Hello and Happy Third Week of Classes!

I hope you all feel as if you are in the swing of things now that the semester is well under way and we're approaching October and the fall weather! Campus will start to change as the season does, the leaves will fade into fall shades and brighten into beautiful reds, and chatter of apple picking, pumpkin carving, and harvest festivals will be abuzz. For now, please enjoy the snapshots that I've included as we slowly start to see a shift in the season.

Below are some dates and deadlines for you to be considering as you move forward:

Deadlines for adding classes with instructor and academic unit head permission:

Semester class:  Thursday, September 17, 2015

First eight-week class:  Thursday, September 17, 2015

Second eight-week class:  Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Course adjustment deadlines (to withdraw with a W grade or change credit or repeat options):

Semester Class:  Thursday, October 29, 2015

First eight-week class:  Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Second eight-week class:  Thursday, November 19, 2015

~After the course adjustment deadlines, you cannot withdraw from a class through MyMadison and you should contact the Registrar if there are any questions~

There is also a date for withdrawing from the university if you decide that JMU just isn't for you. While many love it here, it's totally understandable that some may choose different paths and that's ok. I hope that if this is something you're considering, that you pursue whatever brings you joy :) 

The date for withdrawing from the university with the cancellation of tuition charges is tomorrow, Friday, September 18. If this is something you pursue, there are some steps involved in the process. The first step is to pick up a Non-Returning/Leave of Absence Information Form. You can click on the title of the form listed and it will link you to it, or pick one up from the Registrar's Office. This includes a checklist you must complete before successfully separating from JMU.

Thanks for bearing with me- dates and deadlines are important, but now I get to share some of the exciting things that campus has to offer and that are happening right now around us!

The Frances Plecker Education Center

In case you haven't been, this is my shameless plug for The Edith J. Carrier Arboretum. It is BEAUTIFUL and with the leaves changing color fall is a wonderful time for a visit. Located on University Boulevard (across from the University Boulevard entrance to campus and E-hall and Convo) the arboretum is named for JMU's former first lady and is the only arboretum located on a public university campus in VA. With over 33 acres of botanical gardens and 92 acres of forest, it's a refreshing atmosphere in which to walk, jog, lounge, and take in the wildlife sights. Frequently spotted are turtles, ducks, countless species of birds, and some creepy crawlers too! In the winter months, holiday carriage rides are offered, as well as for Valentines and Mothers' Day. Finally, there's an intricate Labyrinth that is off the beaten path that offers a quiet place to for self-reflection, fashioned after the history of labyrinths as meditative art forms and a PoetTree located near the pond. I'll let you take a guess at what that means, but I also encourage you to check it out yourself and see what I'm so excited about!

A View from the Pond

Upcoming Events: 

1) UPB's Movie this week is Cinderella. For $3...that's right, $3...stop by Grafton-Stovall and enjoy a re-make of the Disney classic. Showings are September 16-19 at 7:00 P.M.

2) Bare Naked Ladies is a student organization dedicated to spreading positivity by promoting healthy body image, self-confidence, and comfort with our natural beauty. If you're interested in seeing what they're all about, their first general meeting is next Tuesday, September 22, at 7:30 PM in Showker, Room G6.

3) Have you heard of the Lip Sync Battles on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon? UPB is hosting it's very own version at Taylor Down Under on next Thursday, September 24, at 7:00 PM. There will be free Campus Cookies AND Shaun Nerney, one of the talented members of Exit 245 (one of JMU's rockin' A Capella groups!), will be your host for the evening...and maybe even have a performance of his own!

P.S. If you haven't heard of any of JMU's A Capella groups, they are AMAZING. We've got some serious talent here on campus. Right now, Notoriety is getting really positive attention for their cover of "Pretty Hurts" which is posted here, as well Exit 245's cover of "19 You & Me." Enjoy :) 

As always, I leave you with some words that I hope are whatever you need them to be for you:

If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place.

~Nora Roberts~