Board of Visitors Summary of Actions and Discussions

The James Madison University Board of Visitors met Friday, April 21, 2023 in the Festival Conference and Student Center. 

The following is a summary of actions taken by the board and key areas of discussion at the board meeting: 

Approved the February 10, 2023 Board of Visitors meeting minutes; 

Accepted committee reports from Academic Excellence; Advancement and Engagement; Athletics; Audit/Risk and Compliance; Governance, Finance and Physical Development; and Student Affairs; 

Towana Moore, Vice President for Administration and Finance, presented the proposed 2023-24 tuition and fees, 2024 summer tuition and fees, and budget for the university, and the BOV approved as presented; and 

Anthony Tongen, Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship, presented updates from the Research Institution and Centers. 

JMU Board of Visitors voted to approve the purchase of 449 Eastover Drive for $279,500 and a quitclaim deed for 11352 Sassafras Ridge Markham, VA.    

President Alger shared during his President’s Report:

• An admissions update was provided with the following information: There are 37,001 first-year applicants, which is a 17% increase over 2022 and a 68% increase over 2021. First-year applicant demographics are 46% out-of-state, 21.5% first-generation, 34.4% underrepresented minorities and 565 international applicants. Applicants represent 50 states, Washington, D.C., U.S. territories and 112 countries;
• Class of 2027 update: Almost 4,105 deposits (in-state: 2,945 and out-of-state: 1,156) have been received with a class goal of 4,650. First-year class demographics are: 21% underrepresented minorities, 15% first generation; 41% male; 59% female. They represent 37 states and 28 countries. 265 deposits are from transfer students;
• JMU successfully completed the on-site review with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and for the second consecutive decennial review, JMU received zero recommendations as a result of the site visit;
• Funded by the Virginia General Assembly, JMU received a $250,000 grant as part of the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership, which will expand paid and credit-bearing student internships and other work-based learning opportunities in collaboration with Virginia Employers;
• A Student Engagement Symposium was hosted on campus and organized by a JMU Presidential Engagement Fellow. This focused on the work of engaged students with a wide cross-section of the university, focusing on engaged learning, community engagement and civic engagement;
• Mya Wilcox, public policy and administration major, has been appointed to the Virginia Governor’s Fellows Program;
• Reggie Wilcox was awarded a Newman Civic Fellow, which is an award to a select group of students from around the nation by Campus Compact. Reggie is a junior at JMU and an integrated science and technology major;
• Ava Galgano, chemistry major, and Stephanie Ouderkirk, biophysical chemistry major, were awarded as Goldwater Scholars. This is a premier award and selects high-achieving students who will pursue research careers in their chosen STEM fields;
• Junior music major, Haven Kahn, was named the Petrichor Grand Prize Winner – under 21 category – and won second place in the Vandoren Emerging Artist competition. This is one of the most prestigious competitions in classical saxophone;
• Ken Rutherford, political science professor and world renowned expert on global conflict and stability and recovery operations, was appointed to the Virginia Board of Historic Resources by Governor Youngkin;
• Aramark received the Gold Medal at the Aramark Culinary Excellence competition;
• Over 400 people attended JMU’s Diversity Conference. The audience was made up of faculty, staff, students, community partners and representatives from peer institutions;
• The College of Education visited Rwanda to formalize its partnerships with the Ministry of Education. During the 2023-24 academic year, Rwanda teachers will enroll in JMU’s Graduate Certificate for teacher leadership. The College of Education at the University of Rwanda plans to partner with JMU to provide faculty exchanges, share information on faculty support and compare curriculum at the undergraduate and graduate levels;
• David Kirkpatrick has been named Executive Director of the Madison Center for Civic Engagement. A discussion, Europe at the Crossroads, was held with a lively discussion with students and faculty. JMU partnered with the Constructive Dialogue Institute and is considered a Voter Friendly Campus;
• JMU hosted Dr. Anthony Fauci and CNN Anchor Jim Acosta (’93) for a town hall discussion with more than 1,000 people attending; and
• JMU Women’s Basketball was the Sun Belt Conference Champions, JMU Lacrosse ranked 4^th in the Nation, all spring sports are over .500 and the fall football schedule has been finalized.