Fall 2026 Edition

The Value of Social Connections Through the FEA
by Mary Lou Wylie 

In his 1835 classic "Democracy in America," Alexis de Tocqueville wrote "Americans of all ages constantly unite. Not only do they have commercial and industrial associations, in which all take part, but they also have a thousand  other kinds: religious, moral, grave, futile, very general and very particular, immense and very small.” Participating in groups has traditionally been very American and has helped create a sense of community, while strengthening the fabric of American society. 

However, there have been changes in recent years, as participation in groups has decreased. In his 2000 work, 'Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community', Robert Putnam discusses how social connections and collective community engagement have diminished over time. According to Putnam, the rise of bowling alone, as opposed to bowling teams, represents social isolation and the decline of community involvement. He discussed how the decline in group participation is related to higher levels of loneliness and a weaker social fabric for our society, as we are less likely to know other people and to see these people as important in our lives... READ MORE

On September 24th, the FEA hosted JMU President Jim Schmidt at a reception honoring him and looking to the future.  With nearly 100 Faculty Emeriti Association members and guests attending, President Jim discussed his vision for JMU, along with answering questions from the attendees.  The President complimented the retired faculty and said, “you built this university and your impact is still being felt, especially in the recruitment of faculty.”  With regard to potential student growth, he indicated that JMU would grow 1-2% annually over the next few years.

He said that JMU is receiving a variety of national rankings but the one that he is most pleased to see is that we are ranked Number 22 nationally in “Best Undergraduate Teaching” by the 2027 U.S. News & World Report, which evaluated over 1,700 USA colleges and universities.  JMU’s placement in the top 25 reflects our commitment to high‑quality instruction, student engagement, and faculty expertise.

Many thanks to the President for his time with us!