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James Madison University

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"JMU" is also the abbreviation for John Moores University in Liverpool, England.
James Madison University
James Madison University Seal
MottoKnowledge is Liberty
TypePublic, Land Grant
Established1908
Endowment$33.5 million
PresidentDr. Linwood H. Rose
Students16,546
Undergraduates15,282
Location
Harrisonburg
,
Virginia
,
United States
Campus647 acres (1.91 km²)
SportsDukes
ColorsPurple and Gold
MascotDuke Dog
Websitehttp://www.jmu.edu
Wilson Hall, centerpiece of the JMU quad.

James Madison University, also known as JMU, located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA, was founded in 1908 as a state normal and industrial school for women. Since its founding in 1908, JMU has grown to today's coeducational comprehensive public university with an enrollment of approximately 16,000 students. The university is in the Shenandoah Valley, with the campus quad located on South Main Street (US 11) in Harrisonburg. The campus originally fit between South Main Street and Interstate 81, but has since expanded across the Interstate with the addition of The College of Integrated Science and Technology (CISAT), the University Recreation Center (UREC), the Festival Conference and Student Center, the Leeolou Alumni Center, several residence halls, and athletic fields since the late-1990's. The Chemistry and Physics Building is the most recently added building to the east side of JMU's campus. The university is also home to the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum, the only active publicly-oriented arboretum on a Virginia state-supported university campus, to the student run radio station WXJM as well as National Public Radio station WMRA, and the annual Mid-Atlantic College Radio Conference (MACRoCk).

History

File:JMU Aerial view.jpg
Aerial view of campus, 1937.

The university was established by the Virginia General Assembly in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg. In 1914, the name of the university was changed to the State Normal School for Women at Harrisonburg. Authorization to award bachelor's degrees was granted in 1916. During this initial period of development, the campus plan was established and six buildings were constructed.

The university became the State Teachers College at Harrisonburg in 1924 and continued under that name until 1938, when it was named Madison College in honor of the fourth president of the United States. In 1976 the university's name was changed to James Madison University.

The first president of the university was Julian Ashby Burruss. The university opened its doors to its first student body in 1909 with an enrollment of 209 students and a faculty of 15. Its first 20 graduates received diplomas in 1911.

Dr. Samuel Page Duke became the second president of the university in 1919 upon the resignation of Burruss, who became president of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. During Duke's administration, nine major buildings were constructed.

In 1946 men were first enrolled as regular day students. Dr. G. Tyler Miller became the third president of the university in 1949, following the retirement of Duke. During Miller's administration, from 1949 to 1970, the campus was enlarged by 240 acres (1 km²) and 19 buildings were constructed. Major curriculum changes were made and the university was authorized to grant master's degrees in 1954.

In 1966, by action of the Virginia General Assembly, the university became a coeducational institution. Dr. Ronald E. Carrier, JMU's fourth president, headed the institution from 1971 to 1998. During Carrier's administration, student enrollment and the number of faculty and staff tripled, doctoral programs were authorized, more than twenty major campus buildings were constructed and the university was recognized repeatedly by national publications as one of the finest institutions of its type in America. Carrier Library is named for him.

In the 2000's, the university continued to expand, not only through new construction east of Interstate 81, but also on the west side of campus. In early 2005, JMU purchased the Rockingham Memorial Hospital building north of the main campus. JMU is expected to occupy the building following the hospital's move to its new location.[1] Additionally, the university has expanded across South High Street with the finalizing of the purchase of the former Harrisonburg High School building after initially leasing it for a year, operating it as Memorial Hall.[2]

Academics

Keezell Hall, home of the university's English and Foreign Language departments

James Madison University is comprised of seven colleges and 78 academic programs.

Colleges

  • Arts and Letters
  • Business
  • Education
  • Graduate and Outreach Programs
  • Integrated Science and Technology
  • Science and Mathematics
  • Visual and Performing Arts

On June 24, 2005, the Board of Visitors approved the Madison College Proposal, which created the College of Visual and Performing Arts out of the College of Arts and Letters. The new College of Visual and Performing Arts includes the School of Art and Art History, the School of Music, the School of Theatre and Dance, and the Madison Art Collection.

Campus

Originally the campus of JMU consisted of 2 buildings (known today as Jackson and Maury Halls). Today, the campus of James Madison University consists of 102 major buildings on 655 acres.[3]

Administration

File:Jmu logo.jpg
James Madison University Logo

Board of Visitors

As are all public universities in Virginia, James Madison is governed by a Board of Visitors, mostly appointed by the Governor of Virginia.[4] In addition to the 15 members appointed by the governor, the speaker of the Faculty Senate and an elected student representative serve as representatives for the faculty and the student body respectively. The appointed members serve for a maximum of two consecutive 4 year terms, while the student representative is limited to two 1 year terms. The faculty representative serves for as long as he or she remains the speaker of the JMU Faculty Senate. [4]

President

Dr. Linwood H. Rose has served as the university's fifth president since September 1998. Before being named president, Rose served as a member of the institution's administration for 23 years, including service as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Past Presidents

Community relations

The University’s rapid expansion has created tension in the city-university relationship with issues such as growth planning. [5] The Board of Visitors recently approved the invocation of eminent domain against a neighboring business to make way for the school's new Performing Arts Center, which is slated for groundbreaking in 2007. Before eminent domain was exercised, the property owner chose to accept a purchase offer from the University.[6] In the May 2006 city election, incumbent mayor Larry Rogers, who also serves on JMU’s Board of Visitors, lost his bid for reelection. [7] JMU has nearly doubled in size in the last 20 years.[8] JMU purchased the former Harrisonburg High School building, and promised to keep some of the important features intact for the benefit of the community. [9]

Athletics

File:JMUDukeDogLogo.jpg
Duke Dog Athletics Identity.

James Madison University's athletic teams use the name "Dukes" in competition, with the Duke Dog, a gray bulldog dressed in a purple cape and crown, as the school's mascot. "Dukes" is in honor of Samuel Page Duke, the university's second president. Madison competes in the NCAA's Division I (Division I-AA for football), the Colonial Athletic Association, the Eastern College Athletic Conference, and the Atlantic 10 Conference for football. Students compete in football, basketball, soccer, swimming, diving, archery, fencing, gymnastics, women's volleyball, wrestling, baseball, women's lacrosse, field hockey, track and field, and softball. JMU Football won their first NCAA Division I-AA National title in 2004.[10]

Title IX compliance

On September 29, 2006, the James Madison University Board of Visitors announced that ten sports teams would be eliminated effective July 1, 2007.[11] The affected teams were men's archery, cross country, gymnastics, indoor track, outdoor track, swimming, and wrestling, as well as women's archery, fencing, and gymnastics. The stated reason for the cuts was to comply with Title IX requirements, specifically that the ratio of male-to-female student athletes match the whole student population. Many students were angered by the cuts, complaining that only less-popular sports were affected, and not sports such as football. Numerous editorials have appeared in newspapers across the country, both in support of and against the decision. On October 12, the United States Olympic Committee sent a letter to President Rose and Athletic Director Jeff Bourne, asking them to reconsider the decision to eliminate all ten teams.[12]

This action, however, was not without precedent. In March 2001, JMU's Board of Visitors was presented with four options for bringing the athletic program into compliance with Title IX. At that time, the options as presented to the board were to maintain the status quo, eliminate eight teams as recommended by JMU's Centennial Sports Committee, create a two-tiered system consisting of scholarship and non-scholarship teams as recommended by the administration, or raise student fees to fund an endowment for athletic scholarships as recommended by athletic coaches. Board of Visitors Athletic Committee chair Pablo Cuevas was paraphrased in The Breeze as stating that the option of maintaining the status quo was not viable due to concerns regarding Title IX. At that time, the teams under consideration for elimination were men's wrestling, swimming, archery, gymnastics, and tennis, and women's gymnastics, archery, and fencing.[13] The Board of Visitors, in a unanimous vote, ultimately decided to adopt the administration's recommendation of a two-tiered system of scholarship and non-scholarship teams. The non-scholarship teams were men's swimming, indoor and outdoor track and field, cross country, golf, wrestling, tennis, gymnastics, and women's swimming, golf, tennis and gymnastics. Athletic director Jeff Bourne stated that the plan to eliminate scholarship funding would implemented gradually over four to five years, as all then-active scholarships would be honored, and that verbal commitments to scholarships made by coaches to potential recruits would also be honored.[14]

School of Music

JMU Brass Band

The JMU Brass Band is one of only a few collegiate brass bands in the United States. Formed in the Fall of 2000, the band has twice been named the North American Brass Band Association (NABBA) Honors Section Champion (2004, 2005), and is currently the 2006 NABBA Champion Section Runner-up.[15] The group maintains an active performance schedule throughout the academic year, performing regularly both on and off campus. Most recently, the band was a featured ensemble at the 2004 Virginia Music Educators Conference in Norfolk, Virginia and the 2006 Great American Brass Band Festival in Danville, Kentucky. The ensemble has been host to a number of guest artists including euphonium virtuoso Steven Mead, YBS Band solo horn Sheona White and trumpet soloists Vince DiMartino and Allen Vizzutti. The band has also worked with prominent brass band conductors Stephen Bulla, James Curnow and Douglas Yeo. The School of Music became an All-Steinway School in 2005.[16]

Marching Royal Dukes

The Marching Royal Dukes is the school's official marching band. Formed in 1972 (the same year as the football team), the MRDs perform at all home football games and travel with the team occasionally on away games and post-season games. The Marching Royal Dukes are one of the largest collegiate marching bands in the nation, with 365 members as of 2006.[citation needed] Marching band is offered as a class at JMU, as opposed to other universities that have marching band solely as an extracurricular activity. Nicknamed "Virginia's Finest", they have performed at venues such as NFC title game between Washington and Dallas in 1983, Bands of America Grand National Championships in 1988 and 1991, and the 2001 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.[17] In the past decade, the band has taken trips to Europe during the school's winter break, featuring Athens, Ireland, and Monoco. [17] In 1994, the Marching Royal Dukes were the recipients of the Sudler Trophy, the highest honor available for a college marching band.[18]

In addition to performances at football games, the Marching Royal Dukes record a new CD every year with selected songs from their show music, as well as stands tunes performed at football games. Every year during JMU's fall break, the school holds a marching band competition called the Parade of Champions, inviting high school bands from across the state and beyond to come perform and receive scores.

Pep Band

During the basketball season, the JMU Pep Band performs at all home games, both men's and women's. If either team plays in a postseason tournament, the band travels with them as well. The Pep Band is open to all members of the marching band, and has twice been named “Best Pep Band in the East” by Eastern Basketball Magazine.[17]

A cappella

Operating independently from the School of Music are eight internationally recognized a cappella groups. These student-run groups have earned numerous awards and frequently travel to universities and competitions throughout the United States. There are currently eight a cappella groups. Exit 245 and The Madison Project are all-male, The BluesTones and Note-oriety are all-female, and The Overtones and Low Key are co-ed. In addition, there are two Christian-themed groups, the all-female Into Hymn, and the all-male Clear Cadence.

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ Shahmoradian, Sarah (March 31, 2005). "Legislature approves hospital purchase". The Breeze. Retrieved 2006-10-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Burgene, Jason (October 10, 2005). "Education to transfer in spring". The Breeze. Retrieved 2006-10-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "JMU - JMU Today" (HTML). JMU Centennial Office. Retrieved 2006-11-12.
  4. ^ a b "JMU - Institutional Governance" (HTML). JMU Centennial Office. Retrieved 2006-11-12.
  5. ^ Mellott, Jeff (April 26, 2006). "Harrisonburg City Council Candidates Hear Concerns About Growth". The Daily News Record. Retrieved 2006-10-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ Mellott, Jeff (April 25, 2006). "Kyger Contributes To Candidates Challenging Rogers, Who Aided University Effort to Gain Property". The Daily News Record. Retrieved 2006-10-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ Mellott, Jeff (May 3, 2006). "Frank, Byrd Oust Rogers". The Daily News Record. Retrieved 2006-10-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Symolon, Shane. "James Madison Expansion". WHSV-TV. Retrieved 2006-10-19.
  9. ^ Trice, Calvin (June 16, 2006). "Harrisonburg to sell school site to JMU". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 2006-10-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ Hite, Michelle (Winter 2005). "National Champions!". Montpelier. James Madison University. Retrieved 2006-10-19.
  11. ^ "JMU Enacts Proportionality Plan to Comply with Title IX" (Press release). James Madison University. September 29, 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-19. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ "Letter from United States Olympic Committee" (PDF). United States Olympic Committee. October 12, 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ Jones, Sarah (March 22, 2001). "BOV to decide athletic future". The Breeze. Retrieved 2006-10-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Jones, Sarah (March 26, 2001). "Final Verdict - BOV votes to cut scholarships". The Breeze. Retrieved 2006-10-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ "Results: NABBA 2006". 4barsrest.com. April 2, 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ "All-Steinway, All The Time — Thanks To Music Lover's $1 Million Gift" (Press release). James Madison University. August 4, 2005. Retrieved 2006-10-19. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ a b c "JMU School of Music: Ensembles: Marching Royal Dukes". Retrieved 2006-10-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  18. ^ "The John Philip Sousa Foundation Sousa". Retrieved 2006-10-19. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  19. ^ Berman, Mark (June 27, 2006). "Homecoming all in a day's work for Salem native Sample". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved 2006-10-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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