Updated Sept. 3, 2026

James Madison University will host a nationally televised football game against Troy University on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 7:30 p.m.  

As an institution that prioritizes academic excellence and a positive student experience, we have been carefully planning to ensure a safe and successful event. Some plans are still underway, and we want to share the current information that has been finalized by a group of faculty, staff and administrators to ensure all employees have ample time to plan accordingly.  

Traffic and Closures

Traffic will be impacted significantly for the university community; therefore, the following measures will be taken to decrease congestion: 

• The JMU campus will remain open, though administrative offices will close at 3 p.m. for faculty and staff to exit campus and to reduce traffic and congestion. 

• While campus is not completely closed, instructors with impacted courses or offices with other needs may consider options similar to those listed in Policy 1309. Supervisors should decide how best to communicate expectations by Oct. 22  

• Employees with current telework agreements and schedules should work remotely on Oct. 29., in coordination with their supervisor. 

• Designated employees will continue with their normal shifts. 

• All vehicles must be moved out of reserved football lots by 3 p.m., even for employees and students remaining on campus. 

Class Meetings 

All classes ending at or prior to 3:35 p.m. should meet as usual. Classes that begin after or extend past 3:35 p.m. may choose an alternative instructional method, continue with class as scheduled or move to a different classroom.  

Alternative instructional methods may include: 

• Hold class synchronously online during the regularly scheduled class time. 

• Hold class at a time different to the regularly scheduled class time that is acceptable to all class members, with the location to be arranged by the academic unit. 

• Prepare an asynchronous class to take the place of the in-person class. 

• Provide students with alternate assignments that can be completed through electronic means. 

• Incorporate the course content missed on that day into other classes throughout the semester. 

Those teaching in Godwin Hall, Hartman Hall, Lakeview Hall, Showker Hall or Sonner Hall should anticipate noise and building access issues and should plan accordingly. 

Instructors with classes beginning after or extending past 3:35pm should confirm and communicate their class meeting plans to their students as soon as possible but no later than October 22. Instructors should communicate plans for that day even if the class is meeting in its usual fashion. 

Parking

• Beginning at 1:00 PM, access to reserved football lots will be limited to vehicles with an appropriate football game day parking permit. No re-entry will be allowed for vehicles that leave the reserved football lots after 1:00 PM. All vehicles without football parking permits must vacate the reserved football lots by 3:00 PM.  

• Faculty, staff and students who need to stay on campus later than 3:00 PM may use any parking facilities not reserved for football, in accordance with their permit privileges.  

• Available faculty/staff parking locations include the Ballard, Grace Street, Mason Street and Warsaw Avenue parking decks, and parking lots D3, D1 and E.  

• Available commuter parking locations include the Ballard, Mason Street, Warsaw Avenue and Chesapeake Avenue parking decks, and parking lots C12, R3 and R4. 

• Available resident parking locations include parking lots R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R10, R17, R18, R19, and R20. 

• At the conclusion of the game, attendees will be expected to depart campus within one hour to resume regular campus operations.   

We want to acknowledge those designated staff members who will work much longer hours on this day to ensure a successful and safe event before and after the Thursday night football game. We extend our appreciation for all you do to keep our campus operating and looking its very best.