The Madison Promise comes to life through five strategic pillars that guide JMU's priorities and investments. Together, they provide the framework for preparing every Duke to thrive while strengthening our university, our communities and the Commonwealth.
Pillar #1
Enhance Purpose, Value, and Impact of a JMU Education
A JMU education is marked by the distinctive set of skills and knowledge that all graduates develop during their undergraduate career,” said President Jim Schmidt. “Our students acquire the balance of a liberal arts education, and the experience of undergraduate research and power skill development. We are so confident in that education that we are prepared to guarantee it.”
JMU is the university that does not step away from students the moment a diploma is handed over but stands behind the education it delivers. Beginning with the Class of 2030, and for every graduating class that follows, two guarantees formalize that commitment.
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The Employment Guarantee: JMU will prepare every bachelor’s degree graduate, beginning with the Class of 2030, to achieve a positive career outcome (employment, graduate education, volunteer experience or military experience) within one year of graduation. Graduates who have not yet reached that milestone within that first year will receive personalized support through career coaching, alumni and employer networking, and access to additional education or internship opportunities at no cost to the graduate.
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The Employer Guarantee: JMU stands behind the career readiness of every graduate. Beginning with the Class of 2030, if an employer identifies a gap in a graduate’s power skills including critical thinking, communication, problem-solving or the ability to work in teams - within two years of graduation, the university will provide access to coaching services and additional, personalized coursework at no cost to the graduate or employer.
Investing in the Promise
The Employment and Employer Guarantees reflect JMU's enduring commitment to students not just during their time on campus, but long after commencement. That commitment extends further still. The Madison Promise calls on JMU to grow access, strengthen opportunity, and deepen the experiences that make a Duke for life.
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Expand need-based scholarships that honor students of merit and achievement. JMU is committed to growing scholarship support for high-achieving students who need it most. By opening new financial aid opportunities, JMU will reduce barriers to access, recognize excellence across all backgrounds, and ensure the most driven students can pursue their full potential here.
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Leverage a modernized intercollegiate athletics program to enhance the Madison Experience. Dukes Athletics amplifies everything JMU stands for, building national visibility, strengthening community pride, and modeling the excellence and leadership at the heart of this university's mission. JMU will make targeted investments to sustain and strengthen Dukes Athletics through strategic growth opportunities that expand partnerships, deepen community engagement, and reinforce what it means to be a Duke, on the field and beyond.
Pillar #2
Invest in Our People
At JMU, we are all educators; investment in our people is investment in the mission itself. Faculty and staff are central to the student experience, the advancement of research and discovery, the success of community partnerships, and the vitality of campus life. JMU's ability to deliver on The Madison Promise depends on the strength, capacity, and well-being of the people who bring the university's mission to life.
As the university pursues an ambitious strategic vision, JMU will ensure that expectations for innovation and growth are matched with the workforce capacity, resources, and support necessary for success. Through strategic investments in recruitment, professional development, compensation competitiveness, and workload alignment, JMU will strengthen the conditions that allow faculty and staff to thrive and enable the success of the Madison Promise.
Pillar #3
Chart a New Path as a National Research University
Over the past quarter-century, James Madison University has built its reputation as an institution known for blending inspired teaching with rigorous scholarship. This integration infuses classrooms with the energy of discovery, fuels transformative education, attracts exceptional talent and vital resources, and generates societal impact across health, technology, sustainability, and more. Through this distinctive teacher-scholar model, JMU has transformed from a respected regional comprehensive university into a nationally recognized R2 doctoral research institution.
Guided by our new strategic plan, JMU will elevate its national prominence by becoming an R1 institution through selective growth in high-impact graduate programs, increased scholarship and external funding, elevated recruitment of international students and faculty, and an unwavering commitment to signature undergraduate excellence.
Pillar #4
Become a Preferred Partner to Meet the Needs of the Commonwealth, and Beyond
JMU will be the Shenandoah Valley and Commonwealth's most trusted, responsive, innovative, and preferred university partner. We will link students and faculty with industry, government, and nonprofit collaborators to translate discovery into real-world solutions that fuel entrepreneurship, innovation, sustainability, and economic development in and beyond the Shenandoah Valley. Through collaborative partnerships, JMU will position Virginia as a national and global leader.
Pillar #5
Create an Innovative Campus Community
To support JMU’s vision for the next generation of learning and research, the campus will be sustainability-focused and deeply integrated with its community. The campus will become an anchor and hub for cultural, educational, social and economic collaboration that will generate revenue to allow further investment in the university’s mission.
- JMU will build new residential facilities to house approximately 60 percent of students on campus by 2040. Research shows that on-campus living is associated with improved student outcomes, creating a sense of belonging and community, greater retention and graduation rates, and improved overall student well-being.
- JMU will develop and execute a strategic enrollment management plan to intentionally manage growth.
- The university will establish new practices and structures designed to increase community collaboration and maximize facility use.
