When Professor Christi Banks began teaching construction management at California State University, Fresno, she noticed something troubling: many of her students, especially first-generation college attendees, had never seen a construction document—let alone used software like Bluebeam. She set out to change that, not just by adding tech to the classroom, but by building a student-led user group and technology hub around it.
Closing the Digital Confidence Gap
“[Bluebeam] gave me the confidence to speak, to present and to lead.”
— Avantika Dixit,
Student,
California State University, Fresno
“Students might be digital natives,” Banks said, “but they’re not always digitally fluent in our industry.” Too often, her students encountered construction technology for the first time on internships—an intimidating mismatch between classroom prep and jobsite expectations. For Banks, that was unacceptable. She wanted students to walk onto jobsites already fluent in the tools and workflows they’d be expected to use.
Bluebeam quickly became the backbone of that vision. “It’s what professionals use. It’s easy to teach, easy to scale and it mirrors how teams really collaborate,” Banks said. She integrated Bluebeam into her curriculum and, with support from Bluebeam’s Academic Program, helped launch something more ambitious: a peer-powered Bluebeam User Group (BUG) and Technology Hub led entirely by students and supported by industry partners from Quiring and AECOM-Hunt.
Learning by Teaching—and Leading
Fresno State’s BUG is designed around student ownership. Members organize workshops, run tutorials and even mentor their peers in digital workflows. “When a student goes from learning the software to teaching it, that’s when it really clicks,” Banks said. That transition from user to leader builds both technical fluency and the soft skills that matter on a jobsite: communication, teamwork and confidence.
Student BUG Champion Avantika Dixit remembers feeling overwhelmed at first. “It was intimidating,” she said. But the peer-led environment of BUG sessions helped her grow—from learner to mentor to leader. “It gave me the confidence to speak, to present and to lead.” That confidence didn’t just show up in the classroom. “In internship interviews, employers were surprised that I already knew Bluebeam. It gave me an edge.”
For her classmate Manny Verde, another BUG Champion, that edge came through repetition. “Every time I did a takeoff or homework assignment, I got faster and better,” he said. But it was his role in BUG—mentoring peers and helping organize events—that really stood out. “Employers were impressed. They knew I could hit the ground running.”
Software Meets Real-World Scale
The group doesn’t just focus on technical skills but builds perspective. BUG Champion Prem Raj Timilsena joined a BUG-led field trip to SoFi Stadium, where he saw the same digital plans he’d worked on in class rendered in full scale. “It was eye-opening,” he said. “Seeing the plans brought to life helped everything click.”
Back on campus, Timilsena used Bluebeam for everything from organizing assignments to collaborating in Studio Sessions. He also began helping faculty adopt the software into new parts of the curriculum. “It’s not just software,” he said. “It’s how teams actually communicate and solve problems.”
That immersion often sparks curiosity beyond Bluebeam. “Once students get comfortable with digital tools, they start asking about BIM, drones, even VR,” Banks said. For Dixit, Bluebeam became a gateway: “It got me curious about how tech is changing our industry. Now, I want to learn more.”
Changing the Curriculum—and the Culture
Today, Fresno State students don’t just use Bluebeam; they help shape how it’s taught. They co-develop lesson plans with faculty, run public speaker series and train new cohorts. “I’ve had students teach professors,” Banks said.
That ripple effect extends beyond campus. Alumni return to mentor and recruit, knowing what kind of preparation to expect. “There’s a reputation now,” Banks said. “Employers know Fresno State students are Bluebeam and tech ready.”
Why It Works
The Fresno State BUG and Tech Hub’s success comes down to ownership, relevance and real-world connection. “This isn’t about learning software,” Banks said. “It’s about building confidence, collaboration and a digital mindset they’ll carry into the field.”
Looking ahead, Banks sees Fresno State’s model as scalable. “Our industry is moving fast. Students need to be fluent in digital tools and teamwork—not just theory,” she said. “That’s what this program and real-world technology experience delivers.”