JMU recommits to take new actions in support of the maker movement

Science and Technology
 
Engineering students working on wheelchair

SUMMARY: JMU, along with seventy-seven colleges and universities in 32 states representing more than 1.1 million students are committing to take new actions in support of the maker movement on their campuses and in their communities.


As President Obama proclaims June 17-23 a National Week of Making, higher education institutions around the US have responded to this call to action from to have “every company, every college, every community, every citizen joins us as we lift up makers and builders and doers across the country.” James Madison University, along with seventy-seven colleges and universities in 32 states representing more than 1.1 million students are committing to take new actions in support of the maker movement on their campuses and in their communities.

Continuing to build on commitments made over the last 2 years, university partners convened through the Make Schools Alliance network, led by Carnegie-Mellon University with support from Bucknell University, Case Western Reserve University, and Cornell University, are making new commitments in the following collective action areas: (1) allowing students to submit maker portfolios during admissions; (2) new investments in makerspaces serving students across campus, or serving as anchor tenants for externally-operated makerspaces; (3) supporting maker education, outreach and service-learning; (4) supporting research that advances maker-focused technologies and approaches as well as access for makers to existing university facilities and scientific instrumentation; (5) encouraging interdisciplinary design projects to explore making and maker-entrepreneurship; (6) participating in regional efforts with companies, state and local governments, and community-based organizations to create stronger maker ecosystems; and (7) providing scholarships to students based upon excellence in making. 

Engineering students working in maker spaces

JMU examples include:

  • Creating a maker “ecosystem” to offer students a variety of ways to access maker spaces across campus. 

  • Developing general education as well as upper division coursework that uses our maker spaces. JMU also offers venture creation/entrepreneurship classes that productively use the maker spaces.

  • Expanding our maker spaces to include more advanced spaces that have technical support personnel available to assist faculty and students.

  • Networking with the maker community both locally and regionally.

Visit http://MakeSchools.org/weekofmaking for more details.

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Published: Thursday, June 23, 2016

Last Updated: Thursday, November 2, 2023

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