Founded in 1908 in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, James Madison University (JMU) is a public four-year institution with 15,000 students. JMU offers more than 100 degree programs on the bachelor's, master's, educational specialist, and doctoral levels. According to the school's mission and values statements, JMU is a community committed to preparing students to become educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives, and a community that values excellence, integrity, and mutual respect. In the fall of 2007, Kappa Alpha Theta joined Alpha Phi, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Alpha Sigma Tau, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Sigma Kappa, Sigma Sigma Sigma, and Zeta Tau Alpha on JMU's Panhellenic Council.