James Madison University
Encyclopedia
James Madison University (also known as JMU, Madison, or James Madison) is a public
coeducation
al research
university
located in Harrisonburg, Virginia
, U.S.
Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University. The university is situated in the Shenandoah Valley
, with the campus quadrangle
located on South Main Street
in Harrisonburg.
, James Madison University was established by the Virginia General Assembly
. It was originally called 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. At first academic offerings included only today's equivalent of technical training or junior college courses; however 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.
In 1919, Burruss resigned the presidency to become president of Virginia Polytechnic Institute
. Dr. Samuel Page Duke
was then chosen as the second president of the 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 acre (0.9712464 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 after him.
In the 2000s, 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. The hospital has since moved to its new location in Harrisonburg, and JMU occupies of the building. Additionally in June 2005, the university expanded across South High Street by leasing the former Harrisonburg High School building from Harrisonburg City. In May 2006, the university offered to purchase the property. The sale was approved in June 2005 for $17 million. The university named the old HHS building as Memorial Hall. Recently completed projects include a second library located on the east side of campus. East Campus Library (ECL), opened on August 11, 2008, just before students returned for the fall semester. The 175000 square feet (16,258 m²) Forbes Center opened in June 2010 and serves as the home to JMU's School of Theatre and Dance. It also provides performance venues and support spaces for the School of Music.
Currently, James Madison University offers 108 degree programs on the bachelor's, master's, educational specialist and doctoral levels. The university comprises seven colleges and 78 academic programs.
On October 2, 2009, James Madison University was granted a chapter by the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society. Only about 10 percent of the country's colleges and universities have Phi Beta Kappa chapters.
On June 24, 2004, 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, Design and Art History, the School of Music, the School of Theatre and Dance, and the Madison Art Collection.
On January 9, 2007, a new School of Engineering was approved by the Virginia higher education governing body. The school began accepting undergraduates in Fall 2008. The theme of the program is sustainability
with a large focus on the environmental sciences, and will only offer general engineering degrees with no specializations.
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has ranked JMU as the top public masters-level university in the South (3rd overall) for 16 consecutive years, and among public colleges Forbes.com ranks JMU 22nd in the nation.
The University is also ranked 22nd overall in value for money in the nation amongst public colleges and universities, according to Kiplinger
Magazine's 100 Best Values in Public Colleges.
According to BusinessWeek
magazine in its 2011 ranking of undergraduate colleges of business, JMU's undergraduate business school is ranked 28th in the nation, and 3rd in Virginia.
Money Magazine
, in 1996 ranked JMU 5th in the nation for best value among in-state students. Princeton Review, in its 2007 rankings, called JMU one of "America's Best Value Colleges". And in 2010, the food at JMU was ranked number 3 in the nation.
The campus of JMU originally consisted of two buildings, known today as Jackson and Maury Halls. Today, the campus of James Madison University has 111 major buildings on 712 acres (2.9 km²). The campus is divided into five parts: Bluestone, Hillside, Lakeside, Skyline, and the Village. The Skyline area is located on the east side of Interstate 81
, while the Bluestone, Hillside, Lakeside, and Village areas of the campus are located on the west side. The two sides of campus are connected both by a bridge and a tunnel underneath the highway (Duke Dog Alley). Other unique features on the campus include Newman Lake, a 9.7 acres (39,254.5 m²) pond located in the Lake Area next to Greek Row and Sonner Hall, the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum, and one set of railroad tracks passing directly through the campus.
The original portion of campus is situated on South Main Street and has, since the late 1990s, expanded east across the Interstate 81
. The expansion included 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, the Chemistry and Physics Building, which houses the chemistry department as well as the department of Physics and Astronomy, and athletic fields. The East Campus Library, completed in the August of 2008, is one of the most recently added building to the east side of JMU's campus.
Several new construction projects on the campus of James Madison University have been included in Governor Tim Kaine's $1.65 billion higher education bond package. Governor Kaine's proposal designates more than $96 million for JMU projects. Among the projects included in the proposal are the construction of a new biotechnology building, Centennial Hall ($44.8 million) and the renovation and expansion of Duke Hall ($43.4 million). The proposal also includes $8.6 million as the final installment payment for Rockingham Memorial Hospital.
Beginning in 2002 JMU began receiving state and private funding to construct a state of the art Performing Arts Complex. The facility is located opposite Wilson Hall on U.S. 11, and completes the Quad. It was named "The Forbes Center" in honor of Bruce and Lois Forbes who provided a gift of $5 million towards the project. The Forbes Center was built at a total cost exceeding of $92 million, and opened in June 2010 to house performances by the Schools of Theatre, Dance and Music, and the administrative offices of the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
Bus service around campus and the city is provided by the Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation.
The Princeton Review also recognized James Madison as one of 81 schools in America "with a conscience", and in the latest year ranked behind only the University of Virginia
in the number of Peace Corps
volunteers it sent from its student body among "medium-sized" universities. In 2009, Playboy
ranked JMU as the 22nd Best Party School in the nation. These rankings take into consideration the surrounding area's activities, academics, as well as the social scene on campus.
The school has 35 residence halls, ten of which serve as sorority houses. While most residence halls are only for housing, several halls are used for multiple purposes. For example, Chandler Hall, located in the Lake area, has a basement dining facility and a computer lab, in addition to upperclass housing. As freshmen must live on campus, a large portion of JMU's housing availability is set aside for incoming students. Consequently, most upperclassmen and graduate students live off campus; those who wish to live on campus must apply for housing each year. While occasional exceptions are granted, generally freshmen are not granted parking permits.
Mr. Jonathan R. Alger was named as the university's sixth president on November 28, 2011.
.
A riot took place in August 2000, when about 2,500 students clashed with police at a block party
at the Forest Hills townhouse
complex on Village Lane.
On April 10, 2010, during the annual (non-university sanctioned) Springfest block party
, a group of 8,000 college-aged individuals were gathered in the townhouse development on Village Lane, just off campus. JMU sent out an emergency mass text message warning students to "disperse from social events in that area immediately for safety reasons." Police also reportedly relayed the message via loudspeaker, and thousands heeded the warning. A riot developed when fire was set to dumpsters and some people threw beer bottles at police officers. It was unclear whether JMU or non-JMU students were responsible for the initiation of the riot and ignition of the fires. Moments later, Harrisonburg Police and Virginia State Police
in riot gear
moved into the crowd, launching tear gas grenades and shooting rubber bullets
at the crowd. The crowd moved to another apartment
complex and riot police followed. They released tear gas on the crowd once again. Police helicopters circled the city with spotlights for much of the night, trying to locate any other unlawful gatherings. Between 30 and 35 people were arrested, both JMU and non-JMU students, and over fifty people were injured by flying glass bottles and went to the hospital for treatment. Countless others were injured by the effects of the tear gas. Several injuries were severe enough to warrant the need for patients to be airlifted to the University of Virginia
Medical Center in Charlottesville
.
In a statement to students, JMU President Linwood H. Rose
aggressively condemned the behavior of Springfest attendees while recognizing the influx of non-students and visitors from outside of the area. He also noted the effect of the weekend's events on the university's reputation.
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 (Football Championship Subdivision for football), the Colonial Athletic Association, and the Eastern College Athletic Conference
. The Dukes played football in the Atlantic 10 Football Conference until it disbanded after the 2006 season and currently play in the Colonial Athletic Association, which picked up the Atlantic 10's football operations beginning fall 2007 Students compete in football, basketball, soccer, women's swimming, diving, women's volleyball, baseball, women's lacrosse, field hockey, golf, cross country, track and field, and softball. James Madison's two national championships ranks them tied for third most national titles in Virginia. James Madison's baseball team advanced to the 1983 College World Series
, the only Division I institution in Virginia to do so besides the University of Virginia in 2009. The JMU women's field hockey gave the university their first national title in 1994. JMU football also won the NCAA Division I-AA national title in 2004, with a 13-2 record, and are the only team in history to win the title after playing four straight road playoff games. Since then they have appeared in the playoffs in 2006, 2007 and 2008, losing in the semi-finals after being ranked #1 in Division I-AA most of the season. In 2006, considerable controversy arose after the decision to cut 10 varsity teams (including both men's and women's teams) was deemed necessary by the Board of Visitors to comply with Title IX
restrictions.
Most recently, James Madison University has used funds to create a new baseball and softball field complex by Memorial Hall. Additionally, after the last football game of 2009, the university began an expansion of Bridgeforth Stadium
that increased seating to a capacity of over 25,000. Construction on the stadium was completed in time for the Dukes to start their 2011 football season.
Public university
A public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government, as opposed to private universities. A national university may or may not be considered a public university, depending on regions...
coeducation
Coeducation
Mixed-sex education, also known as coeducation or co-education, is the integrated education of male and female persons in the same institution. It is the opposite of single-sex education...
al research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
located in Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg is an independent city in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia in the United States. Its population as of 2010 is 48,914, and at the 2000 census, 40,468. Harrisonburg is the county seat of Rockingham County and the core city of the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University. The university is situated in the Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River...
, with the campus quadrangle
Quadrangle (architecture)
In architecture, a quadrangle is a space or courtyard, usually rectangular in plan, the sides of which are entirely or mainly occupied by parts of a large building. The word is probably most closely associated with college or university campus architecture, but quadrangles may be found in other...
located on South Main Street
U.S. Route 11 in Virginia
U.S. Route 11 in Virginia runs north–south through the western part of the state, parallel to Interstate 81.-History:What is now US 11 was added to the state highway system in 1918 as portions of State Route 10 and State Route 3 . SR 3 became State Route 33 in 1923, and US 11 was applied to...
in Harrisonburg.
History
Founded in 1908 as a women's collegeWomen's colleges in the United States
Women's colleges in the United States are single-sex U.S. institutions of higher education that exclude or limit males from admission. They are often liberal arts colleges...
, James Madison University was established by the Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
. It was originally called 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. At first academic offerings included only today's equivalent of technical training or junior college courses; however 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
Julian Ashby Burruss
Julian Ashby Burruss was the first President of James Madison University, although at the time of his service the university was the State Normal and Industrial School for Women. His service began in 1908 and ended in 1919 when he left JMU to become the eighth President of Virginia Polytechnic...
. 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.
In 1919, Burruss resigned the presidency to become president of Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
. Dr. Samuel Page Duke
Samuel Page Duke
Samuel Page Duke was the second President of James Madison University, serving from 1919 to 1949. It is from his name and bulldog that the University draws its nickname and mascot.-References:...
was then chosen as the second president of the university. During Duke's administration, nine major buildings were constructed.
In 1946, men were first enrolled as regular day students. Dr. G. Tyler Miller
G. Tyler Miller
G. Tyler Miller was the third President of James Madison University, serving from 1945 to 1971. Miller Hall on the JMU campus is named for him.- References :...
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 acre (0.9712464 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
Ronald E. Carrier
Ronald E. Carrier is the fourth President of James Madison University , having served from 1971 to 1998. Carrier presided over JMU as it grew dramatically in size and in reputation. Carrier now serves as the university's chancellor...
, 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 after him.
In the 2000s, 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. The hospital has since moved to its new location in Harrisonburg, and JMU occupies of the building. Additionally in June 2005, the university expanded across South High Street by leasing the former Harrisonburg High School building from Harrisonburg City. In May 2006, the university offered to purchase the property. The sale was approved in June 2005 for $17 million. The university named the old HHS building as Memorial Hall. Recently completed projects include a second library located on the east side of campus. East Campus Library (ECL), opened on August 11, 2008, just before students returned for the fall semester. The 175000 square feet (16,258 m²) Forbes Center opened in June 2010 and serves as the home to JMU's School of Theatre and Dance. It also provides performance venues and support spaces for the School of Music.
Academics
James Madison University is considered "More Selective" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For the Class of 2012, the university received more than 23,141 applications, with there currently being 3,960 freshman spots available for the 2008-2009 academic year.Currently, James Madison University offers 108 degree programs on the bachelor's, master's, educational specialist and doctoral levels. The university comprises seven colleges and 78 academic programs.
On October 2, 2009, James Madison University was granted a chapter by the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society. Only about 10 percent of the country's colleges and universities have Phi Beta Kappa chapters.
Colleges
- College of Arts and LettersCollege of Arts and Letters (James Madison University)The College of Arts and Letters is one of the academic college at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It includes the Schools of Communication, Information, and Media, the School of Liberal Arts, and the School of Public and International Affairs.- Schools of Communication,...
- College of BusinessCollege of Business (James Madison University)The College of Business is the business school of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It is an accredited business school that offers undergraduate degrees in accounting, business administration, computer information systems and management science, economics, finance and business...
- College of Education
- College of Integrated Science and Technology
- College of Science and Mathematics
- College of Visual and Performing ArtsCollege of Visual and Performing Arts (James Madison University)The College of Visual and Performing Arts is an academic college of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA. The colleges include three schools: the School of Art and Art History, the School of Music, and the School of Theatre and Dance...
- The Graduate School
- Outreach and Engagement
On June 24, 2004, 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, Design and Art History, the School of Music, the School of Theatre and Dance, and the Madison Art Collection.
On January 9, 2007, a new School of Engineering was approved by the Virginia higher education governing body. The school began accepting undergraduates in Fall 2008. The theme of the program is sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
with a large focus on the environmental sciences, and will only offer general engineering degrees with no specializations.
Rankings
The school is nationally recognized for its academics. U.S. News & World ReportU.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
has ranked JMU as the top public masters-level university in the South (3rd overall) for 16 consecutive years, and among public colleges Forbes.com ranks JMU 22nd in the nation.
The University is also ranked 22nd overall in value for money in the nation amongst public colleges and universities, according to Kiplinger
Kiplinger
Kiplinger is a Washington, D.C.-based publisher of business forecasts and personal finance advice, available in print, online, audio, video and software products ....
Magazine's 100 Best Values in Public Colleges.
According to BusinessWeek
BusinessWeek
Bloomberg Businessweek, commonly and formerly known as BusinessWeek, is a weekly business magazine published by Bloomberg L.P. It is currently headquartered in New York City.- History :...
magazine in its 2011 ranking of undergraduate colleges of business, JMU's undergraduate business school is ranked 28th in the nation, and 3rd in Virginia.
Money Magazine
Money Magazine
Money Magazine is a business news and financial programme that is broadcast on Sundays at 7:00pm in Hong Kong by television channel TVB Pearl.-Producers and reporters:...
, in 1996 ranked JMU 5th in the nation for best value among in-state students. Princeton Review, in its 2007 rankings, called JMU one of "America's Best Value Colleges". And in 2010, the food at JMU was ranked number 3 in the nation.
Campus
Interstate 81
Interstate 81 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern part of the United States. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 40 in Dandridge, Tennessee; its northern terminus is on Wellesley Island at the Canadian border, where the Thousand Islands Bridge connects it to Highway 401, the main freeway...
, while the Bluestone, Hillside, Lakeside, and Village areas of the campus are located on the west side. The two sides of campus are connected both by a bridge and a tunnel underneath the highway (Duke Dog Alley). Other unique features on the campus include Newman Lake, a 9.7 acres (39,254.5 m²) pond located in the Lake Area next to Greek Row and Sonner Hall, the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum, and one set of railroad tracks passing directly through the campus.
The original portion of campus is situated on South Main Street and has, since the late 1990s, expanded east across the Interstate 81
Interstate 81
Interstate 81 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern part of the United States. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 40 in Dandridge, Tennessee; its northern terminus is on Wellesley Island at the Canadian border, where the Thousand Islands Bridge connects it to Highway 401, the main freeway...
. The expansion included 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, the Chemistry and Physics Building, which houses the chemistry department as well as the department of Physics and Astronomy, and athletic fields. The East Campus Library, completed in the August of 2008, is one of the most recently added building to the east side of JMU's campus.
Several new construction projects on the campus of James Madison University have been included in Governor Tim Kaine's $1.65 billion higher education bond package. Governor Kaine's proposal designates more than $96 million for JMU projects. Among the projects included in the proposal are the construction of a new biotechnology building, Centennial Hall ($44.8 million) and the renovation and expansion of Duke Hall ($43.4 million). The proposal also includes $8.6 million as the final installment payment for Rockingham Memorial Hospital.
Beginning in 2002 JMU began receiving state and private funding to construct a state of the art Performing Arts Complex. The facility is located opposite Wilson Hall on U.S. 11, and completes the Quad. It was named "The Forbes Center" in honor of Bruce and Lois Forbes who provided a gift of $5 million towards the project. The Forbes Center was built at a total cost exceeding of $92 million, and opened in June 2010 to house performances by the Schools of Theatre, Dance and Music, and the administrative offices of the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
Bus service around campus and the city is provided by the Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation.
Student life
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
in the number of Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
volunteers it sent from its student body among "medium-sized" universities. In 2009, Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
ranked JMU as the 22nd Best Party School in the nation. These rankings take into consideration the surrounding area's activities, academics, as well as the social scene on campus.
The school has 35 residence halls, ten of which serve as sorority houses. While most residence halls are only for housing, several halls are used for multiple purposes. For example, Chandler Hall, located in the Lake area, has a basement dining facility and a computer lab, in addition to upperclass housing. As freshmen must live on campus, a large portion of JMU's housing availability is set aside for incoming students. Consequently, most upperclassmen and graduate students live off campus; those who wish to live on campus must apply for housing each year. While occasional exceptions are granted, generally freshmen are not granted parking permits.
Administration
Board of Visitors
Like all public universities in Virginia, James Madison is governed by a Board of Visitors appointed by the Governor of Virginia. 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 one-year terms. The faculty representative serves for as long as he or she remains the speaker of the JMU Faculty Senate.President
Dr. Linwood H. Rose has served since September 1998 as the university's fifth president. Before being named president, Rose served for 23 years as a member of the institution's administration including service as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Rose has recently announced plans to step down from his position in 2012, at which point he will have served as President for nearly 14 years.Mr. Jonathan R. Alger was named as the university's sixth president on November 28, 2011.
Past presidents
- Julian Ashby BurrussJulian Ashby BurrussJulian Ashby Burruss was the first President of James Madison University, although at the time of his service the university was the State Normal and Industrial School for Women. His service began in 1908 and ended in 1919 when he left JMU to become the eighth President of Virginia Polytechnic...
(1908–1919) - Dr. Samuel Page DukeSamuel Page DukeSamuel Page Duke was the second President of James Madison University, serving from 1919 to 1949. It is from his name and bulldog that the University draws its nickname and mascot.-References:...
(1919–1949) - Dr. G. Tyler MillerG. Tyler MillerG. Tyler Miller was the third President of James Madison University, serving from 1945 to 1971. Miller Hall on the JMU campus is named for him.- References :...
(1949–1971) - Dr. Ronald E. CarrierRonald E. CarrierRonald E. Carrier is the fourth President of James Madison University , having served from 1971 to 1998. Carrier presided over JMU as it grew dramatically in size and in reputation. Carrier now serves as the university's chancellor...
(1971–1998)
Community relations
The University's rapid expansion has created tension in the city-university relationship with issues such as growth planning. In 2006, the Board of Visitors approved the invocation of eminent domain against a neighboring business, a funeral parlor, to make way for the school's new Performing Arts Center. Before eminent domain was exercised, the property owner chose to accept a purchase offer from the University. In the May 2006 city election, incumbent mayor Larry Rogers, who also serves on JMU's Board of Visitors, lost his bid for reelection to a JMU graduate. JMU has nearly doubled in size in the last 20 years. JMU purchased the former Harrisonburg High School building, now known as Memorial Hall, and promised to keep some of the important features intact for the benefit of the community.Association with local riots
Riots have broken out twice within the student housing area of Harrisonburg during large events involving alcoholAlcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
.
A riot took place in August 2000, when about 2,500 students clashed with police at a block party
Block party
A block party is a large public party in which many members of a single neighbourhood congregate, either to observe an event of some importance or simply for mutual enjoyment. The name comes from the form of the party, which often involves closing an entire city block to vehicle traffic...
at the Forest Hills townhouse
Townhouse
A townhouse is the term historically used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and in many other countries to describe a residence of a peer or member of the aristocracy in the capital or major city. Most such figures owned one or more country houses in which they lived for much of the year...
complex on Village Lane.
On April 10, 2010, during the annual (non-university sanctioned) Springfest block party
Block party
A block party is a large public party in which many members of a single neighbourhood congregate, either to observe an event of some importance or simply for mutual enjoyment. The name comes from the form of the party, which often involves closing an entire city block to vehicle traffic...
, a group of 8,000 college-aged individuals were gathered in the townhouse development on Village Lane, just off campus. JMU sent out an emergency mass text message warning students to "disperse from social events in that area immediately for safety reasons." Police also reportedly relayed the message via loudspeaker, and thousands heeded the warning. A riot developed when fire was set to dumpsters and some people threw beer bottles at police officers. It was unclear whether JMU or non-JMU students were responsible for the initiation of the riot and ignition of the fires. Moments later, Harrisonburg Police and Virginia State Police
Virginia State Police
Virginia State Police is a state agency, conceived in 1919 and established in 1932, that acts as the state police force for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The agency originated out of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles as an inspector and enforcer of highway laws...
in riot gear
Riot control
Riot control refers to the measures used by police, military, or other security forces to control, disperse, and arrest civilians who are involved in a riot, demonstration, or protest. Law enforcement officers or soldiers have long used non-lethal weapons such as batons and whips to disperse crowds...
moved into the crowd, launching tear gas grenades and shooting rubber bullets
Rubber Bullets
"Rubber Bullets" is a song by 10cc from their debut self-titled album.Written and sung by Kevin Godley, Lol Creme and Graham Gouldman and produced by 10cc, "Rubber Bullets" was the band's first number one single in the United Kingdom, spending a single week at the top in June 1973. It fared worse...
at the crowd. The crowd moved to another apartment
Apartment
An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...
complex and riot police followed. They released tear gas on the crowd once again. Police helicopters circled the city with spotlights for much of the night, trying to locate any other unlawful gatherings. Between 30 and 35 people were arrested, both JMU and non-JMU students, and over fifty people were injured by flying glass bottles and went to the hospital for treatment. Countless others were injured by the effects of the tear gas. Several injuries were severe enough to warrant the need for patients to be airlifted to the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
Medical Center in Charlottesville
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
.
In a statement to students, JMU President Linwood H. Rose
Linwood H. Rose
Linwood Howard Rose is the fifth and current president of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. Rose held 11 other positions at JMU before being named acting president in the fall of 1997, chief executive in September 1998, and being formally inaugurated on September 17, 1999.He has also...
aggressively condemned the behavior of Springfest attendees while recognizing the influx of non-students and visitors from outside of the area. He also noted the effect of the weekend's events on the university's reputation.
Athletics
Duke Dog
The Duke Dog is the official mascot for the James Madison University Dukes. 'Dukes' was made the official nickname in 1947, and was named after the University's president from 1919-1949, Samuel Page Duke. However, the bulldog was not chosen to represent the Dukes until the 1972-1973 school...
, 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
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
's Division I (Football Championship Subdivision for football), the Colonial Athletic Association, and the Eastern College Athletic Conference
Eastern College Athletic Conference
The Eastern College Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference comprising schools that compete in 21 sports . It has 317 member institutions in NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, ranging in location from Maine to North Carolina and west to Illinois...
. The Dukes played football in the Atlantic 10 Football Conference until it disbanded after the 2006 season and currently play in the Colonial Athletic Association, which picked up the Atlantic 10's football operations beginning fall 2007 Students compete in football, basketball, soccer, women's swimming, diving, women's volleyball, baseball, women's lacrosse, field hockey, golf, cross country, track and field, and softball. James Madison's two national championships ranks them tied for third most national titles in Virginia. James Madison's baseball team advanced to the 1983 College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
, the only Division I institution in Virginia to do so besides the University of Virginia in 2009. The JMU women's field hockey gave the university their first national title in 1994. JMU football also won the NCAA Division I-AA national title in 2004, with a 13-2 record, and are the only team in history to win the title after playing four straight road playoff games. Since then they have appeared in the playoffs in 2006, 2007 and 2008, losing in the semi-finals after being ranked #1 in Division I-AA most of the season. In 2006, considerable controversy arose after the decision to cut 10 varsity teams (including both men's and women's teams) was deemed necessary by the Board of Visitors to comply with Title IX
Title IX
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a United States law, enacted on June 23, 1972, that amended Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In 2002 it was renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, in honor of its principal author Congresswoman Mink, but is most...
restrictions.
Most recently, James Madison University has used funds to create a new baseball and softball field complex by Memorial Hall. Additionally, after the last football game of 2009, the university began an expansion of Bridgeforth Stadium
Bridgeforth Stadium
Bridgeforth Stadium and Zane Showker Field is a football only facility located on the campus of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The stadium is home to the James Madison University Dukes football team, the 2004 NCAA Division I National Champions.Originally named Madison Stadium,...
that increased seating to a capacity of over 25,000. Construction on the stadium was completed in time for the Dukes to start their 2011 football season.