History of James Madison University in Timeline

James Madison University (JMU) is a public research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Established in 1908, it was later named after President James Madison in 1938. JMU has grown significantly from its beginnings as a normal school focused on teacher education into a comprehensive university. It is located in the Shenandoah Valley, near Massanutten Mountain.

1908: Establishment as Women's College

In 1908, James Madison University was established by the Virginia General Assembly as The State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg.

1908: University Founded

In 1908, James Madison University was founded in Harrisonburg, Virginia, as a normal school.

1909: First Student Body

In 1909, James Madison University opened its doors to its first student body with 209 students and a faculty of fifteen.

1910: The Bluestone Founded as The Schoolma'am

In 1910, The Bluestone began as the Schoolma'am, the universities oldest publication.

1911: First Graduates

In 1911, the university's first twenty graduates received diplomas.

1914: Name Change

In 1914, the university's name was changed to the State Normal School for Women at Harrisonburg.

1916: Authorization to Award Bachelor's Degrees

In 1916, the university was granted authorization to award bachelor's degrees.

1919: Burruss Resigns, Duke Chosen as President

In 1919, Julian Ashby Burruss resigned to become president of Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and Samuel Page Duke was chosen as the school's second president.

1922: The Breeze Founded

In 1922, The Breeze, a student-run weekly newspaper, began serving James Madison University.

1924: Name Change

In 1924, the university became the State Teachers College at Harrisonburg.

1938: University Renamed

In 1938, the institution was renamed in honor of James Madison, the fourth president of the United States.

1938: Name Change to Madison College

In 1938, the university was named Madison College in honor of James Madison.

1939: Greek Life Formally Brought to Campus

In the spring of 1939, Greek life was formally brought to the James Madison University campus with the chartering of Sigma Sigma Sigma and Alpha Sigma Alpha.

1946: Men Enrolled as Regular Day Students

In 1946, men were first enrolled as regular day students at the university.

1949: Duke's Retirement

In 1949, Duke retired after serving as president since 1919.

1949: G. Tyler Miller Becomes President

In 1949, G. Tyler Miller became the third president of James Madison University, following Duke's retirement.

1954: Authorization to Grant Master's Degrees

In 1954, the university was authorized to grant master's degrees.

1962: Name Changed to The Bluestone

In 1962, the name of the Schoolma'am was changed to The Bluestone.

1966: University Becomes Coeducational

In 1966, James Madison University became a coeducational institution.

1970: End of Miller's Administration

In 1970, the end of Miller's administration at James Madison University.

1971: Ronald E. Carrier Becomes President

In 1971, Ronald E. Carrier became JMU's fourth president.

1974: JMU Men's Rugby Club Founding

In 1974, the JMU Men's Rugby Club was founded, establishing it as the first club sport at JMU. The creation of the club marked a significant milestone in the university's athletic history.

1977: Name Change to James Madison University

In 1977, the university's name was changed to James Madison University.

1983: MRD Performance at NFC Title Game

In 1983, the Marching Royal Dukes performed at the NFC title game between Washington and Dallas.

1988: MRD Performance at Bands of America

In 1988, the Marching Royal Dukes performed at the Bands of America Grand National Championships.

1991: MRD Performance at Bands of America

In 1991, the Marching Royal Dukes performed at the Bands of America Grand National Championships.

1994: Last CAA Championship Win Before 2013

The year 1994 marks the last time James Madison University's men's basketball team won the CAA championship title before their win in 2013.

1997: Flying Hellfish Founded

In 1997, the JMU men's ultimate team, the Flying Hellfish, was founded.

1998: End of Carrier's Presidency

In 1998, the end of Ronald E. Carrier's presidency at JMU.

2000: Unruly Block Party

In 2000, James Madison University experienced tension with local residents and police when 2,500 students at an off-campus block party grew unruly.

2000: JMU Brass Band Formed

In the fall of 2000, the JMU Brass Band was formed.

2001: MRD Performance at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

In 2001, the Marching Royal Dukes made their first appearance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

2002: Funding for Performing Arts Complex

Beginning in 2002, James Madison University began receiving state and private funding to construct a performing arts complex.

2003: SafeRides Founded

Founded in 2003, SafeRides originated as a program run by the SGA.

2004: JMU Football Wins NCAA Division I-AA National Title

In 2004, JMU football won the NCAA Division I-AA national title with a 13–2 record. They were the only team in history to win the title after playing four straight road playoff games.

2004: NABBA Honors Section Champion

In 2004, the JMU Brass Band was named the North American Brass Band Association (NABBA) Honors Section Champion.

June 2005: Expansion Across South High Street

In June 2005, James Madison University expanded across South High Street by leasing, and then purchasing the former Harrisonburg High School building.

2005: NABBA Honors Section Champion

In 2005, the JMU Brass Band was named the North American Brass Band Association (NABBA) Honors Section Champion.

2005: "The Hellfish Bonanza" Hosted

Since 2005, the Flying Hellfish have hosted an annual tournament known as "The Hellfish Bonanza."

2006: Peace Corps Volunteers Ranking

In 2006, James Madison University was ranked second in the nation in the number of Peace Corps volunteers it sent from its student body among "medium-sized" universities.

2006: Tension in City-University Relationship

In 2006, a local ABC affiliate reported that James Madison University had nearly doubled in size in the preceding 20 years, including purchases of several local properties, creating tension in the city-university relationship.

2006: JMU Football Playoffs Appearance

In 2006, the JMU football team appeared in the playoffs, marking one of their several playoff appearances since 2004.

2007: JMU Football Playoffs Appearance

In 2007, the JMU football team appeared in the playoffs, marking one of their several playoff appearances since 2004.

2008: JMU Football Playoffs Appearance

In 2008, the JMU football team appeared in the playoffs, marking one of their several playoff appearances since 2004.

2008: MRD Performance at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

In 2008, the Marching Royal Dukes appeared in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

October 2, 2009: Granted Chapter by Phi Beta Kappa

On October 2, 2009, James Madison University was granted a chapter by the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society.

2009: Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion Begins

After the last football game of 2009, James Madison University began an expansion of Bridgeforth Stadium. The expansion project aimed to increase the seating capacity to approximately 25,000.

September 2010: Opening of the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts

In September 2010, the college opened the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts.

2010: Opening of New Baseball and Softball Field Complex

In 2010, a new multimillion-dollar baseball and softball field complex opened at JMU as part of the university's investment in athletic facilities.

2010: Food Ranking

In 2010, the food at James Madison University was ranked third in the United States.

2011: JMU Football Playoffs Appearance

In 2011, the JMU football team appeared in the playoffs, marking one of their several playoff appearances since 2004.

2011: Completion of Bridgeforth Stadium Expansion

In 2011, the construction for the expansion of Bridgeforth Stadium was completed. The stadium was ready for the 2011 football season, with an increased seating capacity of approximately 25,000.

2011: Student Body Ranking

In 2011, the student body at James Madison University was ranked 20th "happiest in the entire nation" by Newsweek and The Daily Beast.

2012: Awards for The Breeze

In 2012, The Breeze won several awards, including a 2012 Online Pacemaker Award, a 2012 VPA award for Best in Show for a Non-Daily News Presentation, and a 2012 VPA sweepstakes award.

2012: Enrollment and Degrees Granted

In the 2012-13 academic year, total enrollment at James Madison University was 19,927. JMU granted 4,908 degrees in 2012.

2013: Men's Basketball Team Wins CAA Championship

In 2013, James Madison University's men's basketball team won the CAA championship title for the first time since 1994. They also won their first NCAA tournament game in 30 years, defeating Long Island University-Brooklyn. However, they were defeated by Indiana in the second round, ending the season with a 21–15 record.

2013: MRD Performance at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

In 2013, the Marching Royal Dukes appeared in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

2014: JMU Football Playoffs Appearance

In 2014, the JMU football team appeared in the playoffs, marking one of their several playoff appearances since 2004.

2015: JMU Football Playoffs Appearance

In 2015, the JMU football team appeared in the playoffs, marking one of their several playoff appearances since 2004.

2015: Men's Rugby Sevens Team Victory

The JMU Men's Rugby Sevens team claimed victory of the Men's Division II title at the 2015 USA Rugby College Sevens National Championship. This marked the first time the university's club had achieved such a feat.

2016: JMU Football Wins NCAA Division I-AA National Title

In 2016, JMU football won the NCAA Division I-AA national title with a 14–1 record, going undefeated in the FCS.

2017: JMU Football Playoffs Appearance

In 2017, the JMU football team appeared in the playoffs, marking one of their several playoff appearances since 2004.

2018: Washington Monthly Ranking

In 2018, James Madison University ranked eighth among master's universities nationwide in the Washington Monthly college rankings.

2018: JMU Football Playoffs Appearance

In 2018, the JMU football team appeared in the playoffs, marking one of their several playoff appearances since 2004.

2018: MRD Performance at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

In 2018, the Marching Royal Dukes most recently appeared in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

2019: Note-oriety Performed at the White House

In 2019, Note-oriety performed at the White House.

2019: JMU Football Playoffs Appearance

In 2019, the JMU football team appeared in the playoffs, marking one of their several playoff appearances since 2004.

2020: Renaming of Buildings on the Quad

In 2020, James Madison University's Board of Visitors approved the renaming of three historic buildings on the quad that were named in honor of three prominent Virginian Confederate soldiers.

August 2021: National Criticism over Training Video

In August 2021, James Madison University received national criticism after a training video and other publications surfaced that supposedly labeled white Americans and Christians as oppressors.

2021: Recognition by Associated Collegiate Press

In 2021, The Bluestone was recognized by the Associated Collegiate Press on their top 100 Pacemaker awards list at MediaFest22.

2021: Approval of New Building Names

In 2021, the halls were approved and given new names. Mountain Hall (Maury Hall) was renamed Gabbin Hall, Valley Hall (Ashby Hall) was renamed Harper Allen-Lee Hall, and Justice Studies Hall (Jackson Hall) was renamed Darcus Johnson Hall.

2021: ISAT/CS Building Renamed King Hall

In late 2021, the ISAT/CS building was renamed King Hall in honor of Charles W. King.

July 2022: Football Program Joins Sun Belt Conference

Beginning in July 2022, the JMU football program transitioned to competing in the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as a member of the Sun Belt Conference, marking a new chapter after participating in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and the Colonial Athletic Association.

2022: Marching Royal Dukes Membership

As of Fall 2022, James Madison University's Marching Royal Dukes have 540 members.

2022: SafeRides Given Over 100,000 Rides

By 2022, SafeRides had given more than 100,000 rides.

2022: JMU Football Move to Sunbelt Division

In 2022, JMU football moved from the FCS to the sunbelt division in the FBS.

2022: Sunbelt Conference Move

In 2022, James Madison University's women's basketball team was competing in the CAA, and later moved to the Sunbelt conference.

2022: Monument Built for ICGC Organizations

In 2022, a monument dedicated to the organizations within the Inter-Cultural Greek Council (ICGC) was built outside of the university's Student Success Center.

2022: Move to Sunbelt Conference

In 2022, the Dukes moved to the Sunbelt Conference. This was an important move for the university, changing the teams division.

2023: Conference Tournament Championship

During the 2022-2023 season, the Dukes won one conference tournament championship, defeating Texas State, 81-51. Their most recent NCAA appearance came after the 2023 conference championship, making it as a No. 14 seed in the NCAA tournament, falling short in the first round to the Ohio State Buckeyes, 80-66.

2023: Sunbelt Title Win

During the 2023-2024 conference tournament, the Dukes won their first Sunbelt title. They won against Arkansas State with a score of 91-71.

2024: Push to the second round of the NCAA Tournament

In 2024, the Dukes defeated No. 5 seeded Wisconsin in a 72-61 win. However, they fell short to the No. 1 seeded Duke Blue Devils in a 93-55 loss. This was a big moment in the university's history and sports legacy.

2024: Championship Section Champion

In 2024, the JMU Brass Band is the Championship Section Champion at the North American Brass Band Association (NABBA).

2024: Men's Rugby Club 50th Anniversary

In 2024, the Men's Rugby Club celebrated its 50th anniversary, commemorating half a century of sportsmanship and community at JMU.

2024: U.S. News & World Report Ranking

In 2024, the U.S. News & World Report ranked James Madison University No. 124 among national universities.

March 2025: James C. Schmidt Announced as Seventh President

In March 2025, it was announced that James C. Schmidt would become the seventh president of James Madison University.

July 2025: Schmidt Takes Office

In July 2025, James C. Schmidt is scheduled to take office as the seventh president of James Madison University.

2025: Greek Life Participation

As of 2025, over 20% of the undergraduate population participates in Greek life.

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