Our Commitment
In the College of Education, we are committed to addressing long-standing challenges in P-12 schools, adult education, and higher education through our dedication to serving all learners. We aim to foster broad participation and meaningful outcomes by strengthening our people, programs, policies, processes, and the places—both physical and virtual—where learning and community engagement occur, guided by principles of fairness and belonging.
People - We help ourselves and our students develop the awareness and skills to identify harmful patterns and promote fairness and respect in teaching practices.
Programs - We prepare future educators through coursework that examines historical patterns in U.S. education, encouraging students to reflect on their own schooling as they develop the skills to effectively teach in varied classroom settings as culturally responsive teachers.
Policies - In line with our college’s commitment to serving all learners, we prioritize a wide range of perspectives when developing and revising policies related to student admissions and support, faculty and staff hiring, promotion and tenure, and student evaluations of faculty. Our goal is to promote fairness and reduce unintended bias in all aspects of our work.
Processes - We bring a broad range of perspectives and experiences to our collaborative work, presentations, and public engagements. We speak to the importance of inclusive approaches when contributing to writing, speaking, or consulting efforts.
Places - We create environments where students feel supported in sharing their experiences, asking difficult questions, and exploring new ideas. We also encourage similar supportive spaces in our partner schools and communities.
The JMU Pantry
The Pantry is a joint effort on campus, by Off-Campus Life with direction and guidance provided by the University's Basic Needs Advisory Board, comprised of students, faculty, staff, and members of the local community. The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank ensures we have a consistent supply of quality, nutritious food options. The Pantry is stocked with shelf-stable goods, some hygiene products, a limited selection of fresh produce from JMU Dining Services each week, as well as fresh bread. Options continue to grow and expand as we understand the needs of our community.
We are proud to host a location of the JMU Food Pantry in Memorial Hall. This location is accessible by JAC any time the building is open.
Featured Education Exhibits
Celebrating Lucy F. Simms
A traveling display of the “Celebrating Lucy F. Simms” Exhibit is housed in Memorial Hall. In 2016, James Madison University students collaborated with members of the Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Project. Their work led to the creation of an exhibit honoring the life of this educator and community leader.
Lucy Simms was born into slavery in 1856 In Harrisonburg and denied formal education. After emancipation, she was able to attend Virginia's Hampton Institute and went on to earn a teaching certificate from there in 1877.
Simms then returned to Rockingham County, where she taught over 1800 African American students across three generations of families. Simms brought dedication to the three schools where she spent 56 years of her teaching career.
The Lucy F. Simms School was dedicated soon after her death in 1934 and served African-American students throughout Rockingham County and surrounding areas.
Learn more by visiting the Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center which is located at 620 Simms Avenue, Harrisonburg, VA, 22802.
Unissued Diplomas
Never graduated, eternally honored
Unissued Diplomas is an international project aimed at commemorating Ukrainian students who tragically lost their lives due to the ongoing aggression in Ukraine.
Memorial Hall has stories and pictures of these would-be-graduates displayed on the first floor in the front of the building. We honor the memories of these students and as a College are working to provide support for teachers, teacher educators, and mental health support personnel as they work to rebuild schools and universities in Ukraine.
Learn more at UnissuedDiplomas.com.
