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James Madison University
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James Madison University - Diversity - Diversity - College ProwlerCollege Prowler2.69

Diversity

C+
Where does this grade come from?View all Diversity rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Diversity Grades:

Quick Stats

African American 4%
Asian American 5%
Hispanic 2%
International 1%
Native American 0%
White 81%
Unknown 6%
Historically Black College/University? No
Tribal College? No
Out-of-State Students 30%
Common States of Residence
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Pennsylvania
Student Age Breakdown Under 18: 1%
18-19: 41%
20-21: 42%
22-24: 13%
25+: 3%
Female Faculty 45%
Male Faculty 55%
Faculty Diversity African American: 3%
Asian American: 3%
Hispanic: 2%
International: 3%
Native American: 0%
White: 85%
Unknown: 5%

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

At first glance, JMU may seem to be about as diverse as homogenized milk. On a second glance, you might not notice any more variety until you realize that, at JMU, diversity runs underneath the skin. Taking beliefs, hobbies, and outlooks into consideration, students note that the campus becomes a little less clone-like. Students have commented that minorities tend to stick together, but others stand by the belief that all students at Madison freely and frequently interact. Regardless, many students express woes about the lack of actual diversity on campus, but also realize that the miniscule amount of minorities present should be cultivated.

Recently, the institution has been striving to embrace and encourage diversity on campus by raising awareness through lectures on topics like Islam and globalization, and through events like Women of Color Week. Madison also works each year to recruit larger numbers of international and minority students to the school. However, if you think minorities are lacking, take a gander at the guy-girl ratio at JMU. For the ladies, finding a half-decent fella is like finding a prom date on the evening before the big dance. For guys, it’s like being the Bachelor every day.

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James Madison Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Diversity at James Madison University

animeaddict13

Pre-Medicine Studies '15

0.0
F

Lack of Minorities

James Madison University barely has any non-white, gay, or progressive students. The campus is mainly composed of white, middle to upper middle class, christian conservatives who are NOT welcoming to liberal ideas or the LGBT community.

Apr 27, 2012

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Diversity at James Madison University

sarahkkennedy

Psychology '15

4.2
A-

Very Accepting School

While the majority of the students are white christians, the students and faculty go out of their way to be accepting of all religious backgrounds, ethnicities, and sexual orientations. There are clubs and other such things for people of all different backgrounds, and although in reality most of the students are White, straight christians, it still has a very diverse feel because of how accepting everyone is.

Mar 09, 2012

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Diversity at James Madison University

gunninmj

Sport and Fitness Management '15

1.9
C-

Diversity?

The school tries to claim how diverse they are when really most of the students are white middle class kids from very similar backgrounds.

Feb 15, 2012

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Page 1 of 10
User rating for James Madison University - Diversity is 3.5 out of 5 based on 30 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

How diverse is the student body in the following areas?

How diverse is your personal circle of friends in the following areas?

How accepting is the campus community as a whole toward someone who falls into the minority (ethnic, sexual, or religious)?

How would you best describe your personal political beliefs?

How would you best describe the political beliefs of campus as a whole?

Facts

Gay Pride

Students generally are very accepting of people with different sexual orientations, and even participate in the different clubs related to gay pride. Most notably is Madison Equality, whose primary mission is to “promote tolerance and acceptance through education and awareness.”

Political Activity

JMU showed its enthusiasm for politics during the political rally in the fall of 2008, when Senator Barack Obama visited the school to encourage young voters to make a difference. Through groups like the JMU College Republicans, the Madison Political Affairs Club, and the JMU College Democrats, a variety of opinions and political affiliations can be found on campus. Even for those uninterested in government politics, the SGA (Student Government Association) deals with letting students’ concerns being taken to the JMU administration.

Economic Status

Although JMU students come from various social and economic backgrounds, the majority are from middle-class or upper-middle-class families.

Most Common Religions

The most prominent religions on campus are Protestantism and Catholicism. Religious houses and organizations, such as the Canterbury Episcopalian house and the Catholic Campus Ministry house, can be found in areas surrounding campus and religious services, and groups meet regularly on campus.

Minority Clubs on Campus

Despite the lack of diversity, JMU has committed itself to having a vast number of groups to incorporate students of all backgrounds. One of the broadest and most influential of these organizations is CMISS (Center for Multicultural/International Student Services). A large number of Greek, cultural, and religious organizations have formed under the umbrella of CMISS, including Gamma Sigma Sigma, the African Student Organization, and the Latino Student Alliance.

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Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Rosemary Grant
Hometown
Alexandria, VA
Major
English/Media Arts & Design

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

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How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. The statistics on our site are from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS database.
We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
For additional information we encourage you to visit school websites or contact the schools directly.