The Story of Campus Design and Copy
One of 7 student businesses on the campus of UMass
Campus Design & Copy is a student-run cooperative business on the campus of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. CD&C provides printing, design, photography, and photocopying services to UMass Amherst and the surrounding community. CD&C also provides printed academic materials for many courses offered at the University. We take pride in providing quality print, design, and photography services for students, by students.
CD&C is one of seven student businesses at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Other businesses on campus include Earthfoods, a vegetarian café on the first floor of Bartlett Hall; People’s Market, an organic, fair trade coffee shop located on the first floor of Bartlett Hall; Greeno Sub Shop, a sandwich shop in the basement of the Greenough dorm in Central; Sylvan Snackbar, a late night snack shop in Sylvan, Sweets & More, an ice cream and sweets shop located in the Field dorm in Orchard Hill; and Bike Coop, a bicycle sale and service shop on the first floor of Bartlett Hall.
Campus Design & Copy is managed by a team of full-time undergraduate students at UMass. Every member of our store is a “Co-Manager,” with all staff holding equal responsibility in our business’ success and growth. Our Co-Managers serve in roles ranging from business and financial management to graphic design to photography. Further, all Co-Managers are experienced providing our clients with outstanding and affordable print, design, and photography services.
CD&C hires new co-managers every semester, and maintains a staff ranging from 10 to 14 people. Please visit our store, our website, or any of our social media pages listed on Campus Pulse for information related to our hiring, which typically takes place three to four weeks after the beginning of each semester.
What is a Cooperative?
Campus Design & Copy is considered a co-operative. Although we receive some support from the university, as a business we are completely student run. With the way we operate there is no boss. Instead, all of the responsibilities associated with running the business are shared among our members or “Co-Managers” as we call ourselves. All administrative decisions and policies are decided unanimously and conflicts in our business are resolved through communication and constructive debate. Although all of our Co-Managers are equal, our specific responsibilities differ. Aspects of our business such as marketing, information technology and human resources are managed by committees. Members work together during the semester to focus on the goals of each committee and they are periodically reshuffled. In addition, we are a non-profit. The money we make is reinvested back into our business to afford more resources that we can use to better serve the community.
Being a Co-Manager at Campus Design & Copy is more than just a job. We exist as a community resource and our values as a company reflect that. This unique business structure allows us to peruse environmentally friendly and social justice oriented goals. Being part of CD&C has been an extremely formative experience for many of our Co-Managers and alumni. As much as we try to support the students of UMass, we support each other. We value the ability to make a difference and learn along the way.
Mission Statement
Campus Design & Copy is an undergraduate, student-initiated and managed business at the University of Massachusetts. Our purpose are as follows:
To provide undergraduate students with experience and training in collective management.
To serve the University community with copying, designing, binding, computer, and finishing services.
To promote the co-operative and collective movement.
Campus Design and Copy is a not-for-profit organization and operates under the model, "Students working for students"; aiming to foster ideals of equality and diversity in the workplace.
Cooperative History
The first cooperative was formed in Rochdale, England in 1844 by one woman and 27 men, who would become known as the "Rochdale Pioneers." This group of people put together a set of principles that all co-ops use. The Rochdale Principles are as follows:
Open Membership: Membership to the co-op is voluntary and there is no discrimination on the basis of race, sex, gender, sexuality, or religious or political affiliation.
Democratic Control: One member, one vote. This principle guards against control by the few for the benefit of the few.
Limited Return on Equity Capital: Money made is reinvested in the business.
Net-Surplus Belongs to User-Owners: The net savings of a co-op may be distributed equitably among the membership, or used in some other agreed upon manner, either for the benefit of the group or for the local community as a whole.
Continuous Education: Co-ops act to educate their members and the local community about the principles, methods, problems and goals of the organization.
Cooperation among Cooperatives: To strengthen themselves and to serve members and the community better, co-ops need to work together at the local, regional, national and international levels.
Political Non-Partisanship: Adhering to the goals of a particular political party or agenda would limit membership, thus violating the open membership principle. This does not mean that co-ops must be politically inactive, but it does mean that co-ops have usually chosen to limit their political activity to those issues directly affecting the co-op movement and the industries they are a part of.