What bathroom style does Paul Jennings use?

POD-style shared bathrooms -- smaller shared pods rather than one long hall bathroom.

Are all Paul Jennings floors first-year?

No -- floors 1-3 are first-year; floors 4-5 house upperclass and transfer students, and floor 3 can be used for them if needed.

Does Paul Jennings have a built-in closet?

No, rooms use a free-standing wardrobe instead of a built-in closet, plus a 3-drawer dresser.

When was Paul Jennings Hall built?

It opened in 2019, making it JMU's newest large first-year hall.

Is Paul Jennings Hall a good hall to live in?

That depends on what you're optimizing for, but here's what's verified: Paul Jennings Hall has Twin XL, 36"x80", adjustable loft bed frame beds with Loft bed, 5"-55" clearance of under-bed storage, and is fully air conditioned. James Madison University provides bed frame with Twin XL mattress, standard desk with 3 drawers, desk chair, free-standing wardrobe, 3-drawer dresser, wired/wireless internet in every room. Compare those specifics against your priorities — or see how Paul Jennings Hall stacks up against James Madison University's other halls above.

Harrisonburg, VA · On-campus housing required for all first-years

Paul Jennings Hall Dorm Checklist 2026

James Madison University

Traditional doubles, POD-style shared bathrooms (~498 residents)

Verified Aug 19, 2026 · jmu.edu

JMU's newest first-year hall, opened 2019 with POD-style shared baths.

Bed SizeTwin XL, 36"x80", adjustable loft bed frame
Under-BedLoft bed, 5"-55" clearance
ACYes
On-CampusRequired (all first-year students must live in university residence halls for both fall and spring; JMU does not publish a first-year on-campus percentage. Exceptions may be made for students commuting daily from within 60 miles of a parent's or guardian's permanent address, students 21 or older, students with prior active duty military service, and students who are married or have a dependent minor living with them.)

✓ In the room

bed frame with Twin XL mattressstandard desk with 3 drawersdesk chairfree-standing wardrobe3-drawer dresserwired/wireless internet

✗ Not provided

bed linenstowelsstorage binsin-room microwave

⊘ Prohibited

candles/open flamespace heatershot platesmicrowaves and air fryerspersonal AC unitswireless routersextension cordsduct tape on walls

Floors 4-5 house upperclass and transfer students, not exclusively first-years.

Living in Paul Jennings Hall: what to know before you pack

The room

Paul Jennings Hall, opened in 2019 and named for Paul Jennings, a man enslaved by the Madison family who later bought his freedom and wrote the first White House memoir, is JMU's newest large first-year hall with about 498 residents on five floors. Rooms are traditional-style doubles with LVT flooring and drywall, a standard desk with three drawers, a desk chair, a free-standing wardrobe instead of a built-in closet, a 3-drawer dresser, and the adjustable loft bed frame with 5 to 55 inches of clearance (Twin XL mattress, 36" x 80"). Bathrooms are POD-style -- smaller shared pods rather than one long hall bathroom -- which many students find offers more privacy than traditional hall bathrooms. Paul Jennings sits in JMU's Category D rate tier, which Residence Life defines as air-conditioned and built or renovated since 2019.

Day to day

Floors 1-3 of Paul Jennings are reserved for first-year students, while floors 4-5 house upperclass and transfer students (with upperclass and transfer students housed on floor 3 if needed), so incoming freshmen share the building but not every floor with returning students. The hall sits on East Campus along University Boulevard in the Skyline area, close to Chandler, Chesapeake, and Shenandoah halls. Central air conditioning is standard. Personal microwaves and air fryers are prohibited in rooms -- only a MicroFridge combo rented through JMU's partnership is permitted -- and the free-standing wardrobe setup gives residents a bit more flexibility for room layout than built-in closets. Paul Jennings is one of the halls whose laundry room uses the Speed Queen app or quarters rather than JACard.

Move-in day

Paul Jennings residents move in during the same Fall 2026 first-year window as the rest of campus, Friday, August 21 through Saturday, August 22, with appointments running 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and selected August 3-12 once assignments post by July 31. Its University Boulevard location means move-in traffic is directed through the Skyline area, and the building has an elevator. Because closets here are free-standing wardrobes rather than built-in, students should double check furniture dimensions before bringing bulky over-the-door organizers. Upperclass and transfer move-in runs August 23-24, with classes starting Wednesday, August 26.

Room ideas

See The Raised Bed styled

The frame goes up, and the floor underneath comes back as storage.

Styled render — not a photo of Paul Jennings Hall.

Dorm shopping guides: Mini fridge · Surge protector · Storage bins · Mattress topper · Desk lamp · Bedding sets · Twin XL sheets · Shower caddy · Towels · Shower shoes · Laundry hamper · Area rug · Mirror · Over-door organizer · Closet organizers · Fans (no AC) · Loft bed setup

Sources & verification — last checked Aug 19, 2026

Paul Jennings Hall FAQ

What bathroom style does Paul Jennings use?: POD-style shared bathrooms -- smaller shared pods rather than one long hall bathroom.
Are all Paul Jennings floors first-year?: No -- floors 1-3 are first-year; floors 4-5 house upperclass and transfer students, and floor 3 can be used for them if needed.
Does Paul Jennings have a built-in closet?: No, rooms use a free-standing wardrobe instead of a built-in closet, plus a 3-drawer dresser.
When was Paul Jennings Hall built?: It opened in 2019, making it JMU's newest large first-year hall.
Is Paul Jennings Hall a good hall to live in?: That depends on what you're optimizing for, but here's what's verified: Paul Jennings Hall has Twin XL, 36"x80", adjustable loft bed frame beds with Loft bed, 5"-55" clearance of under-bed storage, and is fully air conditioned. James Madison University provides bed frame with Twin XL mattress, standard desk with 3 drawers, desk chair, free-standing wardrobe, 3-drawer dresser, wired/wireless internet in every room. Compare those specifics against your priorities — or see how Paul Jennings Hall stacks up against James Madison University's other halls above.

Thinking About Living in Paul Jennings Hall Next Year?

If you're choosing housing for next year rather than packing for move-in, here's what's already verified about Paul Jennings Hall: it has Twin XL, 36"x80", adjustable loft bed frame beds with Loft bed, 5"-55" clearance of under-bed clearance, and the room is air conditioned. On top of that, the room comes with bed frame with Twin XL mattress, standard desk with 3 drawers, desk chair, free-standing wardrobe, 3-drawer dresser, wired/wireless internet; you'll need to bring bed linens, towels, storage bins, in-room microwave yourself; candles/open flame, space heaters, hot plates, microwaves and air fryers, personal AC units, wireless routers, extension cords, duct tape on walls isn't allowed. The full day-to-day breakdown above covers the room, the building, and move-in day in more depth.

Still weighing this hall against others? Our guide on how to pick a dorm covers what actually matters, or see James Madison University’s other halls below.

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Each hall has its own verified checklist — pick yours for room-specific dimensions and packing lists.

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Paul Jennings Hall Dorm Checklist 2026

Living in Paul Jennings Hall: what to know before you pack

The room

Day to day

Move-in day

See The Raised Bed styled

Everything for your Paul Jennings Hall room

Bedding

Fan — optional

Bathroom

Personal Care & Grooming

Self-Care Essentials

Storage & Organization

Closet Space-Savers

Tech & Power

Laundry

Desk & Study

Health & Safety

Comfort & Room

Kitchen & Dining

Misc Essentials

Move-In Day Gear

Paul Jennings Hall FAQ

Thinking About Living in Paul Jennings Hall Next Year?

More James Madison University halls