So we're here outside of festival
On family weekend and we've just
Met with the parents council 
And talk about energy excitement
Enthusiasm this was a group 
That was so full of all of those things
And are so supportive of the university
And they're experiencing it in a very 
Personal way through lives of their 
Children it was great to be with
Them today the word culture came 
Up over and over again in the
Conversation with the parents today
And what we hear about that is 
That you know it when you see it 
When you experience it and 
When you set foot on this campus 
And you see how friendly people
Are when you sense that this is 
A real community its not just a place
Where people come as individuals 
And focus on themselves but 
They are part of a learning community
And that means that they all have 
Something to learn and that 
They all have something to contribute 
To that community the parents 
Recognize that and they see that in their
Students and they get excited as they 
See their students grow in that way
And it is something we have to keep
Focusing on though we cant take 
It for granted as we go forward because 
That culture is a very important 
Facet of what makes JMU a unique
Educational experience so as we 
Think about strategic planning 
we need to think about 
how Do we protect and enhance that 
Culture going forward all 
Of us want what's best for our children
And when you can see your child
Thriving in an environment we 
Heard mention the fact that 
Some of the students referred to JMU as 
Home and that really says something
And for parents that's hard to hear 
But it shows that were doing our 
Jobs well that students come here 
And they feel very much a part of this
Community and as a parent that actually
Has to be a great thing to hear and to
Know that your son or your daughter
Is feeling so embraced by this community
That they can think of it as home 
