James Madison University
EN-2: Student Orientation

JMU Orientation components include The One Book, Summer Springboard, and 1787 August Orientation.

Environmental stewardship, sustainable transportation, and engagement information are included in The One Book. The environmental stewardship section clearly states that environmental stewardship is an institutional goal and focuses on actions students can take to learn and participate. The One Book is presented as students' one-stop-shop that contains all the important steps, details and information needed to begin the transition to JMU. The One Book, and the companion website, guide new students (there is a version for first-year students and one for transfer students) through steps to complete in preparation for Summer Springboard. https://www.jmu.edu/onebook/index.shtml

During Orientation in 2017, Dining Services introduced a comprehensive Dining Program Guide, featuring a 2-page overview of key ongoing sustainability efforts. Guides were offered to all first-year and transfer students during the 1787 Orientation Resource Fair. The Office of Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability hosted a table at the Resource Fair in 2018. The OESS promoted student participation and engagement in activities.

Every first-year student participates in a program about inclusion and awareness of self and others at JMU's "We Are JMU: Springboard Orientation" program. See STARS PA-4.

During move in (at the beginning of Orientation week), students living in the residence halls receive one bag per room to collect and carry their recycling to central collection stations in their residence hall. The bag has recycling guidelines and the campus environmental stewardship logo on it. A letter is emailed to all incoming first-year students in May, and it includes, "Before you purchase any items, stop and think. We encourage you to be educated consumers and good stewards of the environment. Buy only what you need. Rather than buying new items, use things you may already own or can borrow from neighbors, friends, etc. Compare prices and quality with what you can find at your local retailer. Reduce, reuse and recycle!" This message was added to the annual letter over at the recommendation of a residential learning community that reviewed certain Office of Residence Life practices. Recycling information for boxes is posted and distributed electronically during move in.

Ethical reasoning and environmental stewardship are embedded in Orientation programs. JMU’s ethical reasoning program, which is introduced to students during a sequence of Orientation programs, aligns with many of the principles indicated in the Earth Charter as a means to a sustainable community. Students learn questions to ask of themselves and others in ethical decision-making to examine issues of fairness, duties and obligations, rights, liberty, empathy, outcomes, character, and legitimate authority.

Ethical Reasoning in Action (The Madison Collaborative) aims to prepare students to be enlightened citizens who will apply ethical reasoning to personal, professional, and civic life. The campus-wide program helps students develop the knowledge and critical thinking skills to resolve ethical situations that they will encounter during the Madison experience, and beyond.

Incoming, first-year undergraduate students are introduced to "Ethical Reasoning in Action (The Madison Collaborative)" via the One Book publication, detailed above, and then again during Summer Springboard. Finally, students experience the 75-minute “It's Complicated" ethical reasoning program during 1787 August Orientation, a week of welcome, where students are challenged to: think about the ethical considerations of a case scenario using the Eight Key Questions, discuss in small peer groups, and eventually arrive at a group decision. The process of ethical reasoning encourages us to challenge biases and critically examine situations before acting – skills for ethical and sustainable citizenship. https://www.jmu.edu/orientation/its-complicated/
see http://www.jmu.edu/ethicalreasoning/8-key-questions.shtml

All undergraduate first-year and transfer students receive a version of The One Book and are invited to attend the Orientation Resource Fair.

Responsible party for ethical reasoning: Dr. Lori Pyle, Associate Chair, Ethical Reasoning in Action (The Madison Collaborative). Data are for Fall 2017: 80% of incoming students were undergraduate first-year students. They were required to participate in "It's Complicated," but there were some absences. It is estimated that 95% or more of these students attended. Transfer and graduate students do not participate in the "It's Complicated" ethical reasoning program.

Responsible party for dining information: Ms. Amanda Presgraves, Sustainability Coordinator, Dining Services.

Responsible party for bag information: Mr. Holmes Brown, Assistant Director, Business Operations, Office of Residence Life.

Responsible party for orientation letter: Dr. James McConnel, AVP, Student Affairs and University Planning.