Resources from the Dean of Students

The team in the Dean of Students would like to share some important resources that might be of assistance to you. You are our most important collaborators when supporting students through challenges, and we are lucky to have you as such strong partners in this work.

Madison Cares 

Madison Cares is a referral program housed within our office. We invite faculty and staff to submit a Madison Cares referral if they are ever concerned for a student. These concerns can range from attendance/academic issues to a student struggling with a family or personal difficulty, or even health concerns. Our staff reviews each referral, assigns it to the appropriate staff member, and reaches out to the student directly to offer support and resources.  

We are always excited to visit our colleagues in their own space! If you are interested in hosting us in your staff meeting, class meeting, or event to discuss the program in further detail, please contact us at madisoncares@jmu.edu.

Madison Cares is excited to continue our partnership with the Center for Faculty Innovation this semester to provide workshops for faculty/staff. Be on the lookout for more information about these opportunities throughout the semester.

Student Absence Communications

Students can visit our website to request a “Student Absence Communication”. When a student submits one of these requests, our office will review it within 1-3 business days to determine if it meets the criteria for a Student Absence Communication to be sent to their faculty.  

“Student Absence Communications” are meant to be used for students who are absent from classes for 2 or more days due to hospitalization, injury, or extenuating circumstances. We ask that you please do not require a Student Absence Communication to be sent from our office to excuse absences. This service is not meant to conflict with attendance policies or academic affairs policies, but rather it is building a bridge between faculty and students to discuss missed classes/coursework.

When you receive one of these messages from our office, it will communicate that a student is going to be absent from your class for an extended period of time. We will always inform the student that a “Student Absence Communication” is purely informational, does not excuse them from classes/assignments, and that they must speak with you directly about the policies for your class. 

Student Absence Communications will not be sent for:  

• Absences due to self-limiting illness (cold, flu, COVID-19, etc.) that do not result in hospitalization
  • Student should opt to send a Self Care Note offered through the University Health Center
• Concussions
  • Students can visit the University Health Center for evaluation & documentation
• Family/personal events (vacations, weddings, reunions, birthdays, etc.)
• Conditions/events that occurred earlier in the semester
• Requests for in-person classes to be moved online
• Absences for less than 2 days
• Absences due to university sponsored activities (athletic events, student organization events/conferences, etc.)
• Final Exams
• Other reasons determined inappropriate by Dean of Students staff

Thank you again for your care, support and guidance. The Dean of Students cannot function without the expertise of everyone in the JMU community.  

With care, 

JMU Dean of Students