James Madison University (JMU) has been quite successful promoting access and diversity efforts. This article highlights JMU's programs established to provide an innovative and inclusive climate on campus.
JMU developed the Office of the Special Assistants to the President to create a campus-wide effort and commitment to access, diversity and success. This office provides resources, programs, support and advocacy for everyone in the JMU community, but specifically focuses on the needs of underrepresented populations.
The Professor in Residence program (PIR) outreach endeavor promotes the educational attainment and college aspirations of Virginia high school students. The PIR program focuses its efforts in high schools with diverse student populations and a high percentage of students who receive free and reduced lunch benefits. It matches dedicated professors - who represent different disciplines and are instrumental to the program - with high school students. Professors spend at least one day a week visiting one of seven partner high schools. The program also has a relationship with two middle schools in Virginia, helping students establish a plan for their future before high school. The faculty member is at the school to assist students and teachers. They hold financial aid workshops in all of their PIR schools to assist with the FAFSA filing, regardless of the college a student wants to attend. PIR helps students to appreciate the importance of higher education and to understand that a college degree is possible and achievable.
JMU also established a Centennial Scholars program. The students that apply for this program are predominantly students with an EFC of less than $1,000. The program provides a financial aid package that covers the full billable cost to attend JMU in the form of grants. These funds cover tuition, fees, room and board for a maximum of four years for freshman, and two years for transfer students and graduate students. Scholarship recipients are also mentored and have standing meetings and study hall time.
JMU also partners with other colleges to cultivate minority doctoral students that are candidates for faculty positions through the Preparing Future Faculty program.
JMU has also established a Diversity Council in each division and college. The chairs of these councils meet monthly to share what diversity efforts they are undertaking.
Lisa Tumer, director of financial aid, has been fortunate to chair a diversity conference on campus for the past three years. Their third annual conference on diversity will be held this April 6. The theme this year is "Diversity in Action" and they are scheduling workshops for three different time slots throughout the day with box lunches and roundtable discussions. The conference will wrap up with a "fireside chat" led by the two Special Assistants to the President.
Links for further information:
Office of the Special Assistants to the President
Professor in Residence Program
Centennial Scholars Program
NASFAA's Student Access and Diversity Committee would like to know what you do on your campus. Please submit any information on programs and/or activities from your campus that promote student access, diversity and success. NASFAA's Student Access and Diversity Committee's goal is to continually highlight best practices among NASFAA members and others.
Please share with us your programs by emailing details about programs to chittyh@nasfaa.org.
Posted 02/17/09 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web Site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.
