Hey JMU families,
It was great seeing so many of you during Family Weekend and I loved getting to see you reconnect to your Dukes. I’m glad the weather was nice on Saturday and gave everyone the chance to get out and enjoy campus and the surrounding area. Over the next few weeks, the leaves will begin to change, and it will be one of the most beautiful times to live in the valley. Encourage your Duke to walk around campus, enjoy the Arboretum and send you some pictures so you can see what I’m talking about.
Updates
One great event to go outside for is the signing of the Okanagan Charter on Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. on the Festival Lawn, which I mentioned in last month’s newsletter. This is just the beginning of our long-term commitment to the health and well-being of our students, of our campus, and of the world we live in. I hope your Duke will join us as we commit to a future focus on Health and Well-being at JMU.
Parents Council updates
I spent the past weekend with the Parents Council and provided two different updates. First, Chief Tony Matos and I teamed up to talk about Campus Safety. We walked through safety strategies, communication around safety including JMU Shield (replacing LiveSafe),and shared information about how we are working to keep the campus community safe. In our Student Affairs Committee meeting, our University Career Center shared data that over 95% of the class of 2023 had a career outcome within six months of graduation. I always enjoy my time with our parents and appreciate your passion for JMU and your willingness to invest in this community through your involvement on the Council.
Reminders
Fall Break
Fall Break will be here before you know it (Oct. 16 – 20) and it’s important to remember that every family manages this time differently. When we created this break a few years ago the goal was to provide students with a much-needed break at the mid-point of the semester. Some may use those days to disconnect from coursework while others will use it as an opportunity to catch up on or get ahead of class work. Many students will go home or visit friends at other universities but many also stay here at JMU. The university will be open during these days so don’t be surprised if they choose to stay here for some or all of the break. Dining hours will be different that week so encourage your Duke to do their research and plan ahead if they are staying here.
Election Day
We encourage our students to votein every election and for many of them this will be their first opportunity to vote. To address many of the questions they may have about the process, this election guide and FAQ was created by the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement. I hope they do their research, and I strongly encourage them to vote so that their voice can be heard.
Questions to ask your student
What are your feelings right now about where you want to live next year?
Tip: This is a chance to clarify expectations about living on campus or off, set a budget if the plan is to live off campus, and begin researching options about where and when to sign. I’m not recommending that they make a decision right now, but it is a good time to start talking about it. They should not sign a lease before you all discuss and come to a family decision, and I recommend you make that clear.
What are your plans for Fall Break?
Tip: For many of our students this will be the first time they are making a choice about where to go for a break. I recommend you discuss this soon if you haven’t already. If they come home for break, I recommend a conversation ahead of time about expectations, plans, etc. Unlike Thanksgiving, their friends won’t all be home at the same time so they may not disappear on you to visit others, and they may decide to go visit a friend at another college. If they come home, give them time to sleep as soon as they arrive and don’t make big plans for that first day/night. I also recommend either cooking their favorite meal and/or going to their favorite restaurant at some point during their time at home. If they are home, enjoy the time together.
Events
This month will be full of events and chances for your Dukes to get out there and enjoy all JMU has to offer. The events calendar and Dukes Weekly are the best ways to keep up with all that is happening on campus.
Here are a few suggestions:
Halftime on the Quad | Oct. 9 | 5 – 6:30 p.m. | The Quad
Homecoming | Oct. 25-27
Nightmare at UREC | Oct. 31 | 9 – 11:30 p.m. | UREC
Safety
With Homecoming and Halloween occurring around the same time, there will be a lot of celebrations and events happening. Please reinforce with your students how important it is to have a plan before they go out and to be aware of their surroundings. We have a large number of visitors to campus during these weekends, and our students need to be aware of who they are with and be focused on their safety.It’s important for everyone to stay in groups, have a safe way home, and look out for each other.
It’s been a great first half of the semester, I’m looking forward to a successful second half!
Go Dukes!
Dr. Tim Miller
Vice President for Student Affairs
