JMU has exceeded in many areas of study and student life this academic year, such as its number of admissions, research efforts and athletic success, President Jonathan Alger said in his presentation to the Board of Visitors (BoV) on Friday.

The BoV at JMU is composed of eight different committees, each of which focus on different areas of student life and university success, that meet together multiple times a year to discuss both future plans and recent accomplishments.

Fridays meeting took place in the Festival Student and Conference Center and recounted the universitys most recent successes.

Alger said JMU received the largest cash gift to date received by the university, which totaled $6 million and was donated by a 1949 Madison College graduate. The donor was the first woman in American history to command a brigade-sized male unit in the U.S. armed forces, Alger added.

Were very excited to celebrate her legacy, he said.

When discussing admissions, Alger said the total number of freshmen applications for fall 2024 was over 40,000, a 67.5% increase from the number of freshmen applicants in 2021. Alger added that this increase counters national trends, particularly for public universities, and that many colleges and universities nationwide struggle to increase enrollment.

JMU was also recognized as a national research university, which helps in attracting exciting numbers of out-of-state applicants, Alger said. JMUs diverse population is home to many first-generation students and minority groups, he said, that have been historically underrepresented. In fall 2022, 74.3% of JMU's student body identified as white, down over 4% since 2013 but 14.5% higher than the states population, as The Breeze reported in August.

Alger also said there seems to be an increase in the number of international applications received this year, which suggests theyre recovering from COVID. Transfer applications are continuing to be submitted, Alger said, with the number of applicants already over 800.

Alger also highlighted a new civic leadership minor launching this fall, in which students focus on studies implementing practices of foundational leadership, civic sciences and technology, alongside involvement in community civic leadership.

These will be great opportunities for our students, and it will certainly reflect the strategic plan of JMU in terms of high impact learning, because every student you see is going to complete an internship, some sort of research or a portfolio project related to team civic leadership, so really excited to launch this minor, Alger said.

Alger also recognized the success surrounding athletics throughout the university,

JMU was the only Division I school in the nation to qualify for NCAA mens and womens soccer tournaments, and it reached its first-ever bowl game. ESPN also selected JMU as the location of their 30th anniversary College GameDay with a record-breaking crowd of 26,000 fans.

This is the third time we have hosted ESPN GameDay; we are the only non-Power 5 school to have ever done this, Alger said.

Alger praised JMU womens lacrosse for its win over Virginia Tech on Wednesday, which bumped the Dukes up to No. 3 in the country and said the team has potential for a really special season.

During his presentation, Alger made note of a development for the JMU Doctor of Education (EdD) degree, which has recently been approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).

These are not easy programs to get approved its a long process, Alger said, adding that the only thing theyre waiting on before implementing this program is an external review.

Alger also said the Virginia State Board of Education approved the JMU Lab School for Innovation and Career Exploration on Jan. 25, which will offer new opportunities to high school students enrolled in Rockingham County Public Schools (RCPS).

Its a partnership with us, [RCPS] and also Blue Ridge Community College, he said. It will have that emphasis on career pathways and experiential learning. In 11th and 12th grade, students will have the option to take classes for either college credit or dual enrollment.

JMU will receive 12.3 million dollars to fund the program, Alger said.

Alger said online programs offered at JMU have been nationally recognized.

Its interesting to note here, in [the] U.S. News [and World Report], several of our online programs are now ranked in the top 100 nationally, starting with our MBA program at No. 18, Alger said in regards to the recent rankings for online programs.

JMU is also ranked 34th nationally for its MBA program for veterans, 41st for Masters in Computer Information Technology and 97th for the Masters in Nursing program.

JMU periodically conducts economic impact assessments, which were challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic but ultimately proved to be powerful, Alger said.

Despite COVID-19, Alger said the fiscal year 2022 data showed JMU invested $363 million in the Harrisonburg area, $488 million overall in the Commonwealth and generated $22.7 million in local tax revenue.

Alger added that JMUs $592 million in the Harrisonburg area and $763 million invested in the Commonwealth created jobs throughout the community and for every member of the Universitys faculty and staff.

We are the largest economic engine here in this part of the Shenandoah Valley but also across the Commonwealth, Alger said. So again, hats off to everybody who's working in economic development."

The BoV will meet next on April 18 in the Festival Student and Conference Center.

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BoV roundup: new education program, JMU rankings and economic impacts - The Breeze