Innovation, Tech, and Creative Resources

Introduction

Western Washington University provides many resources that give students the capability to explore and innovate beyond the classroom with tools emblematic of 21st century workplaces, develop entrepreneurial skills, and build community. This webpage is a guide to resources available to all students and how students can use the equipment, technology, and facilities on campus to grow, innovate, and apply ideas in real world applications.

Beyond first and second years at Western, individual schools provide additional innovation resources specific to that field of study.

For more basic resources such as laptop rental, financial literacy aid, and current employment opportunities, please visit the Basic Needs website

A woman in a face mask operates a large, industrial-grade FusionPro laser cutter, its blue lid partially open, revealing the machine's interior.
A cameraman wearing headphones films two people on a green screen set. The camera is mounted on a tripod, and the cameraman is looking through the viewfinder.

Suggestions?

This is an iterative and collaborative page, meaning we are constantly working to make these resource relevant, easy, and helpful for you, as students. Please email CEBR@wwu.edu if you have ideas for additional resources, comments on the existing page, or new ways for you to explore.

Learning Resources at Western

Creative Resources

3D printers are available through the Student Technology Center and the Makerspace. The Makerspace can also accommodate laser cutting, engraving, and vinyl cutting. Make stickers, create prototypes, and collaborate with peers.

At the Student Technology Center, all Western Students are allotted 25 grams of 3D printing per quarter for free and additional printing for a fee. To access this resource students need to fill out the 3D Printing Survey form. Learn more about 3D printers at Western, or watch a video explanation about how WWU Students can access this resource.

The Makerspace has both Glow Forge & Fusion Pro 3D printing for large and small-scale applications, as well as laser cutting, engraving, and vinyl cutting. Students must enroll on Canvas first. Tutorials are required and students must be supervised for their first project.

Location:   Student Technology Center, Haggard Hall (HH), Second Floor & The Makerspace, Ross Engineering Building (ET) 251, College of Science and Engineering

The Dark Room is used to process photographic film in complete darkness to develop light-sensitive materials. Film processing is intricate, so the facilities are only available to students with darkroom experience. Reservations are required. To book time,  email Garth Amundson. Classes are also available to immerse students in this process. 

Location:   Fine Arts Building (FI); College of Fine and Performing Arts

The Makerspace is equipped with a soldering station, hand tools like pliers, screwdrivers, drill kits, hammers, chisels, crescent wrench, wire, hot glue guns, brushes, sandpaper, levels, measuring tapes etc. Share ideas, build community, and innovate with your peers. Students must enroll on Canvas first. Tutorials are required and students must be supervised for their first project.

Location:   The Makerspace, Ross Engineering Building (ET) 251; College of Science and Engineering

Whether it's taking a break from your studies, pursuing a career in apparel, or creating for the Residence Hall Association (RHA) Craft Fair, there are several sewing machines available for student use. Sergers, embroidery machines, and traditional sewing machines are available. Specifically: Embroidery machines (Model # SE1900) and Brother sewing machines (Model #CS7000X) are available for student use at the Student Technology Center (STC) and Makerspace. To gain access to equipment at the Makerspace, students must enroll on Canvas first and complete the online tutorials. Some equipment requires students to be supervised for their first project. The Makerspace welcomes drop-ins. 

Location:   Student Technology Center, Haggard Hall (HH), Second Floor & The Makerspace, Ross Engineering Building (ET) 251

Emerging Technologies

Western provides various hardware development tools to support students in designing and prototyping electronic devices and systems. Whether you're working on circuit design, microcontroller programming, or IoT projects, these resources can help bring your hardware ideas to life.

Location:   Student Technology Center, Haggard Hall (HH), Second Floor

Set up your gaming console on campus and take advantage of various opportunities to engage with the gaming community. Some dorms host gaming events, so be sure to talk to your Resident Advisor about any upcoming activities. If you don’t live on campus, there are still plenty of options available. Several gaming clubs are active at WWU, and you can find them by using WIN.

Location:   Individual dorms & Associated Students

The Makerspace offers soldering, which plays a crucial role in hardware development by permanently joining electronic components to a circuit board or each other. Soldering is essential for building functional and durable electronic devices, prototypes, and custom hardware projects. Students must enroll in Canvas first. Tutorials are required and students must be supervised for their first project. 

Location:   The Makerspace, Ross Engineering Building (ET) 251; College of Science and Engineering

The Student Technology Center (STC) offers a virtual reality lab and VR rentals. The lab features a variety of games and programs. To use the lab, students must complete a VR certification workshop or a one-on-one certification appointment. The Google Daydream is also available for rent. Students must fill out the Rental Agreement form. More information on rentals can be found on the Student Technology Center website.

*** Just updated with new Valve Index. Older Quest 2 available as a rental.

Location:   Student Technology Center, Haggard Hall (HH) 219

Entrepreneurial Opportunities

The Entrepreneurship and Innovation (E&I) Program offers a minor, two certificate programs, and various classes that work in conjunction with any major. Opportunities are open to all students with no prerequisites. The program takes an interdisciplinary approach and aims to provide all students with critical thinking skills, a pioneering mindset and foster leadership. The breadth of the program crosses various industries to address economic opportunities, social challenges, and change. 

Nationally accredited and partially funded by the US Small Business Administration (SBA), the Western SBDC brings a consortium of business development resources to your community and Western students interested in starting their own business or learning more about starting a business. These assets are delivered to you through one-on-one counseling with certified business advisors, training events and small business market and strategy research.

Location:   2219 Rimland Drive, Suite 319; College of Business and Economics

Multimedia Content Creation

Classroom Services offers a a range of audio and production equipment including (but not limited to) tripods, lighting equipment, cameras, speakers, projectors, and laptops. See General Equipment and Rental & Loans page. Equipment is available for use in both the Digital Media Center (DMC) and the Audio Visual Suites.

Location:   Haggard Hall (HH) 123

The Student Technology Center offers rooms to edit audio and video files in silence and seclusion. These spaces are available to all students. Reserve the Audio Editing Lab or Reserve the Video Editing Lab.

Location:   Student Technology Center, Haggard Hall (HH) 219B, 219C

Host your own radio show! The mission of KUGS-FM is to serve the students of Western by providing a diverse program of music and information consistent with student interests. The station aims to encourages a greater understanding of the human differences and cultural pluralism within the university community and the world we live in. Through its programming, KUGS serves as a bridge from the university to the surrounding community.

Location:   Associated Students

The Dark Room is used to process photographic film in complete darkness to develop light-sensitive materials. Film processing is intricate, so the facilities are only available to students with darkroom experience. Reservations are required. To book time,  email Garth Amundson. Classes are also available to immerse students in this process. 

Location:   Fine Arts Building (FI); College of Fine and Performing Arts

The Digital Media Center is a free production space and equipment for students. Examples of uses are podcasts, interviews, class projects, LinkedIn photos. Please see their website for a full list of equipment and capabilities. While some equipment is available in the studio, lighting, microphones, tripods, cameras, and other equipment can be rented from the classroom services office. Feel free to stop by the DMC for help facilitating projects. 

Location:   Haggard Hall (HH) 246

Two dub racks are available for digitizing media, and transferring between different types of media. VHS, DVD or mini DV to DVD, or DVD to mini DV. To be used with STC supervisor only.

Location:   Student Technology Center, Haggard Hall (HH)

Research Services

Scientific Technical Services (SciTech or STS) is a department that supports research, scholarship and teaching across all colleges at WWU by providing access to advanced multi-user scientific instrumentation, machine and electronics shops, and equipment design, fabrication and repair services.

Students, staff, and faculty from across campus rely on SciTech for expert advice and training on scientific instrumentation, assistance with laboratory class instruction, to design, build, and repair equipment, and assist in the analysis of research and classroom samples. Hundreds of users come through our doors each year with projects ranging from the analysis of water quality samples, to the repair of antique Steinway pianos and the construction of custom equipment for Western athletic teams.  For over 30 years SciTech has been a centerpiece of Western’s innovation infrastructure, supporting research, creativity, and learning campus-wide.

Swing by the office in the environmental studies building to chat with an instrument specialist, or email Steven Emory,  semory@wwu.edu or Laura Hope, hopel@wwu.edu

Location:   Environmental Studies (ES) 508

The Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunities Grant Program provides undergraduates with up to $750 in funding to engage in research, scholarly and creative work that has the potential to significantly impact the student's educational goals and encourage engagement beyond the Western Community. 

Tech Equipment Rentals

There are two primary tech equipment rental and loan services on campus: Classroom Services and the Student Technology Center. Classroom Services offer a greater variety of equipment and offers longer rental periods than the Student Technology Center. 

Classroom Services equipment includes more basic, quarter-long laptops and other day-to-day essentials loans and multi-media and production equipment, including but not limited to tripods, lighting equipment, cameras, speakers, and projectors. See their website for a complete list, or swing by their desk in Haggard Hall, which can be accessed from Red Square. 

Location:   Haggard Hall (HH) 114

Scientific Technical Services (SciTech or STS) is a department that supports research, scholarship and teaching across all colleges at WWU by providing access to advanced multi-user scientific instrumentation, machine and electronics shops, and equipment design, fabrication and repair services.

Students, staff, and faculty from across campus rely on SciTech for expert advice and training on scientific instrumentation, assistance with laboratory class instruction, to design, build, and repair equipment, and assist in the analysis of research and classroom samples. Hundreds of users come through our doors each year with projects ranging from the analysis of water quality samples, to the repair of antique Steinway pianos and the construction of custom equipment for Western athletic teams.  For over 30 years SciTech has been a centerpiece of Western’s innovation infrastructure, supporting research, creativity, and learning campus-wide.

Swing by the office in the environmental studies building to chat with an instrument specialist, or email Steven Emory,  semory@wwu.edu or Laura Hope, hopel@wwu.edu

Location:   Environmental Studies (ES) 508

The Student Technology Center (STC) offers more short-term rentals and on-site tools. Items for checkout include, but are not limited to laptops, chargers, graphing calculators, headphones, microphones, CD equipment, Tablets, iPads, hard drives, virtual reality headsets, and WACOM Bamboo tablets. 

Location:   Student Technology Center, Haggard Hall (HH), Second Floor

Woodring Technology Education Center rents innovative teaching tools and presentation spaces. Equipment available to rent includes Chrome books, Digital cameras, iPads and iPods, MacBook Pro laptops, Webcams, Sphero, Osmo, Makey Makey, Knox VR viewers, Green screens, cables and adapters. Collaborative and computer rooms are also available for group projects, presentation rehearsals, etc. 

Location:   Miller Hall (MH) 034, 035, 309; Woodring College of Education

Web Tools

WordPress is available to all students to create their own websites. Just request your site. This is a great resource for graphic design students, art students, and engineering students looking to showcase your work. Reach out to Web.Help@wwu.edu for any questions. 

Location:   Academic Technology and User Services (ATUS)

All students can download fully licensed versions of the latest Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and the traditional Office apps (Word, Excel). Students will have access to the apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and in any web browser until they leave Western. These tools are commonly used in professional environments introducing project management, virtual communication, and cloud-based file sharing. 

Location:   Academic Technology and User Services (ATUS)

Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) accounts are optional tools offered by request in addition to Office 365, enabling access to Google Drive, Docs, and other applications. Your Google Workspace account does not replace Outlook email, contacts, calendaring, or OneDrive, but provides additional tools that may be helpful for personal productivity, instruction, and career readiness.

Location:   Academic Technology and User Services (ATUS)

Workshops, Tutoring and Community Learning

Career Services hosts frequent workshops on job-searching-related topics, including resume and cover letter writing, how to identify your skills, how to prepare for job fairs, and interviewing strategies. Workshops are offered in a variety of formats, either virtually, in-person, or both. They also offer one-on-one coaching sessions and are an excellent resource for after-graduation preparation. It is never too early to start thinking about your career. They welcome all students of all identities and experiences. They are here to support and empower you, wherever you are in your career journey, with various resources, programs, and tools.

Location:   Career Services Center, Old Main (OM) 280

Outback Farm is a 5-acre farm that fosters experimentation, learning, reflection, advocacy, and agriculture. They feature permaculture practices and teachings and are home to community gardens, chickens, production rows, a teaching apiary, vernal pools and a delineated wetland. The farm is student-driven with three year-long Coordinator positions and a team of work/study students focused on growing food for the WWU community. All students are welcome to come and engage in ecosystem restoration, community building, and food justice. Everyone has a right to know about their food – and the Outback is a place where you can explore the importance of farming for empowerment, resilience, and health.

Location:   South campus between Fairhaven College and Buchanan Towers

A list of workshops can be found in Win, by searching for "Student Technology Center". Examples of workshops include: Intro to Excel, LinkedIn and Resume Builder, Cricut Sticker Printing Workshop, and Adobe Premier Tutorial. Visit the STC desk for technology help or schedule a tutoring appointment.

Location:   Student Technology Center, Haggard Hall (HH), Second Floor

WIN is a hub that connects students to the Western community through clubs, organizations, events, news, and resources. Through this platform, you can collaborate with your peers and explore opportunities and interests. There are 359 organizations and clubs listed in this platform. Examples include the Professional Women’s Association, A Capella Club, Ceramics Club, Cold Plunge Club, and Management Information Systems Association. 

Location:   Online