JMU embarks on six year expansion plan
Number of students to reach 21,500 by 2013
Posted on August 27, 2007
JMU is currently working on a six-year projection to expand its number of students to over 21,500 by 2013.
“The university actually is content with its current enrollment,” Don Egle, the director of public affairs, said. “However the university also feels that it has a responsibility to the commonwealth to meet the growing number of college bound students.”
In order to accommodate the growth, state funds, private funds, tuition and student fees will all provide the resources to fund the project, Egle said.
Assistant Vice President for Budget Management Diane Stamp also stressed the role of the state in appropriating funds.
“Our continued ability to meet student demand is dependent upon the state’s continued commitment to provide adequate base and capital funding,” she said.
As the student population grows, the campus will expand along with it. A couple of sites are currently under construction, including the new East Campus Library and the new tunnel project, which will lie beneath South Main Street, Egle said. The tunnel will connect the Quad to the Center for the Performing Arts. Also on the eastern side of campus, additional residence and dining halls will soon spring up.
Although the university is growing in size, there is one thing that must be understood by students:
“The university is not interested in sacrificing quality for quantity,” Egle said.
Some students, however, question the change.
“I think JMU needs to be very careful in how they approach the expansion because it very easily could be a positive or negative expansion,” senior resident advisor Rachael Wenger said. “However I do think they are doing all they can to make it a wonderful addition to the school.”
JMU will also expand the programs offered to students. The one that may make the most impact is the engineering program.
that may make the most impact is the engineering program.
“Obviously, there’s a big difference in the girl to boy ratio here at JMU that’s probably a little higher than what you’re finding in the national trend,” Egle said. “I think you have certain programs and if you look at the numbers, traditionally there’s more males in the engineering programs.
The expansion will not only effect the stratifications of the population and campus but also the Harrisonburg area.
“I think it will positively affect the Harrisonburg community in that it will bring extra revenue to the community,” Wenger said. “However I do think it will change the atmosphere of the community as well. I think a direct effect of the enlargement will be a loss of small town community feel to some of the other residents.”
Egle remained positive.
“I think growth is always good as long as its managed growth,” he said. “It’s a six year enrollment projection plan and that’s what were targeting for.”