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James Madison University – Professors-in-Residence (PIR) Program

What is the Professors-in-Residence Program?

The Professors In Residence (PIR) program is an educational project run by James Madison University (JMU) to advance the post-secondary graduation and college aspirations of underserved and underrepresented students in Virginia middle and high schools. Each of the participating public schools in the program will be assigned a JMU lecturer who pays a weekly visit to work with advisors, administrators and students on matters / matters determined by the partner school.

The PIR program focuses on schools with different groups of students who have not had sufficient opportunities to attend colleges and universities in the past, and is aimed at schools where a very high percentage of students receive free lunch.

The idea for the PIR arose from the Presidential Commission Diversity of the JMU, which Dr. Rose in the fall of 2003 in order to design a university concept for the promotion of diversity that corresponds to the JMU’s mandate. As part of the discussion on diversity, on October 2, 2003, the Senate of JMU faculties endorsed the establishment of a school program that would give underrepresented and underserved Virginia students the opportunity to attend university. I

The PIR program approved by the president is an integral part of the JMU’s diversity plan and thus in line with the mission of the university, its core values ​​and “defining features”, which:

  • The university will be innovative in programs and services.
  • The university will be a diverse community whose members will share and contribute to a shared JMU experience.
  • The university will serve our country, region, and nation and will be recognized at the national level.
  • The university will preserve our legacy of nurturing and nurturing enduring relationships with its constituencies.


Environmental responsibility of the JMU

Program objectives

The PIR program is designed to provide academic support to a select number of participating Virginia middle and high schools. Host schools tend to be diverse, have a high percentage of students with free lunch, and want help educating students and parents about post-secondary education opportunities.

The main objective of the program is twofold.

  • To academically empower Virginia high schools by sharing university technology, research-based information, and human resources to address the educational and social challenges faced by underserved / underrepresented middle and high school students, their families and communities
    See link here: Mindfulness Training for Students
  • Increase the number of underrepresented high school students in Virginia enrolling in colleges and universities.

For this purpose and to maintain relationships with the participating schools, the teachers at the JMU are assigned to specific schools. Each faculty member meets weekly with students, administrators, counselors and / or teachers at the assigned school.

How to become a PIR faculty

Faculty members of the PIR program sign a two to three year contract. The faculty participants receive half a teaching and service load reduction and attend the assigned school once a week. Those interested in the program should contact Dr. David Owusu-Ansah (owusuadx@jmu.edu).

Professors and partner schools:

The JMU has many committed professors and doctoral students from across the campus who contribute significantly to the success of the PIR program. You will spend at least one day a week attending the assigned school.

The partner schools are as follows:

Middle schools

Thomas Harrison Middle School http://web.harrisonburg.k12.va.us/thms/

Skyline Middle School http://web.harrisonburg.k12.va.us/skms/

Elkhardt Thompson Middle School https://www.rvaschools.net/ETMS

Lucille Brown Middle School https://www.rvaschools.net/LBMS

Kate Collins Middle School

Lucy Addison Middle School Addison.rcps.info

Prince Edward County pecps.k12.va.us

Universities

Harrisonburg High http://web.harrisonburg.k12.va.us/hhs/

Waynesboro High http://www.whs.waynesboro.k12.va.us/

George Wythe High https://www.rvaschools.net/GWHS

Huguenot high https://www.rvaschools.net/HHS

William Fleming High fleming.rcps.info

Prince Edward County High pecps.k12.va.us

Partner schools—These are former PIR schools that do not currently have a PIR faculty assigned. However, the PIR program maintains links through which the affiliated schools may occasionally submit PIR program inquiries. Affiliated schools include Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, Washington Lee High School, and Wakefield High School, both in Arlington.

Additional Information:

Please contact us for more information DR. David Owusu-Ansah, Professor of History and Executive Director, Faculty Access & Inclusion, at owusuadx@jmu.edu