Chris Graham: Winding down the Matt Brady era at JMU
A 21-12 record for Matt Brady’s third JMU basketball team in 2010-2011 gave the coach a tiny space for breathing room.
It was Brady’s second 20-plus-win season, sure, but neither of those teams qualified for NCAA or NIT postseason play. And at James Madison, where the Lou Campanelli/Lefty Driesell years are maybe a fading memory, but a memory nontheless, being in position to play into March is still something that the alums want to think that they can expect.
Six losses in seven games have turned what had been a decent 7-4 start to the 2011-2012 campaign into a 10-16 nightmare. And it’s soon going to be decision time for Madison athletics director Jeff Bourne, who four years ago faced a similar decision with Dean Keener. Read more
JMU identified as ‘Best Value’ college by Princeton Review
James Madison University’s “impressive balance of educational, social and extracurricular activities to enrich students’ experience” earned the school a place in the Princeton Review’s “The Best Value Colleges: 2012 Edition,” subtitled “The 150 Best Buy Colleges and What It Takes to Get In.”
The annual guide features profiles of 75 public and 75 private colleges with detailed information about their campus culture, facilities and financial aid offerings. Of the 75 schools in each group, the top 10 colleges are ranked 1 to 10, and the remaining 65 are listed in alphabetical order and unranked. Read more
JMU Alpha Phis partner with RMH to fight women’s heart disease
The James Madison University Theta Iota chapter of Alpha Phi will host its annual “Move You Phi’t” 5K walk/run to benefit RMH Heart Check at 10 a.m. Feb. 25.
Registration and check-in will take place at 9 a.m. on the bottom floor of the JMU Festival Center.
Funds raised from the event will be used to offer free heart health screenings, said RMH Heart Health Navigator Maria Hostetter, RN. Read more
JMU announces 2012 football schedule
The James Madison University football team announced its schedule for the 2012 season today, which includes six home games at the expanded Bridgeforth Stadium including defending CAA champion Towson. Game times will be announced at a later date, following the completion of the CAA Television contracts.
“This is a quality schedule for our football program to have six home games,” Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne said. “After our opening season in the renovated Bridgeforth Stadium being such a great success in averaging more than 25,000 fans a game, we wanted to make sure the JMU Nation got the opportunity to see the Dukes at home as much as possible. This schedule accomplishes that and gives us some quality opponents at home, especially in the CAA. It is also great to be able to play West Virginia at FedEx Field in Washington, D.C., giving our fans and great alumni base in northern Virginia the chance to see the Dukes play a nationally-ranked team in a National Football League stadium.” Read more
February 2012 Calendar of Events: James Madison University
(Check www.jmu.edu/jmuweb/calendars/ for updates on events at JMU)
Feb. 1-17: Skyline Museum Exhibit, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, Festival Conference and Student Center: “Mentor to an Icon: The Charles Lisanby and Andy Warhol Show”; free.
Feb. 1: The Harlem Symphony Orchestra Chamber Players, 8 p.m., Concert Hall, Forbes Center for the Performing Arts: The professional musicians in this group are all members of the Harlem Symphony Orchestra, which was created in 2004 to highlight the historic contributions and visibility of African American orchestral musicians; the exciting program includes works by Felix Mendelssohn, James H. Lee III and Ernst von Dohnanyi; this appearance is made possible by JMU’s Cultural Connections Artists in Residence program administered by the College of Visual and Performing Arts, the School of Music and the Office of Diversity; part of the JMU Masterpiece Season; for tickets, visit http://www.jmu.edu/JMUarts or call (540) 568-7000. Read more
JMU College of Business maintains accreditation
The James Madison University College of Business and the School of Accounting have maintained their business accreditation by AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees in business and accounting.
Interim Dean Dr. Bud Clarke says, “AACSB accreditation is a notable achievement for the College of Business and School of Accounting. This reaffirmation acknowledges the exceptional quality of the faculty, staff, and students that shape the distinctive learning environment of the College of Business.” Read more
‘Detectives’ scour rare periodicals for clues to 20th century life
James Madison University students are gaining new insight into American popular literary genres by poring over a growing collection of old pulp magazines. Called “pulp” because they were printed on rough paper stock made from wood pulp, the magazines’ very form led to their rarity as readers discarded their copies after reading them.
Students enrolled in Dr. Brooks Hefner’s American Pulp course are the first beneficiaries of the university’s collection of 60 Black Mask magazines, which includes three of the five issues that include the serialized version of Dashiell Hammett’s “The Maltese Falcon.” “These are among the most important, if not the most important, texts in American popular fiction and detective fiction of the 20th century,” said Hefner, an assistant professor of English.
Hefner’s students are each researching an issue of The Black Mask to produce a critical introduction to the respective magazine, focusing on editorial policy, writers, use of artwork and story themes, such as questions of race, nationality, masculinity and culture. Read more
UVa. women rally, knock off JMU
The Virginia women’s basketball team rallied from a 12-point second-half deficit to defeat visiting James Madison, 59-53, Tuesday (Dec. 20) at John Paul Jones Arena. Sophomore guard Ataira Franklin (Bowie, Md.) finished with a career-high22 points to lead the Cavaliers.
With the win, Virginia improved to 10-2 overall and 7-0 at home this season. The victory also snapped a two-game JMU win streak in the series as the Cavaliers avenged two-point losses in 2009 and 2010.
James Madison’s record went to 7-2 overall with the loss.
For just the third time this season, Virginia trailed at halftime. The Dukes got off to a fast start, scoring the game’s first seven points which prompted a timeout by Virginia head coach Joanne Boyle. Read more
JMU: An open door to the world
James Madison University is the top master’s-level institution in the country in the number of students who participate in short-term study-abroad programs, according to a report released by the Institute of International Education.
The “Open Doors 2011″ report, which covers the 2009-10 academic year, also reveals that JMU ranked second in the nation in total number of students who studied abroad, with 1,037.
In addition, JMU compared favorably among similar institutions in semester-long programs (17th) and programs lasting a full academic year or longer (7th).
JMU has risen steadily in the annual rankings. In 2008-09, JMU was sixth in enrollment in short-term programs, which generally take place during the summer months; third in total number of study-abroad students; 11th in semester programs; and 12th in long-term programs. Read more
JMU sophomore advocate invited to White House
Winning a national award for her high school accomplishments in information technology has opened a lot of doors for a JMU sophomore.
On Dec. 9, that achievement opened the doors of the White House, where computer science major Marissa Halpert attended the “Champions of Change Event: Women & Girls in STEM.”
The event, held in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, honored those who are “winning the future by helping to recruit girls and retain women in science, technology, engineering and math fields,” according to the invitation Halpert received.
At the event, agency representatives and White House policy offices led a discussion focused on amplifying best practices learned in each area.
Halpert, who co-founded a “Girls of Computer Information Technology” club at Deep Run High School in Henrico County and is a member of the Women in Technology organization at JMU, said the White House event was “an amazing experience. It was extremely inspiring and exciting to be included.” Read more
Flashpoint to tackle Occupy Wall Street
The latest in James Madison University’s Faculty Flashpoint Series, sponsored by the Center for Faculty Innovation, will explore the Occupy Wall Street movement that has been gaining momentum in many U.S. cities and around the world over the past few months. The flashpoint will be held Friday, Dec. 2, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the East Campus Library 3rd Floor Flex Space. JMU faculty, staff, students and community members are welcome.
Crafted by some as protest against economic exploitation and seen by others as a public nuisance, Occupy Wall Street has led to protestor encampments in public parks and on university campuses in Philadelphia, New York City, South Carolina, at the University of California-Davis and many other locations. Faculty panelists will delve into the inner workings of the U.S. capitalistic economy and examine how people have benefited, experienced loss or been exploited by Wall Street.
Dr. Mary Gayne, assistant professor of history, will serve as moderator. Other JMU faculty panelists include:
• Esther Poveda, instructor of foreign languages, literatures and cultures
• Dr. Stephen Poulson, associate professor of sociology
• Dr. William Van Norman, assistant professor of history
• Dr. Brian Kaylor, assistant professor of communication studies
For more information, visit www.jmu.edu/cfi/programs/flashpoint/occupy.html.
JMU selects Alger as sixth president
The James Madison University Board of Visitors has unanimously selected Mr. Jonathan R. Alger to serve as the next president of James Madison University.
“We desired a leader who values our student-centered focus, emphasis on teaching and is committed to the full development of the individual. We needed someone with an appreciation for the historical strengths of the University and one willing to invest time to understand our distinct institutional culture. Today, in Jon Alger we feel we have found the individual who best encompasses such values and is well positioned to lead our university into the next century,” said James Madison University Board of Visitors Rector, James Hartman.
Alger is now the sixth president of James Madison University in its 103-year history. Alger comes to James Madison University by way of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, where he currently serves as the Senior Vice President and General Counsel.
“JMU has had a remarkable history of successful presidents who have guided the University through tremendous growth and change. This legacy reflects a strong institution with a clear sense of identity and purpose. Working with the entire University community, I will strive to continue, and build upon, that powerful tradition. I am deeply honored and humbled with this opportunity to serve James Madison University,” said Alger.
The selection comes following a comprehensive and successful search process over the past 11 months. The search committee, which was appointed by the James Madison University Board of Visitors, was assembled following last year’s announcement by JMU President Linwood Rose of his retirement in June of 2012.
“As chair of the search committee that recommended Jon Alger, and as a committed alumnus I couldn’t be more excited that Jon will be our next president. I’m extremely proud of the search committee, our process, our search firm, the quantity and quality of candidates and the outcome,” said Presidential Search Committee Chair, Joseph Damico.
While President Rose was needed in Richmond and unable to attend, he provided a letter of encouragement to Alger stating: “We all look forward to your leadership and the application of your special talents, interests and abilities. Judith and I stand ready to support and assist wherever and whenever we may be helpful.”
