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JMU’s recently publicized virtual campus, launched in the online virtual world of Second Life, is hosting a virtual fashion show and open house “in an effort to introduce local and global community members to JMU’s virtual campus.”  The show will start at 4:00pm on Friday, December 4th Thursday, December 3rd, in Second Life.

Today, the Department of Homeland Security identified swine flu as a public health emergency for the United States.  Between breaking news reports and news segments with medical information, attention is also turning to a forgotten chapter in American (and local) history: the 1918 “Spanish flu” which sickened half of the world’s population at the time and [...]

Here are the local University locations where you can view Barack Obama’s swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, January 20 around noon:

James Madison University – Grafton Stovall Theater and Festival Ballrooms
Eastern Mennonite University – Common Grounds Coffee House
Bridgewater College – Cole Hall Auditorium

Know of others? Add them in the comments!

JMU’s Center for Entrepreneurship has a competition on for the JMU community (which includes all Harrisonburg residents) to find the best viable business plans for sustainable businesses.  The contest defines sustainability as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”  The winner will [...]

A handful of stories in the local media this week have reported on the continuing state and regional shifts in age-related demographics, with some interesting implications for the Shenandoah Valley.

A recent AP story extols the popularity of the newly-renovated Wells Planetarium at JMU:
The rededicated planetarium opened in September, and school officials say the 66-seat facility has been packed every weekend…The renovation included building a new 30-foot inner dome, a new projection system, new chairs and a new heating and air conditioning system.  The JMU [...]

JMU and the local schools are partnering to offer fun and educational courses for children in the “College for Kids” program. Topics include “Lego Robotics”, “Video Game Design”, and “A Taste of World Languages,” (which introduces kids to the Arab and Russian languages, traditions, and food).  The courses are taught by JMU Faculty and community [...]

James Madison University announced the formation of “The Institute for Stewardship of the Natural World” in September, which will be led by Dr. Christie-Joy Brodrick Hartman, formerly a professor in the Integrated Science and Technology department. President Linwood Rose’s “Commission on Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability” recommended the action of forming the Institute to help JMU [...]

Today Governor Tim Kaine announced sweeping budget cuts in the Commonwealth for the 2009 fiscal year, including a $5.4 million reduction at James Madison University.
JMU had originally been appropriated nearly $84.3 million, and will now work with $78.9 million.