CZ:Application Review Procedure

Goals of a pilot project application system

We have a strong interest in making sure that participants in the Citizendium, particularly during the crucial pilot project period, be trustworthy. Of all participants, we require:

• a username that is the participant's own real name (special permission to use a pseudonym must be applied for)
• a short bio
• a working e-mail address
• endorsement of the Statement of Fundamental Policies

In the first few weeks of the pilot project, we also required a resume or CV from authors, as well as Web links, establishing that a person had a certain identity. We no longer require this evidence of authors, although of course it is still expected that people will contribute under their own real names and identities, and persons who use pseudonyms without permission may be excluded permanently from the project. Moreover, because of their greater responsibility in the system, we still require such evidence of identity from editors and constables.

The author application procedure

To join the pilot project, a contributor goes through these steps (editors see below):

1. Create a username. At the wiki, the contributor should create a username (that is his/her own real name) in "Firstname Lastname" form. Examples of acceptable usernames: "John Doe"; "P. John Doe"; "John P. Doe"; "John Peter Doe". Examples of unacceptable usernames: "JPD"; "JDoe"; "J. Doe"; "John D." Spaces are preferred: "John Doe" not "JohnDoe". Spaces are preferred: "John Doe" not "JohnDoe". Names in other forms are acceptable if it is shown that a person uses that name commonly (e.g., signs much academic work "J. P. Doe").
2. E-mail personnel@citizendium.org. The contributor then sends an e-mail to personnel@citizendium.org (preferably titled "Let me in" or "Access please") with three items: (1) the username; (2) a biography to be posted on the person's user page, containing (minimally) name, educational and professional highlights (i.e., just a list of degrees, main positions held, and/or important experience would do), and areas of interest; and (3) a claim to the effect that contributor endorses the Citizendium Statement of Fundamental Policies.
3. We give you system permissions. Once all three items are received, personnel administrators then change the username's permissions. (Users will be given a so-called "wikieditor" permissions, but this does not mean that one is a Citizendium editor. It means only that one has read/write access to the wiki.)
4. We start your user page for you. Personnel administrators add to the new author's user page (1) the author's bio, (2) a {{awelcome}} template, (3) a "signature" (i.e., what is produced when typing "~~~~", and (4) the [[Category:CZ Authors]] tag (unless the person has applied for editorship; see below).
5. We send you a welcome message. Finally, the personnel administrator welcomes the new author to the project and points the person to the new user page.

The editor application procedure

The application procedure for editors is the same, except that editor candidates should also send to personnel@citizendium.org two additional items: a CV or resume attached (or linked), as well as some links to Web material that tends to support the claims made in the CV, such as conference proceedings, or a departmental home page. Both additional requirements may be fulfilled by a CV that is hosted on an official work Web page.

Note: it is perfectly acceptable for an editor to get started as an author. To become an editor, then, a person could simply place links to a CV, and perhaps other supporting material, on his or her user page, and then send a link to that page to personnel@citizendium.org.

Also different are the items the personnel administrators will add to the new editor's user page. They will use the {{ewelcome}} template and, unless the editor specifically requests otherwise, the links to online work and/or CV the editor supplied.

Personnel administrators may be either editors or constables. The persons making decisions about editor applications will be editors, not constables, but any constable may "fill in" an editor's user page once a decision has been made.

The constable application procedure

Constables will be chosen in a completely different way. All constable applications will be treated as author applications, but will be filed away for such future time as there is a need for new constables. (There are far more constable applications than constables positions.) The Chief Constable will, when the need arises, look through the constable applications and select from them.

General policies for personnel administrators

Here are some notes for personnel administrators, i.e., the people who monitor and respond to mail sent to personnel [at] citizendium.org.

• Let's avoid getting a backlog of applications. If we don't have enough personnel to manage the applications, the Chief Constable should find new personnel administrators.

• Currently we require of authors: (1) a username claimed to be the author's real name; (2) a biography listing (at least) the person's education and interests and at least, say, two sentences long; (3) a claim to the effect that contributor endorses the Citizendium Statement of Fundamental Policies ("qualified" claims will not suffice).

• Currently we require of editors everything we require of authors, and also a CV or resume attached (or linked), as well as some links to Web material that tends to support the claims made in the CV, such as conference proceedings, or a departmental home page. Both additional requirements may be fulfilled by a CV that is hosted on an official work Web page.

• All personnel administrators may adjudicate author applications. Only personnel administrators who are also editors may adjudicate editor applications, unless a case is perfectly obvious and unproblematic.

• For minors (persons under 18 years old), we should edit biographies so that they do not have so much identifying information. For example, a state or province will suffice, and precise birthdays should also be excluded (birth years are OK).

• Obviously, use your best judgment!

Personnel administrator procedures for author applications

1. Open an author application, received at personnel [at] citizendium.org. If an application is not marked as for authors or editors, then we assume it is an author application unless a person is obviously well-qualified to be an editor; in that case, we (i.e., any personnel administrator) asks if the person would like to be considered for editorship as well.
2. Check that the application is complete according to the above policies. If not, ask for the needed information:
   • If an unsuitable username, then (a) apologize for our confusing interface (this really needs to be fixed), and (b) ask the person to create a new username of the right sort.
   • If a too-brief bio, or one lacking information about either education or interests, then ask for a more complete bio.
   • If the person has not adequately endorsed the Statement of Fundamental Policies, then ask for such an endorsement.
   • Then file the mail in the "Need more info" folder.