The Madison Family Newsletter is created each month by the Office of Family Engagement in partnership with many members of the JMU community. For more family resources, visit our website.
In This Issue:
- A Letter from Dr. Miller
- Family Weekend Reflection
- Watch 'Meet President Jim' Zoom Webinar Recording
- Helping Your Student Prepare for Spring Enrollment
- Housing Contracts: Live on Again! is Now Open
- Apply to be an RA
- Homecoming 2025
- Career Center: What are WBLEs?
- Women's Self Defense Class
- Nightmare at UREC
- Duke Club Socials
- Support Your Duke’s Global Journey—Encourage Them to Apply Today
- Fall Engagement Opportunities with CEVC
- Student Travel Home Update: NY, NJ, CT & PA
- Get Yours! JMU’s 2026 Capture Campus Wall Calendar
- The 2026-27 FAFSA is Available Now
- COB 300 in Antwerp Leaves Lasting Impact on Alumna
- New Carrier Library Spaces Will Serve all JMU Students
A Letter from Dr. Tim Miller
Hey JMU families,
Welcome to the beginning of the most beautiful time of year at JMU. The leaves are starting to change colors and soon you’ll be getting pictures showing how campus has transformed. I hope that all of you who were here for Family Weekend had an amazing time with your Dukes. Even a rainy day is a great day at JMU!!!
I had a great weekend including giving away 100 pizzas at the student tailgate, enjoying the football game with Jamie, and watching JMU Softball play Frostburg State on Sunday. I also had the chance to meet with the Parents Council and sit and talk with many of my lifelong friends who are now JMU parents. They always provide great feedback, and I appreciate all the insight into ways we can make our students’ experience more meaningful.
Important reminder for first-year families
- There are still many students who have not completed their required health information that is required by the state. This includes their immunization form and other health questions. Please remind your student to go to MyJMUChart to confirm that everything has been submitted and reviewed by the University Health Center. If they do not complete this step, they will not be able to register for the spring semester. For more information use this to visit MyJMUChart. I would ask that you not call the Health Center and ask about this information. Please work with your student to look at MyJMUChart first and determine if they are in compliance.
- Registration for spring classes begins on Oct. 31 for some students and continues for the rest based upon the number of credits fulfilled. Please remind your student to check for holds consistently leading up to enrollment appointment so they can take care of them in plenty of time before their enrollment appointment.
Updates
In the most recent newsletters, I’ve shared that we’re committed to the six dimensions of well-being. This month we’re sharing information on the Health dimension to help you guide your student to the services available to them. The student gateway has direct links to these services:
- University Health Center – medical care, self-care guides and pharmacy
- University Recreation – fitness, adventure and sports
- Well Dukes – wellness coaching, peer-to-peer programming and other services
- Counseling Center – workshops, self-help resources, and individual and group counseling
- TimelyCare – virtual mental health scheduled counseling, psychiatry and 24/7 Talk Now
- Victim Advocacy Services – safe and confidential resource for students who have experienced sexual violence, relationship abuse or stalking recently or in the past
Every month we host a Facebook Live event where I give updates and timely information that may be helpful to you or your Duke. If you’d like to view the one from Sept. 25, here is the Facebook link. The next one will be Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. on the JMU Parents and Family Facebook group.
Reminders
- Fall Break is Oct. 22-26. There are no classes those days, but university offices will be open. This is a good time for students to have some down time, catch up on schoolwork or to work ahead a little.
- You can check the academic calendar for other important dates like Thanksgiving break, final exams and winter break.
Events
Here are a few suggestions for events you may want to share with your student:
- Counseling Center Workshops
- Digital Thriving | Oct. 13
- Trivia Night | Oct. 14 and 28
- Homecoming Events | Oct. 17-19
- Nightmare at UREC | Oct. 30
As always, more events can be found on the JMU events calendar, Be Involved and Dukes Weekly.
Questions to ask your student
Do you feel like you’d know what to do if someone you care about needed help?
Tip: College students are often the first to notice when a friend or roommate is struggling. Encourage your student to learn what supports are available, not just for themselves but for others too. On-campus resources like the Counseling Center, Madison Cares, and TimelyCare are there to help. And for urgent or crisis situations, remind them they can always call the Counseling Center or call/text 988, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 24/7. Just being aware of these options can make them a more confident and compassionate friend.
Have you thought about where you want to live next year?
Tip: On campus or off is the only decision needed right now. Live On Again! signup is now open for living on campus. This is a binding contract, so it is important to have this conversation with your student to make this decision. For students thinking of living off campus, Off Campus Life can provide valuable guidance through this process. You definitely don’t want to have two leases next year so encourage them to wait and talk to you before signing anything.
Have you considered being an Orientation Peer Adviser or Resident Adviser?
Tip: Applications are open now for these important leadership positions. The Residence Life and Orientation and Transition websites have more information for them to learn more about applying to be a resident adviser or an orientation peer adviser.
Moving on to the second half
To use a football analogy, fall break is like halftime at a football game. It’s a time to catch your breath, get a pep talk, and strategize what needs to be done to finish strong. This is your chance to be the coach by providing those words of encouragement, tips for overcoming mistakes of the first half, and sharing the resources from these newsletters. I saw a post the other day and a mom said that the best thing she ever asked her daughter was, “what I can I do to support you right now?” I recommend giving this a try and I hope you enjoy the next month!
I’m so glad we’re on the same team and thanks for the continued support.
Take care and Go Dukes!
Dr. Tim Miller
Vice President for Student Affairs
Submitted by: Office of Family Engagement
We are so grateful for everyone who was able to join us for Family Weekend and missed those who weren't able to attend! So many families connected with their students on campus despite the rain for a winning football game, Jim Gaffigan show, on-campus dining events, Friday Night Flights, and more!
Each year during halftime of the Family Weekend football game, the JMU community recognizes an outstanding parent or family member based on student nominations. We were pleased to present the 2025 Family Member of the Year Award to Scott Webb, who was nominated by his daughter, Faith '29. Visit our website for the Family Member of the Year Video, photo booth photos, and more.
The 2026 Family Weekend dates are determined by the football schedule and will be posted on the Family Weekend webpage once finalized this spring.
Submitted by: Pam Brock, Senior Director, Advancement Marketing
JMU's seventh president, Dr. James C. Schmidt, had a lot to say about the future of the university during the opening event of his Presidential Tour last month. He talked about achieving big things while preserving JMU's small school feel. President Jim responded to audience questions and encouraged Dukes to share their ideas for the Strategic Plan, which is in development now. If you missed the Zoom webinar or want to watch again, here's the link to the recording with a table of contents and timestamps. You can also find the link to the Strategic Plan survey and submit your input.
Helping Your Student Prepare for Spring Enrollment
Submitted by: Office of the Registrar
Your student is getting ready to begin enrollment for Winter and Spring 2026 classes on November 3, 2025. We understand that enrollment can be stressful for some students. Here are some things that we have found helpful when talking about enrollment with students:
- We recommend that students log into MyMadison a few days before enrollment begins. This allows them to ensure that their MyMadison password is up to date. At this time, they need to check for holds that prevent enrollment and rectify any holds as quickly as possible. These are two of the most common, preventable, issues students face with enrollment.
- Students should identify the classes needed to make progress toward their degree and meet or make contact with their advisor(s), if necessary.
- Students should verify that they meet all the requisites for the classes so they will not have trouble enrolling. This can be done by looking at the class information in the class search.
- Students need to anticipate a certain amount of flexibility with their schedules. There is an ideal schedule that every student might want… no 8:00am classes, all classes finished by 2:30pm, etc. Unfortunately, that is not always possible. We encourage students to prepare several options for their schedule so they can easily pivot if their previous choice is now full.
Your student’s advisor(s) is the best resource for discussing class options to meet requirements within their major. If your student is not able to schedule an appointment with their advisor, the Madison Advising Peers (MAPs) are a great resource as well. Information about the MAPs can be found on their website.
Tip: Find helpful resources for the Advising and Enrollment Process
Submitted by: Sydney Wood, Social Media and Marketing Manager, Residence Life
Live On Again! Contracts are open as of Oct. 1! For details and questions, please visit the link below.
Submitted by: Sydney Wood, Social Media and Marketing Manager, Residence Life
Priority RA Applications open on Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. during the RA Recruitment Fair (The Union, Warren 256, 6–8 p.m.) Check out the ResLife Student Employment Hub for more details!
Submitted by: Victoria Beahm, Assistant Director, Events and Operations, Alumni Relations
Join us for Homecoming 2025 at JMU! From spirited events on campus to family-friendly activities, there’s something for everyone. Check out the full list of events and make plans to celebrate with us Oct. 17-19.
Career Center: What are WBLEs?
Submitted by: Anna Maria Johnson, Associate Director of Work-Based Learning Experiences, University Career Center
Encourage your student to find an internship or other work-based learning experience (WBLE) during their time at JMU. JMU has a vision that every student will complete such an experience because those who participate are more likely to find positive job outcomes and satisfaction post-graduation.
What is a WBLE? Most people think of a paid internship as the “gold standard,” but students can also benefit from micro-internships, course-embedded projects (look for the WBLE tag in the course catalog), undergraduate research, and even on-campus employment.
The keys to look for are:
1) does this opportunity help build skills in the student’s intended career pathway or disciplinary field?
2) Will the student receive mentorship and supervision?
3) Will the student be guided in meaningful reflection activities?
Learn more by visiting the Career Center’s webpages about work-based learning and internships. Students who have completed an internship or other work-based learning experience should report it in JMU’s platform 12twenty.
Encourage your student to find an internship or other work-based learning experience during their time at JMU by using a platform like Handshake.
Submitted by: Jason Phillips, Patrol Sergeant, JMU Police Department
This class will meet every Sunday, Oct. 12 - Nov. 16.
The goal of this program is to empower participants with knowledge and physical defense options to boost their vigilance in recognizing threatening situations and mitigating the occurrence of assault. This six-week program will develop confidence through repetition of defensive techniques. Participants will gradually progress from static to dynamic application of self-defense techniques.
JMU offers the following resources for students and we encourage contacting a professional as soon as possible:
Counseling Center
Victim Advocacy
TimelyCare
“Women’s Self Defense (a.k.a. Women’s Ninja Club) is a great way to learn how to protect yourself as well as build self-confidence. The class provides a fun, safe, and welcoming environment to learn in. I have taken the class multiple times and highly recommend taking it!” Alexandra Penny (JMU 24)
Submitted by: Melanie Tornese, Graduate Assistant of Marketing and Engagement, University Recreation Center
It’s spooky season: Encourage your Duke to attend Nightmare at UREC on Thursday, Oct. 30, to enjoy interactive attractions, pumpkin carving, silent disco, a costume contest and more! It's a fun opportunity to celebrate the season on campus.
Submitted by: Grace Sheldon, Director of Internal Operations and Events, Duke Club
Gear up for game day, home or away, with fellow Duke Club members and the JMU Nation!
Check out the full Duke Club (DC) Socials calendar below for all locations and details. All fans are invited to attend home and away DC Socials.
Submitted by: Matthew Zittritsch, Assistant Director of Engagement and Outreach, Study Abroad, Center for Global Engagement
Is your Duke looking to explore new places and expand their horizons? Studying abroad is a great option! There are 100+ global opportunities available for your student.
Priority deadlines are approaching on October 20 for spring break 2026 programs and November 1 for summer 2026 programs.
After the deadline, there is no guarantee that spaces will be available in programs. Is there a program your Duke wants to be a part of? Let them know to apply now!
Submitted by: Lindsey Richards, Assistant Director, Engagement, Communication & Innovation, CEVC
October brings a season of creativity, connection, and community impact. The Community Engagement & Volunteer Center (CEVC) offers ways for your Duke to unwind, build friendships, and make a difference through meaningful service. From one-time projects to sustained engagement, students can explore opportunities that support both their well-being and the greater community.
By encouraging your Duke to get involved, you’re helping them discover experiences that foster belonging, growth, and purpose during their time at JMU.
Upcoming Events
Chills & Thrills Happy Hour
Friday, Oct. 10, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Alternative Break Program
Alternative January Breaks:
Your Duke can travel with fellow community-minded Dukes on an Alternative January Break!
Jan. 10-17, 2026, Cost: $350 (need-based financial assistance is available)
Registration Deadline: Nov. 16 at 11:59pm
Break Highlights:
- Build Homes and Create Hope with Frontier Housing | Morehead, KY
Support affordable housing projects for families in Morehead.
- ️Protect Coastal Ecosystems with Hobcaw Barony | Georgetown, SC
Assist with conservation and historic preservation in Georgetown.
- Support Learning and Strengthen Futures with Life Connections | Charlotte, NC
Enhance spaces, support learning programs, and support restorative practices.
- Unleash Creativity with Loop It Up Savannah | Savannah, GA
Support arts, gardening, and STEAM programs in local schools.
Spring Break
Lead an Alternative Driving Spring Break:
Is your Duke interested in leading change? Encourage them to apply to be an Alternative Spring Driving Break Leader!
March 14 - 21, 2026, Application Deadline: 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 2
Dukes Volunteer
Jubilee Climate Farm
Support sustainable farming and refugee food access.
Mondays, Now - Nov. 27, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Food Recovery Network
Recover unused food from E-Hall and deliver to a local organization.
Mondays, Now - Dec. 1, 3:15-5 p.m.
Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community
Support enrichment activities with memory care residents.
Tuesdays, Now – Dec. 2, 10-11 a.m.
For more details, visit Community Engagement & Volunteer Center, email cevc@jmu.edu, or call 540-568-6366.
Student Travel Home Update: NY, NJ, CT & PA
Submitted by: Amy Sfaelos, CollegeTransit LTD
A quick update for out of state JMU families from the northeast:
Fall Break: The first two buses are full. A waiting list started for a potential 3rd bus OR to fill any seats that may open up on the existing buses.
Thanksgiving:
To Allentown, Morris Plains, Tarrytown and Melville:
- Friday’s departure needs 18 more students to register on the Waiting List to confirm an additional bus. The trend looks good.
- Saturday’s departure is sold out. The waiting list for Saturday will ONLY be used to backfill potential seats that open.
To King of Prussia and Howell Township:
- This waiting list requires 16 more students to register to confirm the 2nd bus. This trip had 2 full buses last year.
Winter Break: There are 19 seats remaining on the bus to Allentown, Morris Plains, Tarrytown and Melville.
You can view trip details, including specific address information, on CollegeTransit.com. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!
Submitted by: Liz Fravel, Senior Associate Director, Office of Annual Giving
Make a gift of $26 or more and receive a calendar. What a great way for you or your Duke to feel connected to JMU. All photos featued were taken by students, alumni, faculty or a parent. The calendar makes a great gift and ships in time for the holidays.
The 2026-27 FAFSA is Available Now
Submitted by: Jessica Hopkins, Assistant Director of Compliance, Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
The 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available now and can be completed by going to www.studentaid.gov.
To ensure you receive priority consideration for all types of financial assistance, the federal government must receive your 2026-27 FAFSA by March 1, 2026. This is JMU’s priority filing date. In some cases, filing later can reduce your chances of receiving certain types of financial aid, including state grants.
Please note that meeting the priority filing date does not guarantee that you will receive university or state grant dollars. The number of eligible students and the size of our annual funding allocations are significant factors in determining whether sufficient funds are available to award all those who qualify.
Submitting a FAFSA comes with no strings attached. The application is free and available online.
More information about the FAFSA, including videos, can be found on our website.
Submitted by: Carrie Wood, Director, College of Business Marketing & Communications
When Taylor Holmes (‘17) boarded a plane to Belgium for her semester abroad, she was taking a leap of faith. A junior marketing major, Holmes didn’t consider herself a well-traveled person, but something about the COB 300 in Antwerp semester abroad sparked her curiosity. “I thought, ‘What could it hurt?’” she said.
Upon landing, her emotions quickly shifted from those of excitement to panic. “I remember landing and having this initial shock of like, ‘Oh my God, I’m here and I can’t get back on a plane and go home,’” she recalled. Once she made it to her student housing she broke down in tears, overwhelmed by the distance from home and the uncertainty that lay ahead. What she didn’t know then was that this moment—equal parts fear and courage—would mark the beginning of a journey that would shape her career, her confidence and her life abroad. Read more about Taylor's journey:
Submitted by: Emily Blake, Assistant Director of Communications & Marketing, Libraries
When Carrier Library reopens in August 2026, Dukes will discover new, specialized spaces open to all students and designed to enhance learning. Check out this recent story from JMU News about some of the features of the renovated and expanded Carrier Library that all JMU students will get to enjoy, including a media studio, an anatomy room, the Grand Reading Room, and the Library Futures Classroom, which will offer students and faculty hands-on access to augmented- and virtual-reality systems, holographic displays, AI-powered design tools, and other cutting-edge innovations. Read our full announcement to learn more!
Join 13,000+ fellow JMU parents and guardians in the official Facebook group! This group was created by the Office of Family Engagement in an effort to provide a safe online environment for parents & family members to engage with one another. Request to join the group here »
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