Stay Well at JMU

University Health Center

Located on the first and second floors of the Student Success Center, the University Health Center is a student-only health care facility.

Appointments and Resources

Schedule an appointment at the University Health Center and utilize their website for resources about health care issues and self-care guidelines, programs and support, and health-related student organizations and volunteer opportunities.

Student Wellness and Outreach

Includes:

• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally Education Program
• Crisis Referrals, individual, & group counseling for survivors of sexual assault and information about dating violence.
• Dukes in Recovery - those recovering from alcoholism and/or substance addiction.
• Information and resources about eating disorders.

Counseling & Student Development Center

Located on the third floor of the Student Success Center, the Counseling & Student Development Center provides personal counseling to over 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students at JMU annually. The Center is staffed by a psychiatrist, psychologists, counselors, social workers and graduate students, and the services rendered to students are free, voluntary, and confidential. Their website is chock full of resources and referral information for current students, new students, international students, veterans, and parent and families.

Time Management | Be Healthier

New Year’s Resolutions

We’re a few weeks into a brand new semester – how are things going? I’ve heard from some of you that this new semester is an opportunity to put some bad habits to rest. Take advantage of this fresh start and decide how you can learn from mistakes (and successes!) last semester to create good habits that will help you finish your first year strong.

Time Management

Managing your time effectively is one of the hardest skills college students must learn. But, the better you are at utilizing your time effectively, the more likely you are to be successful in achieving your goals. For some people, finding balance and identifying strategies for time management is more difficult than for others. To get you started, take a look at Stanford University’s list of 10 ways to effectively manage time. I’m also available to meet with you to create an action plan for how you might manage your time this semester. And, you can listen to other JMU students talk about how to balance everything…

“If you want to achieve academically, learn how to balance having fun and doing your work.  You’ve got to make sacrifices a lot of times.”

Be Healthier

• Need some health being a little emotionally healthier?  Schedule an appointment with a counselor at the Counseling & Student Development Center.
• Utilize the University Health Center this semester. Especially with this nation-wide flu scare, it’s important to know and visit this resource!
• Get excited about utilizing UREC.  You don’t have to do it alone, either. Partner-up with someone else who wants to “Be Healthier” so that you have someone to help you stay motivated or participate in Group Fitness classes through UREC.
• Participate in UREC’s Adventure opportunities.
• Take time for yourself and get a massage at UREC.

Overall, think about what might help you feel 100%.  If you don’t see something that can help you feel 100% healthy listed above, please come talk to me and I will help you find something that can.

Declare Your Major | University Withdraw Deadline

Declare/Change Your Major/Minor

If you’re ready to declare or change your major, this is a good time to do it! Freshman Advising is ending in February, and students’ academic advisor will change from their Freshman Advisor to a Major Advisor. A major advisor will know more about the intricacies of your major, so it’s best to declare your major as soon as you’re ready. I encourage you, if you’re ready, to declare by January 30; although, the university does not require you to declare your major until September 2015.

To declare or change your major or minor, you need to complete the Change or Declaration of Major/Minor form found on the Office of the Registrar’s website. Here are the steps you need to complete that form:

1. Fill in Your Information.

2. Complete Current Information. 
a. Under the “Current” section, fill in your current major (e.g. Undeclared, Accounting). Check the “no change” or the “drop” box.
b. If you are declared with a pre-professional program, like pre-med or pre-OT, then write that. Check the “no change” or the “drop” box.

3. Complete New Information. 
a. In the “New” section, fill in your new major, second major, minor, or pre-professional program. If you are declaring a major, include the concentration (if applicable) and degree abbreviation. 
b. For each new major, double major, minor, or pre-professional program you are declaring, you need to obtain the signature of the Department Head of the respective major/minor/program. To obtain the Department Head’s signature, visit the Department’s office, which can be found in the Undergraduate Catalog. If you are declaring a pre-professional health program, you need to obtain a signature from Dr. Babcock in the Pre-Professional Health Programs office in the Biosciences Building 3005.

4. Submit Complete Form. Once the form is complete with all of the necessary signatures, take the form to the Office of the Registrar in the Student Success Center to be processed and officially changed in MyMadison.

University Withdraw Deadline

Are you considering leaving the university for a semester or two? permanently leaving? I don’t want to see you leave, but I understand that sometimes that is the best decision for an individual’s circumstances. I want to help you with this if it’s the best decision for you by scheduling a meeting and providing the information below.

Friday, January 30, 2015 is the last day to withdraw from JMU with cancellation of tuition charges. Students must withdraw from all classes to be eligible for cancellation of tuition charges. The Registrar’s Office has put together a Leaving JMU Checklist to help students understand all of the necessary steps that need to take place for this process. This includes a completed and submitting the Non-Returning/Leave of Absence Notice to the Registrar’s Office.

If you are considering leaving the university permanently to transfer to another institution, I do want to let you know that I am not able to advise you on what will transfer to your new institution. You need to contact the Admissions Office of the new institution and ask them about what credits you’ve earned at JMU might transfer. You can get an unofficial copy and request an official copy of your transcript through MyMadison. To learn more about JMU transcripts, please visit the Registrar’s webpage on Transcripts.

Student Employment | Resumes

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 year, for some, it helps with time management, balance, and a sense of accomplishment. 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 in my free time 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 an IE position; however, students can only apply for FWS if a student is eligible based on their financial aid package.  Positions posted are only currently available positions, so keep checking back!

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.

Resume and Cover Letter Writing

Need help creating your resume or writing a cover letter? It’s not too early to begin thinking about your resume. No matter how much or how little experience you have, thinking about and creating a professional resume at this stage may help you imagine opportunities and set goals for the future. Take a look at the resume and cover letter resources we have available at Career & Academic Planning (CAP). Or, better yet, attend a Resume Writing Workshop. Find the dates, times, and locations of all the workshops on the Career & Academic Planning Calendar on our homepage.

Once you’ve put something down on paper, you can schedule a one-on-one appointment with me or any of the other advisors in CAP to get feedback on how to improve. Remember, once you’ve declared and moved on to your major advisor, I will still be here to help you with resumes, cover letters, the internship/job search, and so on.

Drop-In Hours | Add/Drop Deadline

Drop-In Hours

During drop-in hours, I will see students on a first-come, first-serve basis. Check-in at the front desk of Career & Academic Planning (3210 Student Success Center) during the following hours if you want to meet:

Office Hours:
Monday (1/12): 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday (1/13): 10 a.m. - 12 p.m & 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Beginning Wednesday, January 14, you'll need to schedule an appointment. Please remember I work during business hours, which are 8am-5pm Monday through Friday.

IS 202

If open sections do not fit with your schedule, complete the IS 202 Override Request Form. Even if none of the sections (closed or open) fit with your schedule, please complete this form. There’s an option that “none of the sections fit with my schedule, but I want to take the course.” Finally, attending the first class is required to be able to take the course. Overrides are not given if you missed the first class.

Upcoming Dates & Deadlines

Add/Drop Deadline

Tuesday, January 20 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. If you change courses after Friday, January 16, then you’ve already missed one week of class, so there will be a lot of work to make-up.  Carefully consider adjusting your schedule at the beginning of the first week of classes to avoid missing too much class. You can adjust your schedule on MyMadison. If you change your schedule, be sure that you are still completing all of the Cluster One courses you need to complete by the end of your first-year. If you have questions or want to discuss this, visit your advisor during the drop-in hours posted above.