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At Western, education isn’t confined to the classroom. It’s out in the field, on the stage, across the globe and in the community. Thanks to small class sizes, dedicated faculty mentorship and a campus culture built around collaboration, students have countless opportunities to gain practical, resume-worthy experience—often in their first year.
Whether you're restoring ecosystems, building solar energy systems, leading workshops, publishing creative work or competing in national business challenges, our academic experiences are built to prepare you for a purpose-driven career—and life.
Hands-On Academic Opportunities
Real-World Learning Starts Here
Why It Matters
These aren’t just projects. They’re proof.
Hands-on academic opportunities at Western help you build a professional portfolio, develop essential soft and technical skills, and grow your network of mentors, collaborators, and future colleagues. You’ll graduate with the kind of experience that makes employers, grad schools, and fellowship programs take notice.
Explore Your Passion. Apply Your Knowledge.
Build your portfolio and launch your career by participation in these opportunities
Fieldwork & Sustainability Projects
Make a difference while you learn.
Verzuh Ranch
Conduct ecological research in a living lab for conservation, wildlife, and land management.
Coldharbour Institute
Partner with local experts to explore sustainability through food systems, permaculture, and renewable energy.
Headwaters Conference
Present or help organize this major gathering focused on water sustainability and Western issues.
Inquiry into Sustainability
Earn a Leave No Trace certification and work on sustainable outdoor recreation in the Gunnison Valley.
RESS Community Projects
Lead fitness, nutrition, and wellness programs through real-world outreach like Wellness Elevated.
Education Clinical Residency
Spend a full year in K–12 classrooms, building a foundation for a teaching career.
Global Learning & Cultural Exploration
Take your studies around the world—or deep into your own backyard.
Model UN & Cultural Psychology Travel
Represent Western at Model UN conferences in New York and Europe, or study cultural psychology in Hawaii.
History Fieldwork
Travel to northern New Mexico to explore the Hispanic Southwest in context.
Light Up The World
Install solar energy systems in remote global communities through hands-on sustainability work in Peru.
Business, Engineering & Tech
Get career-ready with projects that reflect the real world.
Business Competitions
Compete in stock-pitch, ethics, and sales challenges to sharpen your analysis, public speaking and leadership skills.
Sensor Suite Projects
Collaborate with the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory using drones, AI and sensors to monitor environmental conditions.
Rady Makerspace
Prototype, test, and build in a student-led hub for design and fabrication—using tools like 3D printers and CNC machines.
Art & Design in Action
Create meaningful work with real-world impact.
Pathfinder Magazine (Design)
Design and produce Western’s student-run magazine—from layout to print.
Community Art Projects
Paint murals, design for clients, and capture the Gunnison Valley’s beauty in plein-air paintings.
Visual Storytelling
Learn to translate big ideas into branding and digital media with faculty-led mentorship.
Media, Writing & Performing Arts
Join a creative community that brings ideas to life.
CALL Clubs & Orgs
Host a radio show, write for the student paper, or act in Western Theatre Company productions.
Pathfinder Magazine (Writing)
Submit poetry, fiction, and nonfiction to be published—and compete for scholarships.
Taylor Media & Mountaineer Media
Produce video content and digital storytelling for real audiences.
Ready to Get Involved?
Explore the programs, talk with faculty, and find your path.