RD31 - James Madison University Annual Executive Summary - January, 2015


    Executive Summary:
    James Madison University was established in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg and became James Madison University in 1977. The Board of Visitors was established in 1964 and currently has fifteen members who serve on the board. Mr. Jonathan R. Alger became the sixth president of James Madison University in 2012. During 2014, the Board of Visitors held four meetings: January 17, April 11, June 6, and September 26.

    An orientation for the four new board members appointed in 2014 was held in the fall. The orientation included the role of board members, legislative requirements, strategic plans of the university, organizational structure and responsibilities, current and future trends, and questions and answers.

    The JMU Board of Visitors approved the revised by-laws at the January 17, 2014 meeting including the board’s code of ethics. In addition, the board approved the University’s 2014-2020 Strategic Plan including mission, vision, values, core qualities, and goals.

    The board approved several new majors and degree programs including the Independent Scholars major, the Executive Leadership Masters of Business Administration program in Northern Virginia and the Master of Science in Sport and Recreation Leadership. The board also approved the amended Six-Year Plan submitted to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

    § 23-2.5 Student-athlete discipline policies.

    The James Madison University Student Athlete Handbook is given to each student athlete and reviewed with each team. It contains the expectations, responsibilities, and policies, including discipline and sanctions, for all those student-athletes participating in the intercollegiate athletic program. A report of enforcement and sanctions of student-athletes will be presented to the Athletic Committee of the Board of Visitors at the upcoming board meeting in January.

    § 23-9.2:3.02 Articulation, dual admissions, and guaranteed admissions agreements; admission of certain community college graduates.

    James Madison University has admissions agreements with all twenty-three community colleges in the Commonwealth. At designated community colleges, we have also established specific transfer admissions for strategic majors highlighted by the Commonwealth such as nursing and engineering.

    § 23-9.2:10 Violence prevention committee; threat assessment team.

    The university has had a violence prevention team for several years providing education and support for the campus community. In addition we have a Behavioral Assessment Team (BAT) that monitors reported behavior of students, faculty, and staff and takes appropriate and necessary steps as dictated by the situation.