Madison Family Newsletter: September 2023

Hello JMU families,

What a great start to the semester! I’ve met so many new students these past two weeks at events like UREC Fest, Dukes First Day pictures, Back to School Bash, Student Org Night, Block Party in the ‘Burg, the ribbon cutting for the new JMU VALOR resource center location and a number of other club meetings and events.

I hope your Dukes are getting adjusted to the new school year, starting to find their rhythm, and making new friends. It is still early so they may not be there yet, and that is okay. We have many resources to help our students find a sense of belonging. Some great ways to start are through Explore Madison, MyMOM and JMU’s Community Engagement and Volunteer Center (CEVC). This is also the time of year when they may be going through selection processes for some organizations, and they may not all get selected. This can be hard, but they will be fine, and they will find other experiences and opportunities that will be right for them. 

Updates

As we shared in a recent email, this is the time of year that we start seeing various illnesses. I realize this may be the first time your student has been sick without you around to help take care of them, and it’s tough to not be here with them. A good first step is to encourage your student to check out these self-care resources from the University Health Center (UHC). If you sent them with a first aid kit or medication, you may need to remind them it’s there. If not, the UHC pharmacy has many over-the-counter medicines that can help provide them with some relief. I am actually writing this letter from my home as I am currently dealing with a virus personally and have missed a few days of work this week. 

It is never too early for students to start thinking about their careers after JMU, so I want to encourage them to attend our University Career Fair on Sept. 26 and 27. This is a great way for students to connect and become comfortable with speaking with potential employers, and many of the representatives are JMU graduates who love talking to our current students.  They can also use this as exploration about their possible careers in the future.  

Reminders

Our students’ mental health is just as important as their physical health, so I want to be sure you’re aware of these resources:

TimelyCare
This is a telehealth option that is free for JMU students. It includes 24/7 emergency support, scheduled counseling visits, psychiatry, health coaching, a peer community, and self-care journeys and content. Please encourage your student to download this app and register so they have it if they need it this year. 

Madison Cares
Students, family members or other members of the JMU community can refer or consult with us if they have a concern about a student, and sharing resources doesn’t seem to be enough. The Madison Cares team will reach out and provide support.

If you’re concerned about a student’s immediate safety, please call the JMU Police department at (540) 568-6911 and they can send an officer to do a welfare check.

Questions to ask your student

Last year we heard from some of you that it’s helpful to have some conversation starters for when you talk to your student. Here are some suggestions:

What do you think of your classes this year?

Tip: This is a good time to listen for what they mean but aren’t actually saying. Comments such as "too much reading, the class is boring, doesn’t make sense, they don’t care for their instructor, etc." may be a sign that they’re struggling a little. You can point them to the Academic resources on the Student Gateway – it’s never too soon to reach out for help. A gentle reminder to attend all classes can’t hurt either. This seems obvious, but if there’s no attendance policy, it can be too easy to fall into the habit of skipping classes. Three other pieces of advice are to sit near the front of class, introduce themselves to their faculty, and go to office hours. 

Who have you spent time with this week?

This will give you a sense of things with friends and what potential relationships are forming. It will also provide you with some starting points to help them with making connections across the JMU community.

Upcoming Events

• CEVC Open House and Volunteer fair – Sept. 8, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in SSC 2200
• JMU at UVA football watch party – Sept. 9, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. in TDU
• Latinx Heritage Month events
• Tea Time – Wednesdays, 3 – 5 p.m.
• Crafternoon – Thursdays, noon – 3 p.m.
• More events can always be found on the JMU event calendar.

If you’re going to be here for Family Weekend, I hope to see you here on campus. If not, there will plenty of other opportunities to catch up. Thanks as always for your support, and take care!

Go Dukes!

Dr. Tim Miller
Vice President for Student Affairs

Submitted by: Brandon Cline-Taskey, Director, University Business Office

As the school year is now in full swing, the University Business Office would like to remind you to review your student's financial account for any outstanding charges. It is important to monitor your student’s account even if you have already established an installment plan as the installment plan will not automatically adjust to cover unpaid fees.

Failure to monitor your student's account could result in a registration hold and a 3% late fee on any overdue balances. To avoid these penalties, please ensure that you have been granted Authorized User access to your student's financial account and regularly check for any notifications from UBO. For further instructions and information, please visit the UBO website.

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Submitted by: Melissa Wyant, Assistant AD for Creative Services & Fan Engagement, Athletics

Didn't get tickets for Family Weekend? Don't worry, there are four other chances to see the JMU Football Dukes at Bridgeforth this fall - purchase a single game ticket today!

Not heading back to campus until November 18 to pick up your Duke for Thanksgiving Break? We've got you covered - stick around and join your student for a game when JMU takes on App State.

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Submitted by: Sydney Wood, Social Media and Marketing Manager, Residence Life

Live On Again! Contracts become available on October 1, 2023. Your student can sign to have a guaranteed space on campus for 2024-2025!

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Submitted by: Lindsey Richards, Assistant Director, Engagement, Communication and Innovation, Community Engagement & Volunteer Center

The Community Engagement & Volunteer Center (CEVC) welcomed 125 incoming students for our second year of Dukes Making a Difference (DMAD) August 16-18. Students quickly got to know one another and had the opportunity to hear from Mayor Reed before heading out to volunteer in Harrisonburg.

We sent out groups to different community organizations where students helped organize, clean, paint, prepare garden beds, cut down trees, pulled weeds, read to kids, and helped a family move in. Together, we completed 864 total service hours with a group that size over the course of two days. That is critical for non-profits who rely on volunteers to help complete tasks and projects. Non-profits often have limited funding, time, staffing, and resources, which means many of these projects may have taken longer to complete or may have been postponed.

Does your Duke love giving back? We would love to connect with them! Below are a few ways your student can get involved:

Campus with a Cause: Every month we have a new theme and we make items together to help give back to the community. Students can stop in any time 9am-5pm Monday-Friday.

Alternative Fall Break (AFB): We have 4 breaks taking place in different communities October 18-20. AFBs cost $100 and registration is now open. We also have need-based scholarships available. If your student has questions or needs more information, they can contact us at cevc@jmu.edu, 540-568-6366, or stop by our office in SSC 2200.

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Submitted by: Heather Ream, Director of Marketing & Communications, Shenandoah Valley Airport

For JMU Dukes and Duke Parents, traveling to and from the beautiful Shenandoah Valley has never been easier. Whether it’s getting your student home for the holidays or planning a visit to campus yourself, Shenandoah Valley Airport (SHD) can help make travel stress-free. SHD is the Official Airport of James Madison University and is located just 15 minutes from campus. They offer convenient, seamless flights on Contour Airlines connecting the region to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and beyond. Contour’s interline agreement with American Airlines enables travelers to purchase combined tickets on both airlines under a single itinerary. Baggage will also be transferred seamlessly between flights. American Airlines and their interline partners operate approximately 700 flights daily at the Charlotte hub. The connection opportunities are plentiful while taking advantage of the perks of flying local.

Two of the biggest advantages of flying with SHD are cost savings and unparalleled convenience. Perks like FREE parking, on-site rental car options, a door-to-door shuttle service to and from the JMU campus, and free booking assistance for all your travel needs, means a more enjoyable travel experience for students and parents alike. To calculate the overall travel savings of flying with SHD, check out our True Cost Calculator on our homepage. This tool compares the cost of mileage, parking, time, and airfares with surrounding airports in one simple place to make sure you are getting the best deal.

SHD is committed to making travel for JMU students and families easier than ever. We welcome you to experience the SHD difference for your next flight! For more information about JMU travel with SHD, click the link below to visit our special JMU transportation page. You can also reach Heather Ream, Director of Marketing & Communications at hream@flyshd.com or (540) 234-8224 with any questions you have about SHD travel. Complimentary booking assistance is available by calling (540) 234-8304.

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Submitted by: W. Todd Martin, II, PR and Marketing Specialist, EJC Arboretum

Shop from our wide array of plants: bulbs, perennials, shrubs, trees and select houseplants. This ongoing sale will be at the Frances Plecker Education Center and on the Ernst Tree Terrace.

Online Ordering is available. Starting on Sept 22, Become a Member to get 10% OFF and SHOP EARLY!

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Submitted by: Emily Blake, Communications & Marketing Coordinator, Libraries

Is your Duke looking for a new place to study while Carrier Library is closed for renovation and expansion? We have good news!

JMU Study Spaces Map
This summer, JMU Libraries and staff across campus got together to create a study spaces map for your Duke that includes study spots in dozens of buildings all over campus. To check out the map, just visit jmu.edu/studyspaces and select a pin to read about the study spaces in that building.

New Study Spaces
In addition to advertising existing study spaces, JMU has created several new study spaces!

• Warren 502 offers amazing views, natural light, electrical outlets, and a range of furniture, from soft seats to large tables. Formerly a restaurant across from the Union Ballroom, it now has 78 study seats repurposed from Carrier Library.
• JMU Libraries Express is a new library location with printers, computers, lots of tables, big windows, and friendly staff ready to help! Located at 1050 S. Main Street, adjacent to the quad, JMU Libraries Express has about 20 seats, repurposed from Carrier Library.
• Moody 107 has big windows, whiteboards, and about 24 desks for individuals. This classroom has been designated as an available study space.
• More classrooms will also be designated as study spaces, and those will be added to the map as well.

Seats Added to Other Study Spaces
To improve existing study spaces, we relocated furniture from Carrier Library to other buildings, replacing furniture and adding seats to some of the spaces. For example, 44 new seats were added to Festival, and 26 new seats were added to Taylor.

Four Library Locations
Your Duke still has four library locations to use! Check out this list of the top 15 places to study or work in JMU Libraries. You might even learn something new (like where to get the best view of the oldest volcano on the East Coast)!

Check out this short video to learn more about how we are serving the JMU community with library services and places to study during the Carrier Library renovation and expansion.

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Join 9,000+ fellow JMU parents/families 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 »

Connect with the JMU Family!