James Madison University facts for kids
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Former names
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State Normal and Industrial School (1908–1914) State Normal School for Women at Harrisonburg (1914–1924) State Teachers College at Harrisonburg (1924–1938) Madison College (1938–1977) |
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| Motto | "Knowledge is Liberty" |
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | February 29, 1908 |
| Accreditation | SACS |
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Academic affiliations
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| Endowment | $154.7 million (2021) |
| Budget | $628 million (2020) |
| President | Jonathan R. Alger |
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Academic staff
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1,463 (2022) |
| Students | 22,224 (2022) |
| Undergraduates | 20,346 (2022) |
| Postgraduates | 1,878 (2022) |
| Location |
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United States
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| Campus | Small City, 721 acres (2.92 km2) |
| Other campuses | |
| Newspaper | The Breeze |
| Colors | Purple Gold |
| Nickname | Dukes |
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Sporting affiliations
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| Mascot | Duke Dog |
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James Madison University (often called JMU) is a large public university in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It was started in 1908 as a school for women. Over the years, its name changed several times. In 1938, it became Madison College to honor James Madison, who was the fourth President of the United States. In 1977, it officially became James Madison University. Today, JMU is a big university that offers many different study programs. It is located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.
Contents
Discovering JMU's History
James Madison University began in 1908 as a school for women. It was first called the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg. A "normal school" was a place where people learned to become teachers.
In 1914, its name changed to the State Normal School for Women at Harrisonburg. At first, students could only take courses like those at a junior college. But in 1916, the school was allowed to give out bachelor's degrees. During these early years, six buildings were built on campus.
The school became the State Teachers College at Harrisonburg in 1924. Then, in 1938, it was named Madison College to honor James Madison. His home, Montpelier, is nearby. Finally, in 1977, the school became James Madison University.
The first president of the university was Julian Ashby Burruss. When it opened in 1909, there were 209 students and 15 teachers. The first 20 students graduated in 1911.
Samuel Page Duke became the second president in 1919. During his time, nine more buildings were built. He served until 1949.
In 1946, men were allowed to enroll as regular students for the first time. G. Tyler Miller became the third president in 1949. Under his leadership, the campus grew by 240 acres (0.97 km2), and 19 buildings were added. The university also began offering master's degrees in 1954.
JMU in the Late 1900s
In 1966, the university officially became a coeducational school, meaning both men and women could attend. Ronald E. Carrier was the fourth president from 1971 to 1998. During his time, the number of students and teachers tripled. More than 20 major buildings were built. The Carrier Library is named after him.
JMU in the 2000s
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Under Linwood H. Rose, the fifth president, JMU continued to grow quickly in the early 2000s. The university bought the old Rockingham Memorial Hospital campus in 2005. They also bought the former Harrisonburg High School building, which they named Memorial Hall. The Rose Library opened in 2008.
Renaming Historic Buildings
In 2020, JMU decided to rename three old buildings on campus. These buildings were originally named after Confederate soldiers. The university wanted to choose names that better reflected its values.
- Maury Hall was renamed Gabbin Hall, honoring Drs. Joanne V. and Alexander Gabbin, who were professors at JMU for over 35 years.
- Ashby Hall was renamed Harper Allen-Lee Hall, after Doris Harper Allen and Robert Walker Lee, who were important staff members at JMU.
- Jackson Hall was renamed Darcus Johnson Hall, after Sheary Darcus Johnson, the first Black student to graduate from JMU.
In 2021, the ISAT/CS building was renamed King Hall. This was to honor Charles W. King, a longtime Senior Vice President at JMU.
Academic Programs at JMU
James Madison University is known for its strong academic programs. It offers many different degrees, including bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. There are 139-degree programs in total.
The university has seven main colleges:
- College of Arts and Letters
- College of Business
- College of Education
- College of Health and Behavioral Studies
- College of Integrated Science and Engineering
- College of Science and Mathematics
- College of Visual and Performing Arts
- The Graduate School
In 2012–13, almost 20,000 students were enrolled at JMU. Most of them were undergraduate students.
University Rankings
| USNWR National University | 124 |
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| Washington Monthly National University | 75 |
| Forbes | 170 |
JMU is often recognized as one of the best universities. U.S. News & World Report ranked JMU No. 124 among national universities in 2024. Washington Monthly ranked JMU eighth among master's universities nationwide in 2018. This ranking looks at how well schools help low-income students, how much research they do, and how much they encourage students to serve their country.
In 2013, BloombergBusiness said JMU was 15th in the country for how much students earn after graduating from business school. Kiplinger magazine also ranked JMU 21st in the nation for value among public colleges in 2015.
Colleges at JMU
College of Visual and Performing Arts
This college is where students can study art, design, music, theater, and dance. It includes three main schools:
- School of Art, Design, and Art History
- School of Music
- School of Theatre and Dance
The college also has the Madison Art Collection and the Institute for Visual Studies. In 2005, these programs became their own college.
In 2010, the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts opened. This amazing building cost $82 million and is used for performances and classes. It has two connected buildings: the Estes Center for Theatre and Dance and the Roberts Center for Music Performance.
School of Art, Design and Art History
This school offers degrees in Art History, Studio Art, Graphic Design, Architectural Design, and Industrial Design. You can also get a master's degree in Art Education or Studio Art here.
School of Theatre and Dance
Students here can earn a degree in Theatre, Dance, or Musical Theatre. The school is a member of national associations for theater and dance.
School of Music
The School of Music offers degrees in Composition, Performance, Education, Music Theater, Jazz, and Music Industry. There are over 30 music groups at JMU. These include The Wind Symphony, The University Symphony Orchestra, and The Marching Royal Dukes.
The Marching Royal Dukes is the university's official marching band. It started in 1972 and has almost 500 members. They perform at all home football games and sometimes travel with the team. In 1994, they won the Sudler Trophy, which is the highest award for a college marching band.
The JMU Brass Band is one of the few college brass bands in the U.S. They have won national championships several times.
Exploring the Campus
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JMU's campus started with just two buildings. Today, it has 148 major buildings on 721 acres (2.92 km2) of land. It's even one of the most photographed places in Virginia on social media!
The campus is divided into six areas: Bluestone, Hillside, Lake, Village, Ridge, and Skyline. The Ridge and Skyline areas are on the east side of Interstate 81. The other areas are on the west side. A bridge and a tunnel connect the two sides.
Other cool features on campus include:
- Newman Lake: A 9.7-acre (39,000 m2) lake near the Greek Row.
- Grafton-Stovall Theater: An on-campus movie theater.
- Edith J. Carrier Arboretum: A 125-acre botanical garden and forest. It's the only arboretum on a public university campus in Virginia.
The oldest part of campus is the Bluestone area. Many buildings there are made from "bluestone," a type of limestone found in the Shenandoah Valley.
John C. Wells Planetarium
The John C. Wells Planetarium opened in 1974. It was updated in 2008 and is now a very modern planetarium. It offers free shows to the public every Saturday afternoon. It also hosts summer space camps.
East Campus Growth
The campus has grown a lot to the east, across Interstate 81. This area includes:
- The College of Integrated Science and Engineering (CISE)
- The University Recreation Center (UREC)
- Rose Library
- The Festival Conference and Student Center
- Several student dorms
- University Park, with sports fields.
Forbes Center for the Performing Arts
The Forbes Center for the Performing Arts is a state-of-the-art building for performances. It cost over $92 million to build and opened in 2010. It houses academic offices and performance spaces for the Schools of Theatre, Dance, and Music. It's named after Bruce and Lois Forbes, who gave a large gift to the project.
University Leadership
Board of Visitors
Like all public universities in Virginia, JMU is led by a Board of Visitors. The governor of Virginia appoints 15 members to this board. The head of the Faculty Senate and a student representative also serve on the board.
President
Jonathan R. Alger is the sixth president of JMU. He will be leaving in 2024 to become president of American University. Charlie King, who was a senior vice president, will be the interim president until a new one is chosen.
Past Presidents of JMU
- Julian Ashby Burruss (1908–1919)
- Samuel Page Duke (1919–1949)
- G. Tyler Miller (1949–1971)
- Ronald E. Carrier (1971–1998)
- Linwood H. Rose (1999–2012)
- Jonathan R. Alger (2012–2024)
Student Life at JMU
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
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| White | 75% |
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| Hispanic | 7% |
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| Other | 7% |
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| Asian | 5% |
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| Black | 5% |
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| Foreign national | 1% |
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| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 14% |
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| Affluent | 86% |
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JMU is known for its great student life. The Princeton Review called JMU one of the top schools "with a conscience." In 2010, the food at JMU was ranked third best in the United States! In 2011, Newsweek and The Daily Beast ranked JMU students as the 20th "happiest in the entire nation."
The university has 35 residence halls (dorms). All first-year students must live on campus. Many dorms also have computer labs and study areas. Some dorms are special living communities for students with similar interests, like Honors students or future teachers.
The Breeze Newspaper
The Breeze is a student-run newspaper at JMU. It has been serving the university since 1922. It comes out every Thursday and shares news about sports, culture, and campus life. The Breeze has won many awards for its great work.
Clubs and Organizations
James Madison University has over 350 clubs and organizations for students. These groups help students get involved and make friends outside of class.
Some of the main student groups include:
- Black Student Alliance (BSA)
- Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC)
- Latinx Student Alliance (LSA)
- NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)
- Panhellenic (for sororities)
- SafeRides
- Student Ambassadors (SA)
- Student Government Association (SGA)
- University Program Board (UPB)
Student Government Association
The JMU Student Government Association (SGA) started in 1915. It is the voice for JMU students. The SGA works to represent students' ideas to the university leaders.
The SGA has two parts: the Executive Council and the Student Senate. The Student Body President, Vice President, and Treasurer are elected by the students. The SGA helps plan many university events like Homecoming and the Annual Tree Lighting. They also help fund other student organizations.
Student Ambassadors
The JMU Student Ambassadors help the Admissions Office. They give tours to students who are thinking about coming to JMU. They are volunteers and are not paid.
University Program Board
The University Program Board (UPB) plans big events at JMU. This includes concerts and fun themed nights like Late Night Breakfast.
SafeRides
SafeRides started in 2003. It's a student-run group that gives free rides to students at night. This helps students get home safely. By 2022, they had given over 100,000 rides!
Greek Life
JMU has many fraternity and sorority chapters. These groups are part of Greek life on campus. There is also a special monument called "The Yard" dedicated to inter-cultural Greek organizations. It honors their work in social justice and community service.
A Cappella Groups
JMU has ten a cappella groups! These groups sing without instruments. They are very talented and have won national awards. Some groups, like Note-oriety and The Overtones, have even had their music videos go "viral" online. Note-oriety has also performed at the White House.
Speech Team
The JMU Speech Team is one of the top 20 college speech teams in the nation. They are known for their excellent coaching and performances.
InterVarsity
JMU has the largest InterVarsity Christian Fellowship group in the country.
Club Sports
JMU has many club sports teams where students can compete without being on a varsity team.
Club Soccer
The JMU men's and women's club soccer teams are very successful. They have won many awards in JMU's history.
Club Ultimate
The JMU men's ultimate team is called the Flying Hellfish. They started in 1997. They host an annual tournament called "The Hellfish Bonanza," which brings teams from all over the East Coast. Some former Hellfish players even play Ultimate professionally!
Marching Royal Dukes
The Marching Royal Dukes is the largest college marching band in the nation, with 540 members in Fall 2022. They are nicknamed "Virginia's Finest." They have performed at many big events, including presidential inaugurations and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade four times (2001, 2008, 2013, and 2018). They have also traveled to Europe to perform.
JMU Athletics: Go Dukes!
James Madison University's sports teams are called the Dukes. Their mascot is Duke Dog, a gray dog in a purple cape and crown. The nickname "Dukes" honors Samuel Page Duke, who was the university's second president. The school colors are royal purple and gold.
JMU competes in NCAA Division I, which is the highest level of college sports. The football team joined the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in 2022 as part of the Sun Belt Conference. Before that, they were in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
Over 546 student athletes play in various sports, including football, basketball, soccer, tennis, swimming, volleyball, baseball, lacrosse, field hockey, golf, cross country, track and field, and softball. JMU has won five national championships: two in football, and one each in field hockey, women's lacrosse, and archery. This makes JMU second in Virginia for the most national titles won by a college.
JMU has also invested a lot in new sports facilities. They built new baseball and softball fields that opened in 2010. Bridgeforth Stadium, where the football team plays, was expanded to hold about 25,000 fans. This expansion was finished for the 2011 football season.
Baseball
JMU's baseball team made it to the College World Series in 1983. They were the first team from Virginia to do so!
Basketball
In 2012, the James Madison women's basketball team won a record 29 games. They made it to the WNIT National Championship game. In 2014, they had a great 29–6 record and played in the NCAA Championship Round of 32.
In 2013, the men's basketball team won the CAA championship title for the first time since 1994. They then won their first NCAA tournament game in 30 years! In 2024, they won the Sun Belt tournament and advanced to the round of 32 in the NCAA tournament again.
Field Hockey
The JMU women's field hockey team won the university's first national title in 1994.
Football
JMU football has won the NCAA Division I Football Championship (FCS national title) twice: in 2004 and in 2016. The 2004 team was special because they won the title after playing four straight playoff games away from home. The JMU football team has also been national runners-up in 2017 and 2019.
Famous Alumni
Many successful people have graduated from James Madison University. They have gone on to do great things in many different fields.
Images for kids
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An aerial view of the campus in 1937.
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JMU around 1920.
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Keezell Hall, where English and Foreign Language classes are held.
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Varner House.
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A walkway towards the Quadrangle.
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Students on the James Madison University quad.
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The Shenandoah Mountains.
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JMU's East Campus overlooks distant mountains.
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King Hall (formerly ISAT/CS Building).
See also
In Spanish: Universidad James Madison para niños
