SAVE THE DATE

Fall 2026 start date: SSLS orientation will be in-person on the main campus in Harrisonburg, Virginia on Saturday, August 16, 2026. Watch for important emails from the SSLS office with details about the day.

After you have been accepted and been granted access to your Student Portal in your MyMadison account, there are a few tasks for you to complete prior to attending your first class.

1. Accept your offer of admission. Admission offers are sent via e-mail by The Graduate School. In your e-mail notification, click the “Applicant Status Page” link. This page will allow you to view your decision and accept your offer of admission. 
2. Pay your deposit.
3. Activate your JMU email account - The SSLS Program and the university will only use the @dukes email account to communicate with you, so check your email regularly for important information and updates. 
4. Check your MyMadison account – Visit your MyMadison account to be sure that you can access it. Visit the JMU Computing Helpdesk if you have trouble using your e-ID to access your MyMadison account.
5. Take the Honor Code Test – A JMU requirement. Don’t delay, your account can receive a registration hold for future classes if you miss this step.
6. Purchase a JMU Parking Pass – Purchase your parking pass online. You can learn more about the 24 hours a day, 365 days a year campus parking policies on the Parking Services website.
7. Contact your First-Year Advisor Taylor Landers to plan the courses you will be taking your first semester in the program.
8. Address any prerequisite classes - Review the admission criteria. 
9. Register for classes in MyMadison.
10. Send your research interests and LinkedIn address for inclusion on the Current Student webpage to Taylor Landers.
11. Read the Strategic Leadership Studies Student Handbook. 
12. Be sure to complete all items listed on The Graduate School's New Student Checklist. 
13. Attend new student orientations
    1. SSLS New Student Orientation
    2. Stats Refresher Bootcamp
    3. The Graduate School's New Student Orientation Details 
    4. You're encouraged to explore The Graduate School's Orientation webpages to learn more about JMU graduate student life.