Business Bound: empowering JMU’s first-generation business students

When Jayvion Rosemond arrived on campus to move into his first-year dorm this summer, he was charting a path untraveled by anyone in his family. Like 17% of undergraduates at JMU, Rosemond is a first-generation college student. With that comes a set of unique challenges, but instead of worrying what college might be like, Rosemond decided to seek success early. 

Rosemond was one of 25 first-year, first-generation students to participate in the college’s new Business Bound program, a five-day residential program designed exclusively for first-generation business students. The inaugural cohort arrived on campus and moved into their dorms before all other students, not just to get a head start on academics, but to find community, build confidence and become familiar with key campus resources. 

“I’ve always been outgoing,” Rosemond says, “and I’ve always been serious about school.” That blend of charisma and focus led him to choose International Business as his major. From organizing neighborhood car washes to designing and selling clothes, Rosemond has long had a passion for people and creation. “I like speaking to different people and making connections,” he explains. “Hopefully JMU can help me build those skills and make them stronger.”

Despite being the first in his family to attend college, Rosemond said he wasn’t nervous. He attended high school at the Woodberry Forest School, a rigorous boarding school, and found himself surrounded by peers who were college-bound. “Everyone there was going to college,” he recalls. “So I knew I needed to make sure I was on that path too.”

Rosemond kept his options open as he applied to multiple colleges, both in- and out-of-state. Ultimately, JMU won his heart after he explored campus on a tour and had a meaningful conversation with an advisor. “He told me, ‘If I’m being honest, I think JMU is a really good school for you.’ And he was right,” says Rosemond. After mulling it over, he knew he’d found his second home. 

The transition into college was made smoother by the Business Bound program. Over the course of five full days, participants engaged in social activities, course prep and skills workshops. They also toured campus, connected with advisors and mentors and became familiar with their new environment, giving them a head start on navigating college life before the rest of the student body arrived.

“Getting the chance to move in early and meet people before everyone else arrived was really nice,” Rosemond says. “It made everything feel less overwhelming.” The program’s small cohort allowed him to form friendships quickly, and those connections have carried into the semester. “We still have class together, so we get to reconnect regularly.”

As he settles into the semester, Rosemond is already considering ways in which he can get involved on campus and in the College of Business. He hopes to further explore his entrepreneurial pursuits in the Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship and is considering what student organizations he’ll want to join. “I want to be known as someone anyone can talk to or be friends with,” he says. “I have a lot of diverse friend groups, and I want to keep building those relationships.”

Academically, Rosemond holds himself to a high standard. Personally, he’s focused on surrounding himself with good people and making the most of every opportunity. “It’s cool that I’m doing something different,” he says of being a first-generation student. “My family is successful, but I’m proud to be taking this path.”