A strategic plan is a shared roadmap. It outlines where JMU wants to go, why that direction matters and the key priorities that will help guide decisions over time. This roadmap defines the institution’s goals and priorities, and it aligns resources and actions to advance the university’s mission.
The Madison Promise is JMU’s most current strategic plan, endorsed by the JMU Board of Visitors in April 2026, and reflects the university's commitment to delivering a transformative, student-centered experience – where living, learning, wellness and community are seamlessly connected. JMU strives to be a place where students, faculty and staff feel engaged, supported and have a strong sense of belonging. The Madison Promise outlines the key pillars that will guide the university’s priorities over the next six years, to 2032, for continued momentum toward long-term 2040 goals.
The guidepost goals are designated outcomes with 2032 and/or 2040 targets that will keep JMU focused on the future as strategies are developed, new initiatives are identified and resources are allocated.
The guidepost goals are:
- Increase retention
- Increase four-year graduation rates
- Achieve high career outcomes for bachelor's degree earners
- Rank in the top 50 nationally among public universities
- Lower acceptance rate
- Grow overall enrollment
- Increase on-campus housing capacity
- Increase state-wide economic impact
- Increase research expenditures
- Increase research doctorates awarded
- Increase sustained philanthropic giving
The Class of 2030 will be the first students eligible to begin their academic journey at JMU with a guaranteed education. The guarantees will align curriculum with workforce needs, positive career outcomes and strengthen employer partnerships.
Research shows that on-campus living is associated with improved student outcomes such as a sense of belonging, building community and connections and retention. Additionally, there is often greater interaction with faculty members and peers than those who move off campus. Increased on-campus housing would create a greater opportunity for social and academic connections, offering these benefits to more JMU students.
JMU strives to link students and faculty with industry, government and non-profit collaborators to translate discovery into real-world solutions throughout the Shenandoah Valley, the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond. Through these collaborative partnerships, JMU will position itself and Virginia as a national and global leader.
When Virginia has a problem to solve, vision of the The Madison Promise is for those partners to call on JMU first. This is being built through coordinated partnerships, and aligning academic programs with the Commonwealth of Virginia’s most pressing workforce needs, JMU is not just a place to earn a degree, but an economic and civic engine for this region and state.
Higher education is living through seismic shifts and faces a landscape demanding our nimbleness to embrace change. The time is now for JMU to act boldly to face the issues challenging higher education and delivering what we promise: graduates who are prepared, experiences that are meaningful, and a community that holds itself accountable. JMU is on the national stage, but it's time for this university to take the spotlight.
JMU is committed to advancing The Madison Promise in a way that is fiscally responsible and financially sustainable. The Board of Visitors has directed the university to explore a range of funding approaches by identifying existing internal resources that can be reallocated or used more efficiently before pursuing new funding. Where additional investment is needed, funding will vary by project and may include a mix of traditional sources such as state funding and philanthropy, public-private partnerships, and revenue-generating opportunities such as mixed-use development and strategic campus partnerships.
