If you are a student who will soon be completing a thesis, dissertation, or culminating research project and would like to have a great resume booster, consider competing in the Three Minute Thesis competition. Attend an information session to learn how the competition works and how you can benefit from participating! 

JMU’s Seventh Annual Three Minute Thesis competition will be held Friday, January 24, 2025, beginning at 6 pm. More Information

Join us for the following GSA Events this Fall semester:

• Hiking + Self-care talk: September 28 at 10:00 am, please register here.
• Talk: Artificial intelligence, Grad School and Stress: (Date and time TBD)
• Movie Night: November 16, at Grafton-Stovall Movie Theater, time TBD.

More details for above events are forthcoming. Consider joining our GroupMe here, as we consult regularly with students in the group regarding activities. 

Take the lead and join the GSA Executive Team! The executive board is made up of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Social Chair, and Program Representative Liaison. A description of each role here. Please reach out to gsa@dukes.edu for questions.

Lending Library - Items that Grads can borrow. Learn more info here. 

Grad Handbook - The GSA has developed a Guidebook for graduate students. This guidebook covers, getting started at JMU, transportation & parking, food, and places and spaces to become familiar with. It is a very helpful guide to campus and the community. 

Checkout the GSA webpage.

Write on Track: Forming and Maintaining Writing Habits - Join the University Writing Center for a workshop where we’ll help you create and maintain effective writing habits. Learn how to set goals, stay organized, form strong writing routines and habits, and utilize all of the resources JMU offers to help you be successful at graduate-level writing. Thursday, September 26, 5-6:00 pm in Student Success Center Room 1075. Register by September 23.

Take a Researcher to Lunch! Choosing a research program and selecting a research adviser can be a daunting task. There are so many options! An easy way to learn more about this process is to sign up for the Take a Researcher to Lunch program. Applications are open until June 15, 2025 or until the vouchers have been used up. Vouchers must be used by June 30, 2025. This program is open to JMU graduate students only. More Information and Application Form

Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with Us During National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 to October 15, join us in celebrating the contributions of Latinx and Hispanic communities around the world! Visit our website to learn more about Hispanic and Latinx history, identity, and resilience by watching streaming films (pictured at right), engaging in local events, and exploring Hispanic heritage in our collections.

Clothes, Cookies and Resumés. Come visit the University Career Center, located on the 3rd floor of the Student Success Center on Wednesday September 17& 18, from 1-4:00 pm to have your resume reviewed before our University Career Fairs. You can also shop for work attire in our Career Closet, take a professional headshot and enjoy afternoon snacks! Tuesday Sept. 17 - Event Link. Wednesday, Sept. 18 - Event Link. 

Career Fair dates are:

• University Career Fair Day 1 9/24: 1:00-5:00 pm, AUBC
• University Career Fair Day 2 9/25: 1:00-5:00 pm, AUBC
• Hart Fair 11/6: 10:00 am-1:00 pm, Festival Ballroom

For more University Career Center information please see our website. 

Attend the Furious Flower IV Poetry Event: Celebrating the Worlds of Black Poetry. All JMU faculty, staff, and students have FREE access to this once-in-a-decade opportunity! Please register in advance here using your JMU email (only @dukes.jmu.edu or @jmu.edu will be accepted in this form; all others will be rendered invalid and removed). The conference will be September 18-21, 2024 right here at JMU. For more information about the history of the conference, registration, and guaranteed attendees, visit our website: 2024.furiousflower.org

The Center for Global Engagement is excited to announce programming for International Week September 22-28, 2024. Each year, I-Week events are planned with the intention of promoting global awareness and engagement in global affairs, critical thinking, and an appreciation for the intercultural diversity within the JMU Community. View event lineup

International Week is excited to host renowned filmmaker Shalini Kantayya for a keynote speech and excerpts of her newest film TikTok, Boom! What happens to human rights when we let technology encroach on our social systems? Emmy-nominated director Shalini Kantayya explores the intersection of technology and humanity, tackling questions of innovation, ethics and bias. Monday, September 23 at 6:30 pm in Wilson Hall Auditorium. 

Gandhi Center Kicks off the 3rd Annual JUSTPEACE week with an Open House on Monday, September 23, in celebration of the International Day of Peace. Peace, love and breakfast (free!) will be served buffet style in Darcus Johnson Hall from 10-12 and lunch (free!) will be served from 12-2 or until gone. The theme for JUSTPEACE 2024 is "climate, peace, and justice." The Beitzel Symposium (September 25 and 26) will feature presentations from scholars and practitioners in the community, and include an organized visit to a local climate farm. All events are free to attend for faculty, staff, and students. Stop by during our open house to find out more, check out our free library, and grab some food.

Join us for a Film Screening of Coded Bias by Shalini Kantayya. Kantayya's critically acclaimed documentary Coded Bias reveals that machine-learning algorithms—intended to avoid prejudice—are only as unbiased as the humans and data sets programming them. Praised by The New York Times as “the most cleareyed of several recent documentaries about the perils of Big Tech,” the film follows the young Black women data scientists at MIT who found that AI facial recognition was biased against Black skin, which led to a deeper worldwide investigation about bias, race, ethics, social justice, and technology. September 24th at 6:30pm in EnGeo 2301! Watch the film trailer.

Check out the Graduate and Professional School Fair. Meet with representatives from more than 100 different university programs. Learn what each school has to offer for master's or doctoral degrees. This is an excellent opportunity to explore, compare, and contrast different programs. Learn what is needed to be competitive when you apply. Start conversations with people who can help you select the right program, apply and be accepted. September 24 from 3-6:00 pm at Hotel Madison. More Information

Attend a Fireside Chat with speaker Raj Vinnakota, President of the Institute for Citizens and Scholars, one of the nation's foremost foundations cultivating talent, ideas, and networks that develop young people as empowered, lifelong citizens. He will discuss bridging our political divides and the role of democracy in higher education in celebration of Constitution Day at JMU. September 25 at 7:00 pm in Wilson Hall Auditorium.

Stress and Anxiety Management - Everyone experiences stress for a variety of reasons, but do we all know ways to manage it in a healthy way? If you’re not sure or would like to learn more ways to differentiate stress from anxiety and ways to better cope, then join us for this workshop! Friday, October 11, 1-2:00 pm in Student Success Center Room 1075. Register by October 7.

See the new Graduate Student event calendar page!

Are you interested in finding external grant funding for your research? A good place to start is the SPIN database, which has over 40,000 grant opportunities.  It is provided free of charge to all members of the JMU community by REDI. By signing up for an account, you can also save your searches, set filters, and set up automatic email notification. Access the SPIN database, set up an account, and see a tips & tricks video here.

The Office of Research Development provides a variety of services for JMU researchers applying for external grants, including developing checklists and timelines to keep grant applications on track. You can request personalized service through our service form here. 

Wherever you are in your external funding journey, you are welcome to join us at the Madison Research Club, which meets on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 11:30 am-1:00 pm. Please register here. 

Looking for a Graduate Assistantship or a Campus Job? Depending on your full-or part-time status and program of study, graduate students may be eligible to apply for graduate assistantships, student positions, and staff/wage positions. Search JMU Jobs

The College of Education (COE) will have graduate assistantship openings for Spring 2025. If you are interested in one of these positions, please contact Jessica Spiller at spillejhh@jmu.edu for more information and how to apply. 

Apply for a Gradudate Travel Grant! Travel grants support students in participating as presenters/facilitators in professional conferences, meetings, or creative competitions. Grants are provided at regional ($200), national ($500), and international ($700) travel levels. The application procedure requires you to fill in an online application form. Deadline for Fall Travel Grant is September, 27, 2024 at 11:59 pm. More Information

Apply to the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service Pilot Fellowship Program The International Trade Administration (ITA) has launched the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Pilot Fellowship Program to recruit and equip the next generation of international trade experts and commercial diplomats with the skills, knowledge and training to advance U.S. economic competitiveness and innovation. Up to 20 graduate students will be selected for this unique living and learning opportunity to gain applied experience in international trade and export promotion, as well as to support U.S. businesses seeking opportunities in international markets. The Fellowship will offer up to $35,000 in financial assistance for participants, while offering a potential pathway to employment with the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, Global Markets. Selected fellows will participate in an immersive up-to 8-week enrichment program at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in summer 2025. Outstanding graduate students, and particularly students from diverse backgrounds pursuing a degree in the fields of International Affairs, International Relations, Economics, Business, Trade, or Public Policy are encouraged to apply! Deadline is October 7, 2024. More Information and Application You may also email csfellowship@trade.gov. 

Global Opportunity Grant This grant provides support for students to participate in a graduate level study abroad experience. Visit https://www.jmu.edu/grad/current-students/awards-grants/index.shtml to review the eligibility, criteria, and how to apply. Deadline is Nov. 1, 2024.

GSA Professional Development Grants These grants provide funds towards professional development that is not covered by travel grants or departments. Visit: GSA Professional Development Grant for more information. Deadline is Nov. 17, 2024.

Scholarships can be found on The Graduate School website.

Do you know that as a student, you can borrow a laptop from JMU Libraries temporarily if needed, while you are getting a computer repaired or replaced? Laptops are available for checkout in Rose Library.

• Who can use the laptops? JMU students, faculty, or staff can borrow a laptop for up to one month to support academic functions. These laptops are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 
• To request a laptop, please fill out this Equipment Reservation Request form or visit our Learning Innovations & Technology Desk in Rose Library. Walk-ins or prior reservations are welcome.
• 24/7 Computer lab access: JMU also offers three 24/7 study spaces with computers and printers, including one in Rose Library.
• Questions? Please contact us at equipmentloans@jmu.edu. Looking for Something Fun to Read? Check out best-sellers, award winners, graphic novels, and more in the Fun Reads and Movies Guide from JMU Libraries.

Read Magazines for Free with Flipster! Explore 65 magazines online with Flipster—no subscriptions, physical copies, or recycling needed! Read entire magazines cover to cover, including images, ads, comics, and even crosswords. You can flip through, search for something specific, or even share content with others!

JMU X-Labs Open Lab! The Lab is an innovative space that ignites creativity. JMU students, faculty and staff are all empowered to bring their ideas to life in this design-thinking studio. Our collaborative atmosphere also allows for consulting and prototyping assistance, making it the perfect breeding ground for entrepreneurial endeavors. We’re ready to give you the support you need to make your ideas a reality. Unleash your potential at The Lab!

Keep abreast of Research Development Opportunities by subscribing to the JMU Research Development notice board. A full description of the events can be found here. 

Places to study while Carrier Library is closed. While Carrier Library is closed for renovation and expansion, you still have four library locations to use, and dozens of buildings with study space all over campus! Check out this list of the top 15 places to study or work in JMU Libraries. There’s also a new JMU study spaces map that includes a wide range of buildings! Just select a pin to start reading about study spaces in each building.

Free access to New York Times and more. Did you know you have access to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal for free through JMU Libraries subscriptions? See our full list of news-related databases or learn more about Libraries services for grad students.

Join the Graduate Student Association (GSA). All JMU graduate students are considered members of the GSA. The GSA promotes interdisciplinary unity among JMU graduate students through social events, career-building workshops and professional
development grants. For questions email gsa@jmu.edu.

University Career Liaison. The University Career Center's Graduate School liaison Alyssa Hawley is a great resource to assist you with resume review and career preparation. Check out University Career Services for Graduate Students or contact Alyssa for more information.

Campus and Community Student Resources. Campus and community resources available to
support students’ basic needs can be found at the Student Support Hub, a website that will connect you
to food, financial assistance, housing and other resources. These resources will help you thrive at JMU.

Read the Chronical of Higher Education for Free! Looking for a source for higher education news, trends and job openings? You can read The Chronicle of Higher Education for free through JMU Libraries subscriptions! 

Military-Connected Students. JMU VALOR provides all military-connected students with
resources for success. More information

Need Food or Hygiene Items? Check out The Pantry in Taylor Down Under (The Union), room 112.
Shop in-person or place orders through The Pantry app, available in the Apple and Android stores. Use
the app to select the curbside pickup option or rapid pickup in The Pantry. The Pantry is open Mon 12-6
pm and Tues-Thurs 12-5 pm. Available to all students, no questions asked!

Mental Health Resources. The JMU Counseling Center is available to all students and they have
made available TimelyCare, 24/7 access to mental health professionals. More Information