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:
- Dukes First Day Photos
- A Letter from Dr. Miller
- Make Family Weekend Unforgettable! See Jim Gaffigan Live
- Encourage Your Student to be Aware of Scams
- Student Duke Club
- Financial Aid Disbursements and Eligible Hours
- JMU Refunds through BankMobile
- 10 Tips for Helping Students Find Affordable Textbooks
- Dining Updates
- Student Employment
- From Drop-Off to Ride Home, We’ve Got the Bus Route!
- Update on Student Travel Home: NY, NJ, CT & PA
- Ethical Reasoning in Action at JMU
- Welcome to the Arboretum!
Let your Duke know about the opportunity to capture their first day of class picture! The Office of Family Engagement will be out on the Quad in front of Wilson Hall on Wednesday, August 20 from 10 AM - 2 PM. Pictures will be available to download after the event.
A Letter from Dr. Tim Miller
Hello JMU families,
The start of the new year is only a few short days away and we are excited to welcome our Dukes to campus! We have had a great summer, and I have loved seeing so many of you and your Dukes across the country and even a few of you in the Outer Banks and Ireland! The First-year send-offs were a real joy, and I appreciated the conversations during our Virtual Family Webinars as well.
Updates
Summer is always a time for construction on campus, and we’re excited about all the progress. Many of our residence halls now have new roofs, and we’re looking forward to the first residents moving into our new Potomac Hall in the Village!
The Carrier Library renovation and expansion is really coming along; the outside is mostly done and it looks amazing. If you want to learn more about this project, please visit this website.
Reminders
Move-in information for students living on campus includes dates, driving and parking directions, and a lot of other great advice. Your student has probably already made their move-in appointment, but if not, they should make it now.
Parking and Transit Services has information that students with cars, especially those living off campus, should check out. There are links to purchase a parking permit and a counter that shows how many spaces are available for the parking decks in real time that they should look at every morning when they are coming to campus.
It also has tips for using the buses, which are helpful for all students – whether they need to get across campus or travel anywhere around Harrisonburg.
Immunization Form – about 2,000 incoming students have not submitted this required form yet and I would ask that you make this a priority before they leave for move-in. Also, the review of submitted forms is a manual process and takes time so I would ask that you not reach out to the Health Center team to ask about the status of the paperwork. Your student will receive a secure message through email letting them know to log into MyJMUChart when their submission has been reviewed. Please encourage them to check their email every day so they can keep up with important messages like this.
Events
The first few weeks of school are incredibly busy so please encourage your student to immerse themselves in all we have to offer. This is especially true for first-year and transfer students. Here are just a few events to tell your Duke:
Dukes First Day Photos | Aug. 20 | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | The Quad
Back to School Bash | Aug. 21 | 5 – 9 p.m. | The Union
National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day | Aug. 21 | 7:30 p.m. | Sentara Park
This event will be held at the JMU soccer game with Virginia’s First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin, in collaboration with her It Only Takes One awareness campaign. You’re encouraged to view and share this video to learn more.
Well Dukes Open House | Aug. 22 | 1 – 5 p.m. | UREC
Student Org Night | Aug. 22 | 5 – 9 p.m. | AUBC
Movie: How to Train Your Dragon | Aug. 22 | 9 – 11 p.m. | Festival Lawn
Open House & Volunteer Fair | Aug. 29 | 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Community Engagement & Volunteer Center, SSC 2200
Questions to ask your student
What are your goals for this school year?
Tip: Encourage a variety of goals – the JMU Well-Being Model is an incredible resource to help your Duke think about their goals.
How can I best support you while you’re at JMU this year?
Tip: Agree on how often you’ll check in with each other, do they want to get pictures of what’s happening at home or will that make them feel left out? Saying goodbye is never easy, no matter how many times you do it. Letting them know that you’ll always be their biggest fan and support can make a huge difference.
Looking forward to a great year!
As I’ve shared many times before, thanks for your amazing partnership and for the trust you place in us. We take that trust very seriously and will do our part to make their time at JMU an amazing and transformative experience.
Have a great rest of the summer and Go Dukes!
Dr. Tim Miller
Vice President for Student Affairs
Make Family Weekend Unforgettable! See Jim Gaffigan Live
New for Family Weekend: Jim Gaffigan is bringing his Everything Is Wonderful! tour to the Atlantic Union Bank Center on Friday, September 26. Tickets are on sale now — don’t miss this exciting opportunity to enjoy an evening of laughs with your family while celebrating the weekend on campus!
Jim Gaffigan is an eight-time Grammy nominated comedian, actor, writer, producer, two-time New York Times best-selling author, three-time Emmy winning top touring performer, and multi-platinum-selling recording artist.
The show is scheduled for 8 p.m. Doors will open at 7 p.m.
Check out the full Family Weekend schedule here.
Submitted by: Brandon Cline-Taskey, Director, University Business Office
Your student will be logging into a lot of systems at JMU. The systems include MyMadison, Canvas, JMU Email, and BankMobile Disbursements – the system that processes refunds for the university. Encourage your student to beware of scammers who might try to break into your student’s accounts. JMU recommends a few simple ways your student can protect themselves from scammers:
- Never share personal information, passwords, security answers, etc. via email or text.
- Never share a multi-factor authentication code or one-time passcode with another person. This includes codes from Okta, SMS codes, emailed codes, etc. Reputable institutions will NOT call or text and ask you to provide two-factor authentication codes.
- If you receive an email asking for personal information or to fill out a form with login information, do not respond or click on any links.
- Be aware of requests that appear to be “urgent” especially if the message claims there are consequences for not acting immediately.
- Always verify the sender’s address. If you are unsure about a particular email, contact the University Business Office for BankMobile questions or the IT Help Desk for other system questions.
- If you suspect you have received a fraudulent email or text, report it immediately. Forward the message as an attachment to abuse@jmu.edu or contact the JMU IT Help Desk.
If you would like additional information on phishing scams, please see the IT phishing education website.
Student Duke Club
Submitted by: Grace Sheldon, Director of Internal Operations & Events, Duke Club
As a student at JMU, your Duke is invited to join the Student Duke Club (SDC), the official student fan section of JMU Athletics that provides the opportunity to grow the “We Bleed Purple” culture together!
SDC is a philanthropic student membership group with an annual commitment that grants members exclusive benefits and opportunities while supporting our 500+ student-athletes.
Over the course of each membership year (August to May) students will receive the following benefits with an annual donation of $25:
24 Hour Early Ticket Access
Invitation to Member-Only Events
Leadership Opportunities
Annual Membership T-Shirt
Financial Aid Disbursements and Eligible Hours
Submitted by: Brad Barnett, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management/Financial Aid Director, Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships
Fall Financial Aid Disbursements:
Financial aid disbursements generally occur during the first week of each semester if all paperwork has been submitted in a timely fashion and the student is registered for the amount of hours used to determine financial aid eligibility. If you want to learn more about the disbursement process, timeframe, and financial aid refunds, you can read Section 13: Financial Aid, Disbursements, Your Bill, and Refunds of the Financial Aid: Terms and Conditions – Consumer Information document on our website.
Financial Aid Eligible Hours:
The number of financial aid eligible (FA Hours) a student is registered for during the enrollment period plays a major factor in determining eligibility for financial aid. Not being enrolled in the correct number of FA Hours when it’s time to disburse funds will lead to delays, as we cannot disburse financial aid if a student is registered for fewer FA Hours than what was used to develop the financial aid package.
For example, if a student is registered for a total of 12 credit hours in a term and only 9 of them are listed with a Yes” under the “Eligible for Financial Aid” Column in “My Class Schedule” in MyMadison, then for financial aid purposes, the student is considered enrolled in 9 hours. However, the financial aid package was developed based on 12 hours.
You can find more information about this in Section 9: Classes and Program of Study Applicability of the Financial Aid: Terms and Conditions – Consumer Information document on our website.
JMU Refunds through BankMobile
Submitted by: Wes Breeden, Bursar, University Business Office
Fall semester financial aid will post to student accounts soon. When financial aid overpays the student account, the University Business Office initiates a refund to the student or parent based on the type of financial aid. Most refunds go to the student. Overpayments from Parent PLUS loans are refunded as a check to the parent who took out the loan unless they requested that the refund go to the student when they completed the loan application.
The University Business Office works with BankMobile Disbursements to process all JMU refunds. To ensure that student refunds are available as soon as possible, we strongly encourage students to log into BankMobile’s system to set up direct deposit into an existing bank account. To access BankMobile, the student can go into their Student Center in MyMadison and click on My Refunds.
Submitted by: Emily Blake, Assistant Director of Communications & Marketing, Libraries
10 Tips for Helping Students Find Affordable Textbooks
If your student is feeling worried about how to pay for their textbooks this semester, they're not alone! JMU Libraries offers several options to help students find affordable textbooks.
Here are 10 ways we can help and additional ideas for your student to try if we don’t have what they need!
Check JMU Libraries
1. Use Library Search to look for the book.
2. Find out if the professor set aside a copy in Course Reserves.
3. Stop by a Libraries service desk or visit the Ask the Library page for help finding the textbook.
Ask the Professor...
4. ...if an older, less expensive edition is similar enough.
5. ...to check with us about putting a copy on Course Reserves or buying a copy for Course Reserves.
6. ...to check with JMU’s Open Education Librarian about free or affordable course material alternatives.
Get Creative
7. Check the JMU Bookstore for used books and rental editions.
8. Submit an Interlibrary Loan request, and we will attempt to get a copy from another library for shorter-term use.
9. Borrow from or share with a friend.
10. During enrollment, use the No/Low Cost filter in MyMadison to search for courses with required texts under $40.
Advocate
Encourage your student to tell their professor, advisor, SGA, department head, and JMU administrators if the cost of textbooks is getting in the way of their education.
Contact
We'd love to hear from you! Feel free to contact our Open Education Librarian, Liz Thompson, if you have questions or ideas to share.
Submitted by: Heather Holsinger, Marketing Manager, JMU Dining
We’re so excited to kick off the new year with your Duke! Here are some of our awesome events:
August 21 | Back to School Bash
5:30–8:00 PM | The Union & Commons
Open to all students—come celebrate the start of the semester!
August 26 | Weeks of Welcome Field Day
5:00–7:00 PM | Hillside Field
Games, fun, and friends—don’t miss it!
August 26 | E-Hall Smoothie Bar
All day | Use a meal punch or purchase separately
Cool off with a refreshing smoothie!
August 27 | D-Hall Cookout
Use a meal punch or purchase separately
Classic cookout vibes and great food!
August 28 | E-Hall Welcome Home
Celebrate the start of the semester with a warm welcome and delicious eats!
For your Commuter Dukes!
They can snag a JMU Dining tote bag and long sleeve t-shirt when they purchase a commuter meal plan!
Why get a meal plan?
• Keep your parking spot—no need to leave campus for food!
• Enjoy a relaxing meal with friends or grab a quick bite between classes.
• Get access to award-winning campus dining with built-in value.
They can sign up now.
Because they deserve the Best Campus Food—without the hassle.
Changes to Meal Plans
The next available meal plan change window will be Monday, August 25, 2025, through Friday, September 5, 2025, Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. Your student will need to fill out the online form accessible through the link that will be available on our site beginning Friday, August 22, 2025. Please note: No changes will be processed until Monday, August 25, 2025. A $15 service charge will be assessed for changing a meal plan.
Student Employment
Submitted by: Klaudia Whipple, Student Employment Assistant, Student Employment
JMU PageUp is the best place for your student to find the most-up-to-date information about job openings at JMU. Each posting identifies the hiring department and provides a detailed description of job responsibilities, qualifications, hourly rate or pay range, and a list of additional documents (i.e., cover letter, resume, etc.) students may need to attach to their application.
Students can join us August 27th from 1-4 pm in room 1075 of the Student Success Center for our Annual Part-Time Job Fair! There will be opportunities for on and off campus positions.
The Student Employment office recommends that students searching for an on-campus position apply for as many jobs as they are interested in and feel qualified to fill. All on-campus positions are competitive, so make sure your student has a quality resume, cover letter, and references before beginning the application process.
Selected applicants will complete an interview process with the department. Make sure your student knows how to “dress to impress” with appropriate interview attire and is prepared to make a good impression.
The most-qualified candidate will be offered the position by the department. If your student accepts a job offer, the hiring department will need to complete paperwork to meet institutional, state, and federal guidelines and ensure prompt payment of wages. Students must provide their hiring department with a copy of their Social Security card and, for direct deposit purposes, a voided check, deposit slip, or a bank statement showing the full account and routing numbers.
In addition, federal regulations require JMU to confirm all new employees are eligible to work in the United States through completion of Form I-9. Your student will complete Section 1 of this form with the hiring department or on their own electronically. Section 2 will be completed either with the hiring department or with the Student Employment office. To complete Section 2 of the Form I-9, your student must provide documentation that verifies both identity and work authorization. You can see a full list of acceptable documents on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website. All documents must be original and unexpired. The hiring department or Student Employment must examine the documents your student presents and record the information electronically on Form I-9.
Your student is now on their way to gaining priceless experience and a good, old-fashioned paycheck!
For Student Employment questions or concerns, send an email to studentjobs@jmu.edu or call (540) 568-3269.
Submitted by: Valerie Kramer, Alternative Transportation Manager, Parking and Transit Services
As Move-In Week quickly approaches, we’re excited to welcome your Duke to campus and begin a new academic year together! Our team is here to help make the transition as smooth as possible for both students and families.
JMU contracts with the City of Harrisonburg Department of Transportation (HDPT) for bus service on campus and in Harrisonburg to best serve our community. All local buses are fare-free, on campus and off, all the time.
During Move-In, routes have been adjusted from the regular semester schedule to better support campus traffic and events that week for parents, families, and other move-in helpers. You can find the temporary schedule now on our website, and we’ll also be posting updates on Instagram and the Facebook page. Be sure to follow us so you don’t miss any helpful info!
Off-campus Dukes can find their free ride to campus on the Dukes Ride website. Most off-campus apartment complexes have at least one bus route to make commuting easy!
We know you’ll start missing them right after drop-off, so go ahead and book your Duke’s travel home for Fall Break and Thanksgiving now! These popular travel periods fill up quickly, and planning ahead can help secure a seat on popular coach bus services and reduce last-minute stress. Whether your student will be taking the Virginia Breeze (connecting to Dulles airport or Amtrak in DC) or booking a coach bus for the ride all the way home, early reservations are always a smart move. If your Duke is wait-listed, we recommend staying on the wait list as providers generally add more buses. Purchase tickets through the transit agency. JMU provides a convenient bus stop behind the bookstore.
Thanks for being part of the JMU community, we can’t wait for a fantastic year ahead! Ride On!
Update on Student Travel Home: NY, NJ, CT & PA
Submitted by: Amy Sfaelos, College Transit
While it’s only a matter of weeks before we drop off our children on the JMU campus, the first Thanksgiving bus home to the northeast (Allentown, Morris Plains, Tarrytown and Melville) has already sold out. Don’t worry, we already opened seats on the 2nd bus for Friday’s departure and have some open seats remaining on Saturday’s departure.
Our other Thanksgiving route to King of Prussia and Howell has 22 seats left as of this submission. For Fall Break, only 21 seats remain and it is unclear if we will add a second bus at this stage.
It’s time to get excited about the amazing semester that awaits you!
Ethical Reasoning in Action at JMU
Submitted by: Kacey Damaty, Assistant Director, Ethical Reasoning in Action
Your first-year Duke will be arriving on campus in a few short weeks. Before they move in, they will be asked to complete their One Book step: "It's Complicated." This asynchronous, online ethical reasoning course challenges students to consider a fictional scenario, AI-Care, in which a university must decide whether or not to use a mental health chatbot to bridge the gap between the lack of health care professionals and the growing demand for services. Students will ask the Eight Key Questions before they decide to act on this ethical dilemma. A great way to connect with your first-year Duke is to ask them about "It's Complicated" and the Eight Key Questions ethical reasoning strategy.
Experience the AI-Care Scenario.
Submitted by: John Wallace, Public Relations & Marketing Specialist, Edith J. Carrier Arboretum
The Edith J. Carrier Arboretum at JMU is delighted to welcome students and families. Our Arboretum is free to visit and open to the public daily. We encourage you to participate in a host of programs, lectures, workshops, and citizen science initiatives when you visit campus.
Want to keep up with the Arboretum? Follow us on social media or sign up for our email list.
Is your student looking for ways to get involved? Encourage them to volunteer or inquire about an internship at the Arboretum! For more information, email ejcarboretum@jmu.edu.
For a list of events coming up as the new academic year commences, follow the link below.
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 »
Connect with the JMU Family!
