(09-05-2014 12:57 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(09-05-2014 12:19 PM)Potomac Wrote:  

(09-05-2014 12:15 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(09-05-2014 12:07 PM)Potomac Wrote:  I somehow missed the memo about how being a top 6 south regional university is a bad thing.

When I applied, we were #2 behind UR. Then UR changed classifications, and we were #1. We've fallen to #6 since then.

Are you sure it wasn't #1 public? I know we were #1 public for something like 17 years until the citadel passed about 2-4 years ago.
FWIW, US news uses alumni giving rates as a metric of measurement for your ranking. Although it's important, how is alumni giving in any way significant in ranking a school's academic quality?
It's more an indication of two things. 1) how much alumni end up making on average and 2) how they perceive their school. I would say that giving rates are poor outside of Ivy's, Junior Ivy's (patriot league and w&m), and BCS programs.

The problem is that US news doesn't post past years' rankings for comparison purposes. I wish they did.

I remember reading somewhere that US News officials said the primary reason why the citadel passed us in the rankings was their alumni giving rate compared to ours.

We were #1 public, tied for # 2 overall in 2000. Quite a fall according to US News, which I know is far from perfect.

Nonethless. We have been passed academically and athletically over the last 15 years, by many objective measures. I struggle to see why so much of the prior administration has been allowed to hang around, and why we hired to a listless yes man with no vision.

I'm not motivated to continue to donate $3k+/year, as I have over the last couple of years. And it sucks, because JMU needs the money now more than ever....but I have zero faith in our administration. They lack charisma, they lack leadership, and they lack the ability to inspire.

http://www.jmu.edu/jmuweb/general/genera...0658.shtml

+1, well said

Interesting comments on this thread. Many good points made.

I, however, have chosen to give- and have increased every over the last several years. I plan on continuing that trend. Maybe I'm just a simpleton, but I feel an obligation to contribute. It always struck how JMU was downgraded in the College Rankings because of alumni support. So, now that I can help change it I'm doing my part. Too bad I'm not T Boone Pickins! Anyway, someone has to take a first step. No, I don't me me, but our generations. We have to set the example by giving. I'm not waiting on anyone nor any condition to met before I start.

FWIW, Because we don't have many major donors, it's amazing how many people of influence I've been able to meet in a short period of time. So, by being proactive now I am beginning to have influence. With influence change can be effected. Not at my pace, but at least I'm beginning to have a voice.

These budget cuts mean our money is valued than ever. I hear peoples' frustrations, I have mine. For me, donating and increasing my influence is more beneficial than complaining about things.




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Interesting comments on this thread. Many good points made.

I, however, have chosen to give- and have increased every over the last several years. I plan on continuing that trend. Maybe I'm just a simpleton, but I feel an obligation to contribute. It always struck how JMU was downgraded in the College Rankings because of alumni support. So, now that I can help change it I'm doing my part. Too bad I'm not T Boone Pickins! Anyway, someone has to take a first step. No, I don't me me, but our generations. We have to set the example by giving. I'm not waiting on anyone nor any condition to met before I start.

FWIW, Because we don't have many major donors, it's amazing how many people of influence I've been able to meet in a short period of time. So, by being proactive now I am beginning to have influence. With influence change can be effected. Not at my pace, but at least I'm beginning to have a voice.

These budget cuts mean our money is valued than ever. I hear peoples' frustrations, I have mine. For me, donating and increasing my influence is more beneficial than complaining about things.




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(09-05-2014 04:21 PM)TXGiant Wrote:  Interesting comments on this thread. Many good points made.

I, however, have chosen to give- and have increased every over the last several years. I plan on continuing that trend. Maybe I'm just a simpleton, but I feel an obligation to contribute. It always struck how JMU was downgraded in the College Rankings because of alumni support. So, now that I can help change it I'm doing my part. Too bad I'm not T Boone Pickins! Anyway, someone has to take a first step. No, I don't me me, but our generations. We have to set the example by giving. I'm not waiting on anyone nor any condition to met before I start.

FWIW, Because we don't have many major donors, it's amazing how many people of influence I've been able to meet in a short period of time. So, by being proactive now I am beginning to have influence. With influence change can be effected. Not at my pace, but at least I'm beginning to have a voice.

These budget cuts mean our money is valued than ever. I hear peoples' frustrations, I have mine. For me, donating and increasing my influence is more beneficial than complaining about things.




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Nice...I was at JMU when there were mover's and shaker's on staff. If people were concerned about their job, they sure didn't show it. Today, it appears, the people in charge, like they're paycheck more than their responsibility. It tough for me to hold your view, I hope you can be accepting of this. I will continue to love and support JMU, but if they want me to really jump in, a change in attitude must take place.

(09-05-2014 04:37 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(09-05-2014 04:21 PM)TXGiant Wrote:  Interesting comments on this thread. Many good points made.

I, however, have chosen to give- and have increased every over the last several years. I plan on continuing that trend. Maybe I'm just a simpleton, but I feel an obligation to contribute. It always struck how JMU was downgraded in the College Rankings because of alumni support. So, now that I can help change it I'm doing my part. Too bad I'm not T Boone Pickins! Anyway, someone has to take a first step. No, I don't me me, but our generations. We have to set the example by giving. I'm not waiting on anyone nor any condition to met before I start.

FWIW, Because we don't have many major donors, it's amazing how many people of influence I've been able to meet in a short period of time. So, by being proactive now I am beginning to have influence. With influence change can be effected. Not at my pace, but at least I'm beginning to have a voice.

These budget cuts mean our money is valued than ever. I hear peoples' frustrations, I have mine. For me, donating and increasing my influence is more beneficial than complaining about things.




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Nice...I was at JMU when there were mover's and shaker's on staff. If people were concerned about their job, they sure didn't show it. Today, it appears, the people in charge, like they're paycheck more than their responsibility. It tough for me to hold your view, I hope you can be accepting of this. I will continue to love and support JMU, but if they want me to really jump in, a change in attitude must take place.

I don't disagree with your assessment! I do accept your position. We each choose our own path. I can tell you care or you wouldn't be here! My hope is that in time there can be enough like-minded people of influence to affect much-needed change.


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Nice illustration here about how far behind VT JMU has fallen since I applied. Unless you were an engineering student, there is little chance that you would have chosen VT over JMU in the early 90s.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/...abg=1&_r=1

I believe that football changed that almost on its own.

(09-05-2014 05:17 PM)Purple Pilgrim Wrote:  Nice illustration here about how far behind VT JMU has fallen since I applied. Unless you were an engineering student, there is little chance that you would have chosen VT over JMU in the early 90s.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/...abg=1&_r=1

I believe that football changed that almost on its own.

OK, so do you want to sit back and let it continue to slip or do you want to do something about it? I'm just not sure what point this makes other than to rationalize your giving level or lack thereof?


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(09-05-2014 05:17 PM)Purple Pilgrim Wrote:  Nice illustration here about how far behind VT JMU has fallen since I applied. Unless you were an engineering student, there is little chance that you would have chosen VT over JMU in the early 90s.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/...abg=1&_r=1

I believe that football changed that almost on its own.

That's a very small sample size, 19 students. I would question where those 19 students come from. It would be totally believable if at least half of them were from the southwestern part of VA. All it takes is for a group of friends who are from one area to spread via word of mouth about this survey to skew the results.

I continue to run into a lot of people who wanted JMU but didn't get accepted and then went to Tech. Though, the results are what they are so I'll accept them.

(09-05-2014 05:17 PM)Purple Pilgrim Wrote:  Nice illustration here about how far behind VT JMU has fallen since I applied. Unless you were an engineering student, there is little chance that you would have chosen VT over JMU in the early 90s.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/...abg=1&_r=1

I believe that football changed that almost on its own.

Exactly. It was the same when I went to JMU in the '98. VT was my safety school at the time with JMU being my top choice. This was more the norm than the exception then. Pretty sad actually, and football is definitely the reason for this shift.

(09-05-2014 05:38 PM)TXGiant Wrote:  

(09-05-2014 05:17 PM)Purple Pilgrim Wrote:  Nice illustration here about how far behind VT JMU has fallen since I applied. Unless you were an engineering student, there is little chance that you would have chosen VT over JMU in the early 90s.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/...abg=1&_r=1

I believe that football changed that almost on its own.

OK, so do you want to sit back and let it continue to slip or do you want to do something about it? I'm just not sure what point this makes other than to rationalize your giving level or lack thereof?


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I'm not sure why you think I'm not doing something about it. Most if my interraction and giving with and to JMU comes on the academic side. That said, I don't think it hurts to share information with interested alumni to let them realize that there are very real issues involving our alma mater.

(09-05-2014 09:20 PM)Purple Pilgrim Wrote:  

(09-05-2014 05:38 PM)TXGiant Wrote:  

(09-05-2014 05:17 PM)Purple Pilgrim Wrote:  Nice illustration here about how far behind VT JMU has fallen since I applied. Unless you were an engineering student, there is little chance that you would have chosen VT over JMU in the early 90s.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/...abg=1&_r=1

I believe that football changed that almost on its own.

OK, so do you want to sit back and let it continue to slip or do you want to do something about it? I'm just not sure what point this makes other than to rationalize your giving level or lack thereof?


Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

I'm not sure why you think I'm not doing something about it. Most if my interraction and giving with and to JMU comes on the academic side. That said, I don't think it hurts to share information with interested alumni to let them realize that there are very real issues involving our alma mater.

I agree. You are correct, I shouldn't have made that assumption. I apologize. Go Dukes.




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(09-05-2014 05:17 PM)Purple Pilgrim Wrote:  Nice illustration here about how far behind VT JMU has fallen since I applied. Unless you were an engineering student, there is little chance that you would have chosen VT over JMU in the early 90s.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/...abg=1&_r=1

I believe that football changed that almost on its own.

Va Tech had a decent Div 1 football program in the early 90s - JMU had an unheard of Div 1-AA program. If football is the difference between the academic status of the two schools now, why didn't it make a difference then?

(09-05-2014 10:01 PM)POTUS#4 Wrote:  

(09-05-2014 05:17 PM)Purple Pilgrim Wrote:  Nice illustration here about how far behind VT JMU has fallen since I applied. Unless you were an engineering student, there is little chance that you would have chosen VT over JMU in the early 90s.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/...abg=1&_r=1

I believe that football changed that almost on its own.

Va Tech had a decent Div 1 football program in the early 90s - JMU had an unheard of Div 1-AA program. If football is the difference between the academic status of the two schools now, why didn't it make a difference then?

1999 put them on the national stage and made them both more recognizable to out of state students and more desirable for in state students. If you have been driving down 81 for the past 15 years, you can see the physical difference in Blackburg where they have had to reconstruct the highway and add new bypasses (plural).

VT has had the same state budgetary concerns that JMU has had over the past 10 years, but both the publicity and the increased alumni involvement that football has provided have allowed the to weather it better.

Although 99 was the bellwether for VT, you are correct that the FB program was growing before then. There was a dedicated group of alumni from the 60s who made a concerted effort to fund VT's athletic programs. 99 was the end of a long process rather than an instant explosion.

In my conversations with JMU's faculty, there seem to be two consistent concerns: (1) the lack of scholarship dollars to attract more desirable - usually out of state students, and (2) good, young faculty being plucked by other schools. VT has not been affected by theses issues as greatly because football itself has made VT more attractive to many students, and (in addition to massive athletic giving) VT's alumni have funneled a great deal of funds into academic scholarships and endowed chairs.

It will be a long process of JMU to turn this around, but my hope is that we are starting to have a similarly "engaged" (sorry to borrow the term) group of alumni that will help JMU to change the course it has taken.

(09-05-2014 09:28 PM)TXGiant Wrote:  

(09-05-2014 09:20 PM)Purple Pilgrim Wrote:  

(09-05-2014 05:38 PM)TXGiant Wrote:  

(09-05-2014 05:17 PM)Purple Pilgrim Wrote:  Nice illustration here about how far behind VT JMU has fallen since I applied. Unless you were an engineering student, there is little chance that you would have chosen VT over JMU in the early 90s.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/...abg=1&_r=1

I believe that football changed that almost on its own.

OK, so do you want to sit back and let it continue to slip or do you want to do something about it? I'm just not sure what point this makes other than to rationalize your giving level or lack thereof?


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I'm not sure why you think I'm not doing something about it. Most if my interraction and giving with and to JMU comes on the academic side. That said, I don't think it hurts to share information with interested alumni to let them realize that there are very real issues involving our alma mater.

I agree. You are correct, I shouldn't have made that assumption. I apologize. Go Dukes.




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Having slept on it, it was probably a fair assumption given the overall level of alumni giving.