Project Design Studio

Benefits of Membership

As a member of the Project Design Studio, you can expect the following benefits:

1. Membership in a community of other students engaging in collaborative, creative work.
2. Swipe access to the Project Design Studio whenever the library is open.
3. Open access to a shared workspace and the materials and technology therein.
4. Access to your team’s private workspace.
5. Access to the PDS conference room for meetings.
6. Advising and support from the studio manager on topics related to collaboration and project management.
7. Increased access to other resources offered by the Studios Network

Trial Membership

You qualify if you aren’t sure if the Project Design Studio is for you and would like to try it out OR you have an idea for a project but are uncertain how or whether to follow through.

To join as a trial member, you will simply email or talk to the studio manager, who will schedule a time to meet with you and the PDS student liaison. During this meeting, you will talk about why you are interested in joining and what kind of support you need and provide us with the information we need to set you up as a studio member. 

Trial membership lasts for two weeks, during which time you will:

• Meet once with the studio manager and student liaison to discuss your goals and/or the next steps in your project
• Spend time in the shared workspaces of the studio to determine if it suits your needs
• At the end of the period, meet again with the studio manager and student liaison to discuss the possibility of moving forward with full membership with a private work space.

During this time, you will be expected to engage in appropriate conduct (as described below) but will otherwise not be held to any membership obligations except for the three listed above.

Full Membership

You qualify if you have a project you would like to work on–regardless of what stage of that project you are in or if you have even started.

To apply for full membership, fill out the Project Design studio project proposal form. The studio manager will invite you to meet with them and the student liaison to learn more about your project, tour the space, and review the benefits and expectations of studio membership.

Full membership can last for one semester or many semesters. During your membership you will:

• Participate in an initial meeting, wherein we will discuss your expectations for your project and how you would like to manage it.

• Attend at least one Project Design Studio Group Project Lab per semester. (This requirement may be substituted with a scheduled consultation specific to your team with studio staff if preferred.)

• Be eligible to apply for a portion of a stipend pool. If you receive a stipend, a portion of your final meeting of the semester will be dedicated to discussing how you used the resources purchased with your stipend. 

• Participate in a survey at the end of each semester where we will ask what you did that semester and your plans for the following semester.

• At the end of your membership period, participate in a discussion with studio staff to debrief your experience, what went well, and what knowledge and skills you gained.

Recruited Projects

You qualify if you have been accepted to one of the project opportunities offered by the studio (e.g. the Keesee Sustainability Grant).

These projects are managed on a case-by-case basis. All available projects are listed on the Project Design Studio website. When you are accepted to a project, the studio manager will invite you to meet with them and the student liaison to learn more about your project, tour the space, and review the benefits and expectations of studio membership.

The duration of membership is dependent on which project you joined but typically lasts either one semester or one year. During your membership, you will:

Participate in an initial meeting, wherein we will discuss your expectations for your project and how you would like to manage it

• Attend at least one Project Design Studio Group Project Lab per semester. (This requirement may be substituted with a scheduled consultation specific to your team with studio staff if preferred.)

• Participate in a survey at the end of each semester where we will ask what you did that semester and your plans for the following semester.

• At the end of your membership period, participate in a discussion to debrief your experience, what went well, and what knowledge and skills you gained.

Please note that recruited projects typically have their own budget and are not eligible to apply for a portion of the stipend pool. 

The application for the 2023-24 Keesee Sustainability Grant is now closed. Please check back in Summer 2024 for information about the 2024-25 grant.

The University Libraries at Virginia Tech is pleased to invite undergraduate students in all disciplines and academic programs to apply through a competitive process to receive funding for sustainability research and projects.

Potential topics include (but are not limited to): ecological sustainability, environmental sustainability, environmental conservation, policy and sustainability.

Interdisciplinary projects are welcome.

Applicants may request up to $2000. Funding may cover project expenses such as supplies and travel costs. Recipients will also become members of the Newman Library Project Design Studio.