Wikipedia:Education Program/Structure proposals/Proposal from PJ Tabit

Please list your name and/or Wikipedia username.

What idea(s) do you have for what the new structure for the U.S. and Canada Wikipedia Education Programs could look like?

I think a revamped Wikipedia Education Program (WEP) should retain the regional approach that is currently employed in the U.S. and Canada programs. Each region should be led by a committee of three - one Wikipedian, one professor, and one campus ambassador (preferably a non-Wikipedian). These three amigos would work closely together to set and achieve their regional goals for expansion, ambassador recruitment, content contributions, etc. They would also be part of a national working group composed of the various regional committees from the U.S. and Canada, as well as a member of the Foundation's staff. The national working group would elect leadership (chairperson, secretary, treasurer, etc.) to coordinate the various regional committees, and help establish broad priorities for the program.

How would you ensure this new structure involves all key stakeholders, including academics and the Wikipedia community?

This proposal would ensure that each regional committee, and in turn the national working group, would be equally composed of Wikipedians, ambassadors, and academics. The structure also allows the program to be regionally flexible - regions may be as small or as large as necessary to best adapt to the needs of the participants in those areas.

What are potential pitfalls of this approach?

The most immediate challenge will be a decrease in resources, both monetary and labor, associated with a transition from a staff-led to a volunteer-led program. To that point, if the regional committees do not operate well, the national leadership may not have the resources needed to pick up the slack. This also puts more pressure on the sole paid staff member on the national committee.

Any other comments about your proposal?

I think the WEP would benefit from still being "housed" within the Wikimedia Foundation, even if only one staff member is assigned to the project. The Wikipedia brand helps draw attention to the project, and also provides for at least one full time employee to observe and, when needed, guide the volunteers.