Spotswood Hall Renovation
Historic Spotswood Hall, one of the initial campus buildings completed in 1917, was named in honor of Alexander Spotswood, an English Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in the early 1700s. As a residence hall, Spotswood Hall reflects a traditional design of long open hallways with rooms on either side of the main corridor.
Spotswood Hall will undergo substantial renovation during the 2025-2026 academic year and reopen as the new home of the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement and the civic leadership Residential Learning Community for first year students. The building will also be renamed Alger Hall in honor of JMU’s past president Jonathan R. Alger who championed civic engagement at JMU.
The Madison Center Wing
The Madison Center wing will feature a new dedicated entrance, private offices for staff and faculty, a civic engagement library, small conference space, and a grand conference room. The multipurpose classroom located on the first floor will be the main classroom space for the civic leadership minor program.
Civic Leadership Residential Learning Community
The Civic Leadership Living-Learning Community with the Madison Center offers students a dynamic, hands-on environment to explore the principles and practices of civic engagement. Designed for students passionate about public service, civic impact, and leadership, this residential program combines academic learning with immersive experiences outside the classroom. Participants take part in field trips to historical sites like Montpelier, government institutions, and nonprofit organizations across Virginia and Washington, D.C., providing real-world context to classroom discussions. A hallmark of the program is its mentorship model, where students engage regularly with civic leaders—such as elected officials, community organizers, and nonprofit executives—who offer guidance, inspiration, and professional insight. Through experiential learning opportunities like service projects and facilitated dialogue sessions, students deepen their understanding of democracy in action while developing the skills needed to lead with integrity and impact.
