CAMPUS PROFILE: James Madison University

Campus Reform Campus Profiles evaluate individual American college campuses based on liberal bias, speech codes, and other relevant policies and factors.

James Madison University is a public university under the auspices of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Around 21,000 undergraduate students are enrolled at the university.

Official Political Student Organizations:

Conservative Organizations:

     College Republicans

     Young Americans for Liberty

     Turning Point USA at James Madison University

Liberal Organizations: 

College Democrats

Environmental Club Management

Nextgen JMU

Planned Parenthood Generation Action at JMU

Shades of Pride

Young Democratic Socialists of America of James Madison University

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

OpenSecrets Data on James Madison University Employee Political Donations:

In the 2020 election cycle, 92.94% of James Madison University employee donations went to Democratic candidates in federal elections, while 7.06% of donations went to Republican candidates in federal elections, according to data from OpenSecrets. 

Foundation for Individual Rights in Education Rating:

James Madison University has been given a yellow light speech code. According to FIRE, this is due to “at least one university ambiguous policy that too easily encourages administrative abuse and arbitrary application.” FIRE also notes that a yellow light policy at a public institution is unconstitutional. 

COVID-19:

James Madison University is requiring a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for students.

Stories by Campus Reform about James Madison University:

A cappella group banned from singing Christian song at ‘unity tree’ ceremony

Due to secularism, a Christian acapella group was denied their request to sing a religious song at the annual unity tree lighting. 

University bribing faculty to take ‘inclusivity’ training

James Madison University bribed faculty members with a $250 stipend for participation in a semester-long inclusivity and diversity training course. 

JMU scholars assemble ‘feminist scholarship’ fellowship

James Madison University is tasking recipients of a “feminist scholarship” fellowship with maintaining a “feminist scholarship community.” The university told applicants to “briefly describe what you think makes scholarship feminist and how your project(s) fits that description.”