Eligibility

WHO CAN BE A MEMBER?

Anyone may become a member of Nebraska Innovation Studio. You have the choice to sign up for a weekly, monthly, yearly or semester (students) membership. You can choose when to renew your membership any time. No subscription required. 

POLICIES

STAFF DISCRETION & MEMBER CONDUCT

NIS is a shared space that prioritizes safety, respect, and creativity. NIS may revoke membership for policy violations, unsafe equipment operation, or disruptive, destructive, dangerous, or threatening behavior toward members, equipment, or staff.

Members must:

  • Be kind and respectful; respect other members' personal space.
  • Not run in the Studio.
  • Not bring weapons or weapon-related paraphernalia.
  • Adhere to any reserved or scheduled time on equipment, and leave it clean and available for the next member waiting.

GUESTS & NON-MEMBER PARTICIPATION

  • Guests may visit for a tour and must sign a waiver. This restriction does not apply to groups using the NIS classroom. 
  • Children under 12 may visit for up to 15 minutes and must remain with a parent/guardian at all times, and must have a signed guest waiver. 
  • NIS offers events and workshops for outside groups; requests should include participant number, age group, and anticipated date. 

MINORS POLICY

  • All members must be a minimum 12 years of age.
  • Members age 12-17 must be accompanied by an adult or guardian member at all times.
  • Minors may use electronics, 3D printers, laser cutters, hand tools, software, and the art studio, but may not use woodshop or metalworking tools. 
  • Members age 18 and up can gain full access to all equipment after completing each equipment's training.

CLASSES & STUDENT GROUPS

  • UNL classes, area-college classes, or any group visiting and working at NIS with a faculty member must complete orientation as a group, regardless of whether individual students have already completed orientation on their own. 
  • Equipment training can be scheduled for a specific class with at least two weeks' prior notice. Students who miss their class's scheduled training must instead sign up for a regularly scheduled individual training session. 
  • Following orientation, all students in the group mush have active memberships. Faculty may either pay for student memberships in advance (at least one week ahead) using a cost object number, or have students pay for their own memberships. 
  • After orientation, NIS staff will confirm that all students hold active memberships before any equipment training or NIS access is permitted. 

HRC REFUND POLICY

  • Cancellations more than two weeks before the start of an HRC program receive a full refund. 
  • Cancellations within two weeks of the program receive a credit toward a future offering of the same program within six months. 

SAFETY & EQUIPMENT

  • Members must follow all equipment safety procedures, including training, posted instructions, SOPs, and manufacturer guidelines. 
  • Stop using any equipment that appears unsafe, damaged, or in disrepair, and notify NIS staff. 
  • Accidents and injuries must be reported to NIS staff immediately. 
  • NIS staff are the only ones authorized to train members on equipment. Members are encouraged to share working knowledge of equipment with one another, but anyone asking for hands-on help must already be trained on that equipment. 
  • Members are responsible for following applicable intellectual property and copyright laws. 
  • NIS is a drug- and alcohol-free campus. Any member found operating equipment or present in shop spaces under the influence will be permanently banned from NIS. 

PERSONAL SAFETY & ATTIRE

  • Shoes must fully enclose the feet on all sides. No open-toed shoes. 
  • Eye protection is provided by NIS and required in the woodshop, metal shop, and CNC areas. Eye and ear protection are required when CNC equipment is operating. 
  • Ear protection, face masks, and first-aid kits are available and provided by NIS. 
  • Long hair must be tied back and up.
  • Any hanging items (jewelry, clothing, etc.) must be removed or secured. 
  • Jackets/hoodies with strings must be removed; purses and bags must be removed. 
  • Clothing bearing profanity or provocative imagery are not allowed at NIS: NIS staff will use discretion when asking members to change, remove, or cover clothing. 
  • Sleeves must be buttoned or rolled up. 
  • Gloves are not permitted in the woodshop
  • Gloves are required on some equipment in the metalshop
  • Nitrile gloves are permitted in both shops 

PHONES, HEADPHONES, & PERSONAL DEVICES

  • No music is permitted in the Studio except through personal headphones. 
  • Cordless music headphones are permitted throughout NIS. 
  • In the woodshop, headphones are permitted at low volume. 
  • Headphones are not permitted in the metal shop. 

PROJECT & DIGITAL STORAGE

  • Members with current memberships may request temporary project storage from NIS staff. 
  • Stored projects must have a storage tag. 
  • Expired members will be notified regarding stored items. 
  • NIS reserves the right to purge stored items according to its storage procedures. 
  • Members should save electronic files to personal storage devices.