UCIMC Member Benefits Handbook

Welcome to our IMC Family! We are excited that you have chosen to become an IMC Member! We hope that the IMC offers you many opportunities to create, commune, share, support, showcase, organize, and collaborate with our Urbana-Champaign community! You will find more information regarding your UCIMC Membership below. 

 

The UCIMC Mission 

The Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center’s mission is to foster the creation and distribution of media and art that emphasize underrepresented voices and perspectives, and to promote empowerment and expression through media and arts education.

 

 

UCIMC Membership Levels

  • $25 - Individual low-income membership 
  • $50 - Individual membership 
  • $100 - Organizational membership 
  • $1,000 - UCIMC Lifetime member 
  • Sustaining member is a monthly payment to the UCIMC. UCIMC Member sets the monthly amount. 
  • 5 hours of sweat equity: to gain a sweat equity membership, you must complete 5 hours of volunteering that supports the UCIMC core functions, such as our IMC monthly work days, the Urbana Farmers Market, monthly workshops and panels, and our monthly Community Nights.  
  • Free: Lifetime membership is a nomination process facilitated by the UCIMC founders and staff and approved by the IMC board. 

Please note: UCIMC Membership lasts one year and must be renewed every year, unless you have a lifetime membership. If you are unsure of the status of your membership, you can contact the UCIMC’s Program Coordinator at [email protected] for clarification. 

 

What are the benefits of a UCIMC Membership?

  1. You can reserve a meeting room for small group meetings (up to 20 people) at the UCIMC for up to 3 hours per week and 6 hours per week for organizational and lifetime members.  
  2. You can serve as a keyholder for the UCIMC Building. Note: You must be at least 18 years of age to become a keyholder. To become a keyholder, you must be affiliated with a working group or have meetings at the IMC. For organizational members, up to 5 leaders can become keyholders.
  3. You can rent the UCIMC stage and/or sunroom at a discounted rental rate. Examples of rental types are: birthday parties, concerts, workshops, Live performances, discussions, recitals, holiday markets, retreats, and more! 
  4. You can apply for a UCIMC Co-sponsored event that proposes a mission-aligned event, which offers subsidies for venue rentals. 
  5. You can participate in governing the organization: elect the Board of Directors, serve on the board, and serve on a committee. Note: organizational members are not eligible to vote.

 

How do I book an event at the IMC? 

We encourage hosts interested in booking our space to check our space chart for availability before submitting your request. You can do so HERE. When you arrive on the web page, click the DETAIL CALENDAR link, which will take you to our calendar. 

  • Step 1: Complete our booking request form HERE. 
  • Step 2: Our Program Coordinator will contact you to follow up about your request.

 

How do I  reserve a small group meeting (up to 20 people)? 

Starting March 2nd, the IMC will have a new meeting room space, RM 102. Members can reserve meeting space on their own, follow the steps listed below. We encourage members interested in reserving meeting space to check our space chart for availability before submitting their request. You can do so HERE. When you arrive on the web page, click the DETAIL CALENDAR link, which will take you to our calendar. 

  • Step 1: Reserve UCIMC member meeting room 102 HERE. You can reserve space now for RM 102 for dates happening on or after March 2nd. 
  • Step 2: Make sure your reservation has been properly added to the events calendar by following the instructions listed above. The event title should say "your name" and UCIMC RM 102. If you have questions about your reservation, you can email our Program Coordinator at [email protected]. 

 

How do I host a co-sponsored event?  

There are two co-sponsorship application processes a year, one for events from March 1st to August 31st, 2026, and the second for events from September 1st, 2026, to February 28th, 2027. 

  • Learn more and find co-sponsorship applications HERE.

 

How do I serve as an IMC keyholder? 

Only IMC members can become keyholders. You must be affiliated with a working group or have meetings at the IMC to become a keyholder. For organizational members, up to 5 leaders can become keyholders.

 

How do I learn about UCIMC-hosted events, trainings, and workshops? 

 

UCIMC About Us - https://www.ucimc.org/about 

UCIMC History - https://www.ucimc.org/history  

UCIMC Staff Info - https://www.ucimc.org/staff  

UCIMC Board of Directors Info - https://www.ucimc.org/bod 

UCIMC Working Groups & Fiscally Sponsored Projects - https://www.ucimc.org/projects2