Top-value JMU moves up in ‘Best Colleges’ national rankings In only its second year of being ranked as a national university, JMU jumped eight spots to No. 64 among public institutions on U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Colleges list. In 2022, JMU earned a Carnegie Commission classification of R2 Doctoral Uni- versity with “high research activity,” vaulting the institution to the national university category. JMU’s U.S. News ranking pro- file places it in the top tier of academic institutions in the coun- try. Schools ranked near JMU include state flagships such as the University of Oklahoma, the University of South Carolina, the University of Utah and others with annual budgets in the billions. Meanwhile, JMU operates annually at just $723 million, delivering incredible value to Virginia taxpayers. J
Enormous boost for early childhood education in Virginia
J MU has received a $3.6 million grant to increase access to early childhood education in several cities and counties across Virginia. The grant will provide 314 preschool slots for 3- and 4-year-olds currently facing barriers to formal school entry, at no cost to their families.
JMU students in the Inclusive Early Childhood Education pro- gram interact with local chil- dren in a class room. (Inset): A child writes her answers for an assignment.
“This is a historic time for our community to create equitable access to high-quality early childhood education for all children and families across the commonwealth,” said Maryam Sharifian, who will oversee the project as director of Early Childhood Initiatives at JMU. The one-year grant from the Virginia Early Child- hood Foundation builds on existing efforts to increase access to high-quality preschool through public-private partnerships. JMU Early Childhood Initiatives includes several projects and grants to address lack of access, qual-
ity enhancements, teacher training, leadership and family engage- ment. The grant is the next step in increasing the capacity of communities to provide high-quality early education to at- risk children, with a focus on increased access for children and families of color and those living in child care deserts. JMU has been working closely with a network of com- munity liaisons to connect child care providers with eligible families. Community partners, including local public school systems, United Way of Staunton-Augusta- Waynesboro, Transport Services, the Child Learning Center, and Virginia Quality and Harrisonburg Smart Beginnings, are work ing together to ensure the grant reaches those with the greatest need.
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PHOTOGRAPHS BY STEVE ADERTON (’19) AND MIKE MIRIELLO (’09M); OPPOSITE: COURTESY OFJMU ATHLETICS, JULIA WEAVER (’21) AND OLIVE SANTOS (’20)
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