Four Campus Resources You’re Not Using
October 18, 2017 Stephen Abramowitz
JMU does an amazing job of creating opportunities for students and faculty to acquire new skills, or build upon current ones. Whether you’re boosting your resume, completing a project, or just trying to fill the time, JMU has several unique resources that are at your disposal. Here are a few you should consider using.
JMU X-Labs
For over two years, JMU X-Labs has functioned as the resource for all things innovative. Located inside Lakeview Hall, JMU X-Labs offers faculty, students, and community members the opportunity to turn their ideas into action. It has offered interdisciplinary credit-classes such as Hacking 4 Defense (H4D), Hacking for Diplomacy (H4Di) and the Virginia Drones Project. These classes are open to all majors and involve collaborative challenges for students who want to solve real-world issues.
Looking for something a bit milder? JMU X-Labs consistently hosts pop-up classes on a variety of topics. These are perfect for briefly exploring new interests such as glassblowing, LED programming and 3D printing. JMU X-Labs also conducts competitive events each semester, including Bluestone Hacks, where students compete for cash prizes by finding solutions to complex problems. Every year, 4-VA, JMU X-Labs’ sponsor, awards students the opportunity to be trained in Leadership Innovation at Stanford University, while working out-of JMU X-Labs.
During open lab hours, JMU X-Labs is a safe-space for nurturing any and all of your creative endeavors. Anyone can benefit from stopping by. The staff are there to help you with anything from prototyping a COB-300 project, to building repair parts for your car. You don’t need to be in a STEM field to learn a new skill. All it takes is a willingness to learn and a few hours of your time. Several student business ventures have begun from within JMU X-Labs. Here are just a few examples of JMU X-Labs start-ups: 95 to infinity, Canvex, Duo Musical Playground, and Youfory Flag Co. Do you have an original idea? Visit JMU X-Labs to turn your dream into a reality.
