James Madison University

American Conference Admits James Madison in Unanimous Vote

American Conference Admits James Madison in Unanimous Vote

Irving – October 12, 2026 -- The American Conference Board of Directors voted unanimously to admit James Madison University (JMU) as a full member, with competition to begin no later than July 1, 2028. The deal adds media inventory to the conference's existing platform and raises distributions for current members.

Six-part review preceded the vote

JMU submitted a formal written application, after which the conference ran a due diligence process covering six areas: institutional and academic alignment; competitive strength and trajectory; institutional investment; financial sustainability and member value; brand, media value and fan engagement; and geography and operational fit. The conference also commissioned a quantitative media-value study examining market characteristics, audience performance, fan engagement and competitive performance.

JMU Becomes First R2 University in VIPC's Lab-to-Launch Program

JMU Becomes First R2 University in VIPC's Lab-to-Launch Program

Richmond, Va. – October 07, 2026 -- James Madison University has become Virginia's first R2 research university to join the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation's Lab-to-Launch initiative, extending a statewide technology-transfer program beyond its original six R1 universities. JMU President Jim Schmidt and VIPC President and CEO Joe Benevento signed a ceremonial Memorandum of Understanding in Richmond on October 6.

JMU gains access to Virginia's first standardized Fast-Track License

Through Lab-to-Launch, JMU can now use Virginia's first-ever Fast-Track License, a standardized agreement designed to cut the cost and time required for inventors to license university-held intellectual property and spin out startups. The license is backed by VIPC's new Lab-to-Launch grant program.