Wikipedia:Education Working Group/FAQ

If you have a question that is not addressed on this page, please contact Jami Mathewson at jmathewson@undefinedwikimedia.org. She will post any common questions and answers back on this page.

What do you mean by a new Education Program Structure?
The United States and Canada Wikipedia Education Programs will need to be run by an organization that isn't the Wikimedia Foundation as of May 2013. We are starting to think about this new structure now to give it time to be set up before it has the full responsibility for the program. Is this a new nonprofit organization? A home at a university? A home at a Wikimedia chapter? Will the new structure be a membership organization? Something else? The Working Group will determine the answer to this question at the Kick-Off Meeting.

Why is there a need to create a new Education Program Structure for the United States and Canada?
The United States Education Program originated out of the Public Policy Initiative pilot. The model from the Public Policy Initiative of training volunteer Wikipedia Ambassadors to support professors who want to use Wikipedia in their classrooms worked extremely well, and we've continued expanding the Wikipedia Education Program into countries around the world. Given the enormous interest in the program, we need to start thinking about its future. While the Foundation is fully committed to the long-term success of the program, we believe that the Education Program should be led by our volunteers who have made this program successful: Wikipedians and academics. Two staff members will be part of the Working Group to share their knowledge from two years of supporting the program, and we will continue to provide staff support for the program through May 2013, when the Education Program Structure will hopefully be set up.

What do you mean by "the Wikimedia Foundation is fully committed to the long-term success of the program"?
The Wikimedia Foundation as an organization and especially the Education Program staff who have been supporting the program in its current iteration want to see the program flourish. We will continue to support the United States and Canada programs as we support programs led by volunteers or chapters in other parts of the world.

The Wikimedia Foundation will continue to offer types of support that affect multiple programs (e.g., datatracking and analysis, software development, brochure development, etc.), but local-level decisions can and should be made by the Education Program Structure or its equivalents in other countries. Therefore, tasks like recruiting instructors, orientating professors, and developing a program plan should be handled by the local structure and not the Wikimedia Foundation. Nevertheless, the Wikimedia Foundation staff is always happy to offer advice or input based on our expertise as requested.

Could the new Education Program Structure be affiliated with the Wikimedia Foundation?
Yes. On March 31, 2012 the board of the Wikimedia Foundation approved new models of affiliation with the Wikimedia Foundation. The resolution opens up the opportunity to form "thematic organizations", incorporated independent non-profits representing the Wikimedia movement and supporting work focused on a specific theme, topic, subject or issue within or across countries and regions. "Using Wikipedia as a teaching tool in higher education" is such a theme that could be handled by an independent thematic organization. According to the board resolution, thematic organizations affiliated with the Wikimedia Foundation will be "granted use of Wikimedia trademarks for their work, publicity and fundraising." So this is a possibility if this is what the Working Group chooses to do.

What will happen to the program in 2012–13?
The Wikimedia Foundation will continue to provide staff support for the United States and Canada Wikipedia Education Programs for the 2012–13 academic year.

Who can submit proposals for the Education Program Structure?
All interested parties are encouraged to submit proposals for the Education Program Structure. You do not need to have participated in the Wikipedia Education Program to submit a proposal.

Can I submit more than one proposal?
Absolutely, but please make sure they are not the same proposal with slight variances, as many people will need to read all submissions. You can always include more information on your original proposal, even if a question doesn't specifically lead into it.

Can we submit a group proposal?
Yes, if you would like to partner with others to submit your proposal jointly, you're welcome to.

What is the Working Group, and how is it different from the Education Program Structure?
The Working Group is a group of 16 individuals who will discuss and determine the best way to form a new Education Program Structure that can take on the United States and Canada Education Program in 2013. Working Group members will meet in person at the Kick-Off Meeting in July 2012 to begin this discussion. At the Kick-Off Meeting, Working Group members will form multiple task forces that will work on specific needs in the months following the Meeting.

The Working Group likely will not be the only people implementing the new structure — in fact, the Working Group is expected to tap into and bring in other stakeholders and experts throughout the planning and implementation process — but Working Group members should expect to have a hands-on planning role through the end of November 2012, possibly longer if members are able to commit to a longer period.

Participating in the Working Group sounds like a lot of work. Is it?
Yes and no. Although Working Group members will be in charge of creating and setting up the Education Program Structure, they are neither expected nor encouraged to plan and implement everything by themselves. The Working Group is expected to tap into other stakeholders and experts as needed. For example, on the question of acquiring funding for the new structure, the Working Group may want to bring in an experienced grant writer; while developing a concrete organizational chart, the Working Group may want to consult with a seasoned nonprofit executive; while deciding between ideas, the Working Group should seek the input of the larger Wikipedia Education Program, the English Wikipedia community, and involved academics. The Wikimedia Foundation will help fund necessary expenses of the Education Program Structure during the initial phases of the program.

Does this mean Jami's job will be split between all of the Working Group members in 2013?
No. Working Group members will be accountable for the future of the U.S. and Canada Education Program, but we recognize that volunteers have limited time available. We envision Working Group members setting up the plan for the new Structure, but it's possible that the structure will need to hire staff of its own to actually run the program.

Can I offer my suggestions for a structure without participating in the Working Group?
Yes. We welcome proposals from all members of the Wikimedia and academic communities, regardless of affiliation with the Working Group.

Who will be serving on the Working Group?
Working Group selection was prioritized on those who have contributed significant time and experience to the Education Programs with preference to those who submitted a proposal by 8 May 2012.

View the list of individuals selected to participate.

What if I can't attend the Working Group Kick-Off Meeting in person?
Working Group members are not required to attend the Working Group Kick-Off Meeting, although ability to attend was a significant factor we used to select Working Group members. We hope to host some sessions on a video chat, if technology availability in our location permits.

What costs will the WMF cover for me to attend the Kick-Off Meeting?
If you live farther than a 30-minute driving distance from the meeting location (which will be determined based on where the participants live), the Wikimedia Foundation will cover a round-trip flight or train, hotel accommodations, and meals during our sessions. If you live within 30 minutes driving from the location of the meeting, the Foundation will cover meals during the sessions only.