For Supporters of First-Year Students

Your student’s academic journey begins with their very first advising experience—and it sets the tone for everything that follows. First Year Advising is here to support your student as they transition from high school to college, helping them set meaningful academic goals and learn how to thrive within a university environment. 

We know you want to stay informed and involved. Explore our Family Resource Guide for Advising to get answers to common questions and discover how you can best support your student through this exciting new chapter. 

For Supporters of Transfer Students

Upon students completing the Orientation Reservation & Declaring a Major step within their New Student Checklist, they will be assigned an academic advisor for that major. The advisor will reach out to students on December 8 to start building a relationship with your student, learn about their goals, review their previous coursework, and help determine which classes to take in their first semester at JMU. 

For Supporters of First-Year Students

Course enrollment isn’t a one-time task; it’s a learning experience that helps students build independence and confidence. We encourage you to remind your student to take advantage of the many resources available to them, including their academic advisor, enrollment worksheets, and many planning resources introduced in the Prepare for Class Enrollment Modules. Look at our Family Resource Guide for Enrollment to better understand enrollment.  

Working together, we can empower your student to take ownership of their education and feel supported every step of the way. 

For Supporters of Transfer Students

Class enrollment takes place in MyMadison and your student will be assigned an enrollment appointment with a specific date and time that they can begin enrolling. Most enrollment appointments will be on or after December 11.

The JMU Office of Family Engagement can be a valuable resource for you during your student's time at JMU. Make sure that you stay up to date on everything taking place on and off campus by following the Office of Family Engagement on Facebook and Instagram. The Office of Family Engagement's website also has a helpful gateway linking you to many valuable campus resources. 

New students at JMU are required by Virginia law to submit specific information about immunizations and complete a TB screening. This is one of your student's New Student Checklist items, and this step is vital because non-compliance could lead to a hold being placed on your student's account and a fee. You can learn more about the Pre-Entry Health Requirements on the University Health Center's website. Your student is expected to have this completed by Monday, January 5, 2026.

JMU Financial Aid and Scholarship's website is a great resource! They have great information on the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), helpful video overviews and much more.

Spring 2026 statements will be available on Monday, December 8. Students can add anyone who is helping them pay for college to their JMU Madison Money Manager (M3) account as an authorized user. The University Business Office can only talk about the financial account with the student and their Authorized Users, so make sure that anyone who needs access is added. Students have a Madison Money Manager step in their New Student Checklist that can assist them in completing this process.

In college, grades are not automatically available to anyone other than the student as mandated in the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). It is essential to set expectations about how and when grades are communicated. The JMU Academic Calendar can assist you in planning when to have key conversations throughout the semester. 

Many students choose to work while at JMU, some on campus and others off campus. If your student is interested in working on campus while at JMU, Student Employment can be a great resource. Students can search all on-campus jobs, including Federal Work Study, using JMU PageUp. Student jobs will be posted under the Employment Types of Institutional Employment and Federal Work Study. Students working on campus will need their Social Security card (not a copy) and a government-issued ID to complete the necessary hiring paperwork.

JMU Alternative Transportation has many options for students looking to get around campus, Harrisonburg or getting to/from campus to your hometown. Ensure your student knows about the Inner Campus Shuttle (ICS) and other Harrisonburg routes available to them without payment. Alternative Transportation also provides information on bus services to assist students in traveling home and about ride-share opportunities.

On Campus Housing

Move-in will be for all incoming Spring students on January 16 from 8am-11am. Students who sign their housing contract by December 10 will receive their housing assignment on December 17. As your new Duke prepares to move to Harrisonburg, packing can be an essential part of the process. The Office of Residence Life provides a Move-In Guide on their website.

Off Campus Living

Students living off campus are expected to coordinate their move-in time so they are able to attend Spring Welcome Part 1 and Part 2. For additional resources or questions, you can view the Off-Campus Guidebook or contact Off-Campus Life at ocl@jmu.edu or 540-568-6071. 

Spring Welcome Part 1 is an important part of your student's transition experience, but it can also be a valuable part of your experience! We view parents, families and supporters as partners through the educational journey, and we want to prepare you for the JMU journey as well! Families and supporters will have their own schedule of events throughout the day. During Spring Welcome, we will share information about academic expectations, health and well-being, career outcomes and much more. Spring Welcome Part 1 will take place on Friday, January 16. Students should register you to their Spring Welcome reservation in their New Student Checklist.