Add/Drop Deadline | Learning Strategies

Add/Drop Deadline

Tuesday, September 2 is the add/drop deadline; therefore, it’s your last opportunity to drop a class without receiving a “W” on your transcript or add a course without the Department Head’s signature.  As we discussed during the 1787 Group Advising Session, if you change courses on Monday or Tuesday, then you’ve already missed at least one week of class, so there will be a lot of work to make-up. We advise you carefully consider adjusting your schedule at this point.

Drop-In Hours

Check-in at the front desk of Career & Academic Planning (3rd floor of the Student Success Center) during the following drop-in hours if you want to meet with your advisor, especially regarding adjusting your course schedule:

Sarah Orem's Office Hours

Monday (9/1): 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday (9/2): 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday, September 3, I will begin scheduling appointments. Thank you for all of the very professional emails you have sent listing your availability over the next few business days.

Learning Strategies Instruction

Learning Strategies Instruction (LSI) offers tips, resources, and strategies designed to increase student success through individualized, student-centered academic coaching. They provide FREE individual appointments to develop customized plans, workshops, and online tips about topics including:

• Time Management
• Test Taking
• Note Taking
• Memorization
• Reading Comprehension
• and more...

LSI isn't tutoring; they provide tips and tools to help you adjust and succeed throughout your time at JMU (and beyond)! To set up an appointment, contact lsi@jmu.edu, call 540/568-6705 or visit their office on the 1st floor of the Student Success Center.

Graduation Club

“I learned a lot and my GPA proves it.  I did so well first semester that I was even offered a chance to be in JMU’s honor program.  I know I wouldn’t [have] done nearly as well as I did if I hadn’t attended [your] class.” ~ Graduation Club participant

Graduation Club is an opportunity where course instructors will help you learn how to remain motivated and get the most out of your study time!  The following areas will be discussed:

• Setting Goals and Staying Motivated
• Learning Styles
• Reading those BIG textbooks
• Lecture Note Taking
• Time and Stress Management
• Test-Taking Strategies
• Study Skills
• Interacting with Professors

Talk with your RA to sign up.

Conversation Partners

Are you interested in learning about another culture?  Are you interested in continuing your foreign language skills (second language not required)?  If so, join the Conversation Partner Program.  The program is designed to:

• pair international U.S. individuals
• engage in weekly conversations
• share and learn about each other’s culture
• practice conversation skills in English or a foreign language
• host monthly activities for partners

For more information and to complete an application, checkout the Conversation Partner Program website. You can also attend the kickoff event on Thursday, September 4 at 7:00 p.m. in the Highlands Room in the Festival Conference and Student Center.

Be Involved!

There are so many ways to get involved at JMU! With nearly 400 clubs and organizations, there is definitely something for you! Many students find that being involved helps them manage their time better. But, it’s also important to be intentional about not overloading on clubs and organizations. The key is to find a balance where you can be successful academically, have fun socially, and maintain great overall health. You know what you need to function at your best. And, if you find yourself struggling to manage your time, come meet with me! We can discuss goals to get you back on track.

Student Organization Night (SON)

Friday, August 29, 7-9 p.m. @ UREC Upper Turf
Check out the 400+ clubs and organization and take advantage of free food & entertainment!
Sponsored by the Office of Student Activities & Involvement

Fraternity and Sorority Life

Sorority Recruitment begins Thursday, September 4. Not sure if this is for you? Check out the Sorority Recruitment Information Night on August 28 at from 6-8:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall Auditorium. To learn more, see important dates, and register by the August 31 deadline, visit the Sorority Recruitment webpage. Fraternity Recruitment is from September 1-12. For information, check out the Fraternity Recruitment Information Session on September 1 from 7-9 p.m. Grafton-Stovall Theatre.

Sport Clubs & Intramurals

In addition to being a great place to work out, University Recreation (UREC) has a ton of opportunities to play sports competitively or just for fun. Because Sport Clubs require a greater level of commitment than intramurals, most hold tryouts early in the fall or spring semester. Anyone can play an intramural sport. Visit University Park, UREC’s newest outdoor facility, to see the expanded intramural sport fields. You can also check out equipment from UREC to go camping, canoeing or hiking in the beautiful mountains surrounding JMU.

Drop-In Hours | Schedule Changes

It was great to see you during the group advising session!  I'm really looking forward to working with you this year. After our time together today:

1. Review the Academic Advising Syllabus and take notes of of your to-do items.

2. Review the Presentation, if you need clarification.

Drop-In Hours

Drop-in hours, also known as office hours, are times when you can drop-by the office without a scheduled appointment. Students are seen on a first-come, first-serve basis. Check-in at the front desk of Career & Academic Planning (3rd floor of the Student Success Center) during the following drop-in hours if you want to meet:

Sarah Orem's Office Hours

8/25: 12:30-2:00p
8/26: 2:00-4:00p
8/27: 3:00-4:45p
8/28: email me
8/29: email me
9/1: 2:00-4:00p
9/2: 9:00-11a

Changing Your Schedule

As you have been doing, you have the power to change your schedule if classes have open seats and you have met the pre- or co-requisites. Remember - With great power comes great responsibility. Review the blog posts from this summer about making changes to your schedule. While you can add and drop classes from your schedule until Tuesday, September 2, the later it is that you make a change, the more class you will have missed and need to play catch-up on. Missing one week of class is a large chunk of time in college.

First Day of Class

Bring a pen or pencil and paper with you on the first day of class.  You will receive a syllabus from each instructor about the class, expectations, contact information, required materials, course schedule, assignments, and grading.  Take notes and ask questions!  You can wait until after the first class to buy books unless you’ve heard otherwise from your instructor.  Waiting to buy books can prevent you from needing to return books if you change your course section or course.  Read more about purchasing textbooks in a previous post.

Welcome to JMU!

1787 August Orientation

According to the JMU Orientation, JMU August Orientation is called 1787 because the month of August will bring tremendous transitions for you. It was August 1787 when James Madison and his buddies met in Philadelphia and wrote the U.S. Constitution. Through wigs and wooden teeth, they made a tremendous transition! This country was never the same and you won't be either after your time at 1787. By the end of August 1787 you will be ready for your new life at JMU! At 1787 you will...

• Discover how to make JMU an unparalleled educational experience
• Make friends before classes begin
• Get tips from faculty on how to succeed in the classroom
• Get the scoop on differences between high school and college
• Take in some great entertainment
• Get settled before classes begin
• Explore new cultures

The Mappy

Upon move-in, you will receive your very own personalized Mappy, a schedule of 1787 events and campus map that will help you navigate your 1787 August Orientation experience. Take note of the events that are required for all first-year students. The schedule is filled with events that will help you transition, socially and academically. One of the most important meetings to note is our Group Advising Session on Thursday, August 21 from 2 - 4 p.m. This is a required session where we’ll cover important advising and registration information. You’ll find out the location when you get your Mappy. I’m looking forward to seeing you!

Navigating Campus

Walk It. Use the “Can I Get There on Time” map to see what buildings you can get between in 15 minutes or if you need to plan for more time. And, since campus is big and hilly, take advantage of this cool X-map that a student in Computer Science created. It calculates how many calories you burn based on the routes you walk through campus.

Bus It. The inner-campus shuttles and the Convo Express run continuous loops on campus, from about 7am-7pm, and arrive at stops approximately every 10 minutes. Bus schedules can be found on JMU’s Buses & Pedestrians website.

Bike It. If you brought your bike, there are plenty of bike racks throughout campus outside of residence halls, academic buildings, dining halls, and so on. According to the JMU Student Handbook, both the City of Harrisonburg and JMU require all bicycles to be registered. All campus residents must register their bicycles with the Office of Public Safety and affix the issued numerical decal to the bike. Off-campus residents operating bicycles on campus may register their bicycles with either the city of Harrisonburg or JMU. Don’t forget to practice good safety and security behaviors like minding traffic patterns, wearing a helmet, and locking your bike. Check out the Resources for Bicyclist at JMU for more information.

Upperclass Students' Perspective | Books

Wondering how college is going to be different? Listen to what upper-class students wish they would have known when they began their first year at JMU.

Buying Books

How do I get textbooks?

One of the most common is to purchase books from the JMU Bookstore or the University Outpost Bookstore. To cut down on your cost and be “green,” try to purchase used books or rent books. The JMU Bookstore does offer a low price guarantee on new textbooks. You can also look at online retailers, like Amazon or Barnes & Noble to shop around for new and used textbooks. Just remember, the longer it takes to get to you the longer you will have to wait to do your class reading. (Waiting on a textbook isn’t a good excuse to give to your professor when you’re unprepared).

How do I know which textbooks to purchase?

If you want to get an idea of what textbooks you might want to purchase before you come to school (even if you don’t want to buy the books online), log-in to MyMadison to view the books associated with your courses. Check out this quick tutorial to learn how to access this information:

You can also wait until the first day of class when the instructor will review the books you’ll need along with the syllabus. The bookstore does an excellent job organizing books so you can find the texts you need when you go to the physical and online locations.

When should I purchase my textbooks?

The first thing to note is a faculty member might change his/her book selection before the first day of class and you might change classes, so purchasing books early might mean you need to return or exchange them later. You can wait until the first day of class to see what the professor discusses for purchasing textbooks when they review the syllabus in regards to required and recommended books. If you need to return a textbook, the bookstore has deadlines each semester for you to return any new, unused textbooks. You must also have a valid receipt with your return.

Upcoming Blog Post Topics

Tuesday, August 19: This post will teach you about commuting on campus, dining options open before the first day of classes, and tips for Orientation!
Friday, August 22: This post will inform you about drop-in hours to see your advisor, change your class schedule, and how to prepare for the first day of class.

Learning Centers and Accomodations

Learning Centers

Is there a class you’re a little nervous about?  In addition to meeting with your faculty during office hours for extra help, you can also get help from JMU Learning Centers!  Here are some campus resources that are here to support you with your academics.

• Communication Center
• English Language Learner Services
• Learning Strategies Instruction
• P.A.S.S. (Peer Assisted Study Sessions)
• Science & Math Learning Center
• University Writing Center

While attending these centers don’t have designated times on your calendar, block out time yourself to intentionally seek support.  Don’t wait to get help until you’re having trouble in a class to get help.  Seek help early to confirm your understanding and recognize where you have confusion before it becomes a larger problem.

Learning Accommodations 

In High School, did your teachers frequently give you extra time for a test?  Have teachers commonly give you any other accommodation to help you demonstrate your learning better? If these accommodations have been informally given, it is important for you to understand that informal accommodations will not happen in college unless you have a diagnosed learning disability registered with the Office of Disabilities Services (ODS).  To potentially continue receiving accommodations that allow you to demonstrate your learning and knowledge of the material, I encourage you to seek out ODS for screening and referrals, because you will need appropriate documentation on file with ODS to receive accommodations at college.

Upcoming Blog Post Topics

Tuesday, August 19: This post will teach you about commuting on campus, dining options open before the first day of classes, and tips for Orientation!
Friday, August 22: This post will inform you about drop-in hours to see your advisor, change your class schedule, and how to prepare for the first day of class.

Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Wellness

Physical & Mental Wellness

Disability Services

Student Success Center, 1st floor | M-F 8-5 | (540) 568-6705
If you have a diagnosed disability, register for services with the Office of Disability Services (ODS) to create an “Access Plan” to communicate your accommodation needs with faculty.  You will need documentation to register for services.  If you need documentation, ODS can also help you with the screening and referral process.

Counseling & Student Development Center

Student Success Center, 3rd floor | M-F 8-5 | (540) 568-6552
If you utilize counseling or psychiatric services at home, you’ll want to become familiar with these service that we have on-campus to help you. Traveling home may not be a viable option to receive the same support and service you’re acclimated to having. On campus, we have the Counseling & Student Development Center, which provides personal counseling to over 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students at JMU.  The Center is staffed by a psychiatrist, psychologist, counselors, social workers and graduate students, and the services rendered to students are free, voluntary, and confidential.  They can also refer you to counseling and psychiatric services in the Harrisonburg area if that is a better fit for you.

University Health Center

Student Success Center, 1st and 2nd floors l | (540) 568-6178
Since you, most likely, won’t be able to go home when you’re feeling under the weather, the University Health Center (UHC) provides health services, like your doctor at home. The UHC serves JMU students and operates on an appointment based system. Services offered at the UHC include the Allergy Clinic, Lab Tests, Nutrition, Flu Shots, STD Testing, Women’s Health Clinic, and many more. View a full list of services available at the Health Center.

Immunization Form. Before utilizing the services at UHC, all students must submit an Immunization Form to JMU as a condition of admission to the university, as you learned via your One Book and Summer Springboard Orientation. This information is needed to satisfy Virginia law, university requirements, and to assist in your care. The deadline to submit was July 29. If your Immunization Form and verification was not completed and turned in by the deadline, you will be subject to a non-refundable late fee and a enrollment hold will be placed on your account. This hold impacts your ability to adjust your class schedule.

Spiritual Wellness

If you are currently involved in a religious or spiritual organization at home and want to continue that involvement at JMU/Harrisonburg, or, if you’re looking to find a new place to connect, spiritually, there are many opportunities available.

Religious Student Organizations & Campus Ministries

JMU has well over 300 student clubs and organizations categorized into interests and topics. View the list of the religious and spiritual student organizations to learn more.

Interfaith Coalition

This organization facilitates a mutual understanding of any and all religions and world-views, and promotes the positive civic engagement in the JMU and local communities.  Begin getting involved with the Interfaith Coalition by subscribing to the listserv for upcoming events and announcements. 

Student Employment

Working while in college can help you develop a number of skills that are transferable to life after JMU. Part-time jobs provide an opportunity for you to gain work experience, develop confidence and good work habits, and earn money for tuition and college expenses. In fact, studies show that students who work while in college have higher confidence levels and better time management skills than those who do not. While working part-time may be too much on your plate in your first semester, take a moment to at least consider the opportunity and learn what is available. Here are some questions to ask yourself if you’re considering student employment: 

• Am I flexible and willing to make sacrifices? Am I open to cutting down on some of the things I like to do to fulfill my academic and work commitments?
• How does my family feel about me working?
• Do I make effective use of my time? In other words, can I fit in work, maintain my academics, and still get enough sleep?
• Will the job be flexible around my life as a student?

On- and Off-Campus Employment

Looking for a part-time job? The Student Work Experience Center (SWEC) at JMU is an office dedicated to enhancing student learning by providing meaningful work experiences. They organize and maintain available part-time student employment opportunities. 

There are many different jobs available on campus, including working in academic departments, student services, dining, etc. The benefit about working on campus is that the jobs are student-friendly in terms of working around class schedule and workload. On-campus work will be designated FWS, (Federal Work Study), or IE (Institutional Employment). Any student can apply for IE positions; however, only eligible students may qualify for an FWS position as these are based on financial aid package.

The SWEC website also lists available part-time off-campus job openings, important resources, frequently asked questions, and much more. If you have other questions, contact the folks in SWEC at studentjobs@jmu.edu, visit them on the 5th floor of the Student Success Center or call 540/568-3269.

Need help creating your resume or writing a cover letter? Take a look at the resume and cover letter resources we have available at Career & Academic Planning. Or, better yet, attend a Resume Writing Workshop. Find the dates, times, and locations of all the workshops on the Career & Academic Planning Calendar.

JMU Honor Code

At James Madison University, and other institutions across the United States, we uphold an honor system as a university community. This Honor Code is outlined by JMU’s Honor Council. Some violations of the Honor Code include:

• Giving false or misleading information regarding an academic matter.
• Committing the act of plagiarism - the copying, writing, or presenting as one’s own the information, ideas, or phrasing of another person without proper acknowledgement of the true source.
• Collaborating in an unauthorized manner with one or more other students on an examination or any work submitted for academic credit.

All incoming students are required to complete the JMU Honor Code Tutorial and Test. The intent of this requirement is in an effort to increase individual student awareness regarding the JMU Honor Code and Honor Council. Before you arrive at JMU, I strongly encourage you to complete this, because you are expected to uphold the Honor Code immediately. The official deadline to complete the Honor Code Tutorial and Test is October 1.

Upcoming Blog Post Topics

Double Posts Next Week!
Tuesday, August 12: This post will teach you how to obtain on-campus student employment.
Tuesday, August 12: This post will introduce you to campus offices and services that may be helpful in your transition related to your physical, mental, and spiritual wellness.

Friday, August 15: This post will provide an upperclass students' perspective on transitioning from High School to College as students reflect upon their own experience. It will also advise you on purchasing textbooks for fall semester classes.
Friday, August 15: This post will discuss information about the JMU Learning Centers and other resources to help in your academic success.

Housing Information & Roommate Advice

If you have not done so already, you can now sign into the One Book website to view your Housing Assignment and Roommate Information. Go to the “View Housing Assignment and Roommate Notification” step on the One Book website and you will see your move-in date, hall assignment and room number, and your roommate’s contact information. 

Living in a residence hall is a great opportunity to get to know your fellow Dukes!  Because the vast majority of residence hall rooms are doubles, you should expect to have a roommate when you live on campus. Sharing a living space may be an entirely new experience for you, so it makes sense that this sudden change in lifestyle may be a challenging transition. But, try not to worry; ninety-two percent of JMU first-year students report they are compatible with their assigned roommate. So, chances are great that you will have a positive experience, too! And, the Office of Residence Life is always available to help!  Each building has a staff of Resident Adviser (RAs) who can help you complete a Roommate Agreement, which will get you and your roommate talking about how you want to live together.  RAs are also trained in conflict resolution and mediation, so they can help if there’s a time that you and your roommate find yourself in a bad spot. If you have any questions related to your housing experience, email res-life@jmu.edu or call (540) 568-4663.

Tips for a Good Roommate Relationship

While you’re getting ready to come to JMU in a few weeks, I suggest you begin thinking about how to develop good relationship with your roommate. Ponder your likes, dislikes, and what really annoys you. Also, be mindful of the other person’s quirks and things he/she may request of you. Living with a college roommate is about setting boundaries so that everyone is comfortable to live, work, and play in the residence hall.

While living with a roommate inevitably has its challenges, it can also be a fabulous part of your college experience. Follow these tips for a supportive and positive roommate relationship. 

1. Call first, don’t click. Once you’ve found out your assigned roommate, don’t just rely on Facebook, Twitter, or texting to get to know someone. As they say, you can’t judge a book by its cover. People are more than the pictures they post on social networking sites. There’s nothing wrong with using these sites, but also give your roommate a call to simply introduce yourself and to discuss who is bringing what.

2. Be clear from the beginning. Don’t let problems pile up. Are you a neat freak? Do you need ten minutes to yourself before speaking to anyone right after waking up? Do you plan to use your room mainly for studying? Let your roommate know about your little quirks and preferences as soon as possible. People can’t read minds, so do your best to communicate what you need. This little effort can go a long way to help eliminate problems before they become problems. Addressing things that bug you when they’re little can help your roommate be aware of something he/she may not otherwise know. And, addressing things when they are still little is much easier than when they’ve become big. While the Office of Residence Life and your RA is there to help you with a roommate conflict, ultimately, the first one to know about the roommate conflict should be the roommate.
3. You don’t have to be best friends. Don’t go into this relationships expecting to be best friends for the next 4 years. It may happen, but expecting it may set you both up for trouble. Be friendly and respect your roommate and his/her space. And, you never know, you could become life-long friends!
4. Be open to new things. Your roommate may be from someplace you’ve never heard. She may have an accent that is hard to understand. He may have a different religion or lifestyle that is completely different than your own. You may have totally opposite values and interests. Being open to new ideas, experiences, and people is important as it relates to what your roommate brings into your life. College is a time to be open to new things, and that begins with your roommate relationship.
5. Be open to change. You should expect to learn, grow, develop, and change during your time at JMU. This is a time of great transition for you, and your roommate. As the year progresses, realize things will change for each of you. Be comfortable addressing things as they evolve and adapting to your changing environment. 
6. Respect your roommate’s stuff. This sounds simple, but it’s probably one of the biggest sources of roommate conflict. Don’t think he’ll mind if you borrow his cleats for the intramural soccer game? Don’t think she’ll mind if you borrow her sweater? Don’t borrow, use, or take anything without getting permission first. If nothing else, follow the Golden Rule. Treat your roommate like you’d like to be treated. 

If these tips weren’t enough, check out this great video created by students from Boston University about how to make the most of your roommate relationship.

When the video gets to the part that says, “Welcome to BU!”... Just think, “Welcome to JMU!” - and aren’t you glad to be here more?!?!

Double-Check Your Schedule

You are responsible for assuring that you're taking the appropriate classes. The Undergraduate Catalog, Department websites, and your assigned academic advisor help guide your understanding of the appropriate classes you should be taking. The Information for Undeclared Students in the 1st Semester Preparation Modules provides lots of great information that you can refer back to for guidance. I recommend you re-watch the video for Undeclared students:

Double-check your schedule to be sure you are enrolled in:

• 1-2 Cluster One courses. 
• Classes that will double-count in General Education and majors that you are considering. 
• Optional: IS 202: Career & Life Planning, a 1-credit elective that will help you with your decision about a major and career path.
• 14-16 credit hours, total.

If you have questions, contact me!

Upcoming Dates & Deadlines

Monday, August 4: Open Enrollment opens for all JMU students

Upcoming Blog Post Topics

Tuesday, August 5: This post will provide some housing information and roommate advice.
Friday, August 8: This post will introduce you to the JMU Honor Code and a required tutorial and test that all first-year JMU students complete at the beginning of their first semester.

Open Enrollment

Beginning Monday, August 4, you can attempt to change your classes on MyMadison. Make sure you are enrolled in 14-16 credit hours for fall semester.

We strongly recommend you do not use the drop or add features if you are changing one class for another. Think about it... You see a class you want to enroll in has an open seat (GPSYC 160). So, you drop a class (e.g. GPSYC 101) so that you can add GPSYC 160. But, when you go to add GPSYC 160, the class is closed because someone else registered for the last seat. So then you go back to add the GPSYC 101 class you just dropped, but someone took that seat too! So now you cannot take GPSYC 101 or 160. Bummer! You can avoid this by using the swap feature. The swap feature doesn’t drop you out of a class unless you’re guaranteed to get into the other class. Watch this video about how to swap classes:

If you were on a waitlist and have not been given a seat in the class, then you will not be getting a seat. Therefore, make adjustments to your schedule to be in a total of 14-16 credit hours. If you have questions, please contact me (contact information in the right-hand column of this blog).

Remember as you make changes to your schedule, pay attention to the campus map and the Can I Get There On Time? map created by the Madison Advising Peers.

Also, each section of a class may have pre-requisites, restrictions, or requirements that aren't obvious from the search screen. Viewing the class details will show you more information about a specific section of a class.

Upcoming Dates & Deadlines

Monday, August 4: Open Enrollment begins for all JMU students.

Upcoming Blog Post Topics

Tuesday, August 5: This post will provide some housing information and roommate advice.
Friday, August 8: This post will introduce you to the JMU Honor Code and a required tutorial and test that all first-year JMU students complete at the beginning of their first semester.