The Student Workshops were established in Bissell Hall in 1941 by President Ernest Hopkins. The intention was to provide students with opportunities to stimulate their creativity, to acquaint them with diverse materials, to develop their skills, and to sharpen their critical judgement of design.

Virgil Poling, the first director of the workshops, stated:

"... an educated person must understand at least the basic mechanical processes commonly used in our industrialized society; that work with our hands is part of our tradition and thus a dignified procedure; that the ability and desire to invent or create are necessary and important steps toward the develpoment of a national culture and the discovery and maintenance of human dignity."

Present facilities opened in 1962 in the newly completed Hopkins Center. Ralph Rogers, who served as the woodshop's director from 1962 to 1986, built the workbenches and organized the original layout of tools, storage areas, and work spaces in the new facility. Physical changes made since that time have been relatively few in number and always undertaken with the goals of enhancing safety and the productive use of tools and materials.

Greg Elder, an accomplished craftsman and instructor, has directed the woodshop since 1986. He is assisted by a cadre of full-time and part-time instructors all of whom are prominent area woodworkers.