides a Move-In Guide on their website, and a recommended Packing Checklist can be found on page 16 of The One Book.

Once your Duke has settled into the JMU community, Family Weekend can be a great opportunity to visit and see their JMU experience. Family Weekend 2025 will take place from September 26 to 28. The Office of Family Engagement has information about events, accommodations, and everything you need to know about this fun weekend on their website.