Kriesberg, D., & Hutzell, E., & Blanton, R. (2025, July), WIP: Building Supportive Campus Communities Through the MakerSpace Initiative  Paper presented at FYEE 2025 Conference, University of Maryland - College Park, Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--55277

\bibitem{asee_peer_55277}
  Kriesberg, D., \& Hutzell, E., \& Blanton, R. (2025, July), \emph{WIP: Building Supportive Campus Communities Through the MakerSpace Initiative}
  Paper presented at FYEE 2025 Conference, University of Maryland - College Park, Maryland.
  10.18260/1-2--55277

David Kriesberg, Evan Hutzell, and Richard Blanton.  "WIP: Building Supportive Campus Communities Through the MakerSpace Initiative".  FYEE 2025 Conference, University of Maryland - College Park, Maryland, 2025, July.  ASEE Conferences, 2025.  https://peer.asee.org/55277 Internet.  15 Aug, 2025

\bibitem{asee_peer_55277}
  David Kriesberg, Evan Hutzell, and Richard Blanton.
  "WIP: Building Supportive Campus Communities Through the MakerSpace Initiative".
  \emph{FYEE 2025 Conference, University of Maryland - College Park, Maryland, 2025, July}.
  ASEE Conferences, 2025.
  https://peer.asee.org/55277 Internet.  15 Aug, 2025

@INPROCEEDINGS{asee_peer_55277
author = "David Kriesberg, Evan Hutzell, and Richard Blanton"
title = "WIP: Building Supportive Campus Communities Through the MakerSpace Initiative"
booktitle = "FYEE 2025 Conference"
year = "2025"
month = "July"
address = "University of Maryland - College Park, Maryland"
publisher = "ASEE Conferences"
note = {https://peer.asee.org/55277}
number = {10.18260/1-2--55277}
}

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - On our university campus, a network of diverse makerspaces serves as a central force for building inclusive and supportive communities, particularly for first-year engineering students. This collaborative initiative unites fabrication labs from across academic disciplines, offering hands-on learning, mentorship, and creative freedom through both curricular and co-curricular experiences.

Beyond formal coursework, the initiative supports engagement through a robust calendar of community events, including themed build nights, interdisciplinary workshops, and interactive campaigns like a campus-wide scavenger hunt. Makerspaces within the network offer a wide range of creative tools and technologies, from 3D printing and laser cutting to book arts and wearable electronics, enabling students to connect across disciplines and identities in meaningful ways.

Visibility and accessibility are strengthened through outreach efforts, modular online training, and a swipe-based access system that supports equitable entry and informs programming through usage data. Between 2019 and 2023, the network experienced over 300% growth in usage, with student visits increasing from approximately 1,200 to more than 3,000 annually, an indicator of growing demand for experiential and community-based learning. First-year engineering students, in particular, benefit from structured design courses supported by dedicated makerspace labs, while others access open, mentor-supported environments that encourage interdisciplinary exploration and skill development.

By cultivating a welcoming ecosystem of spaces and programming, this initiative fosters belonging, builds technical confidence, and supports peer-to-peer connection from the outset of students’ academic journeys. Its model demonstrates how intentional infrastructure, and inclusive practices can transform makerspaces into essential community anchors that support student success in engineering and beyond.

AU  - David Kriesberg
AU  - Evan Hutzell
AU  - Richard Blanton
CY  - University of Maryland - College Park, Maryland
DA  - 2025/07/27
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - WIP: Building Supportive Campus Communities Through the MakerSpace Initiative
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/55277
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--55277
ER  -