Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee/CheckUser and Oversight/2015 CUOS appointments
Applications to serve as a functionary are being accepted until 23:59, 17 February 2015 (UTC).
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To improve existing workload distribution and continue to ensure timely responses to requests, the Arbitration Committee is seeking to appoint additional people to the CheckUser and Oversight teams.
- Current high demand for candidates
The functionaries team from time to time has varying needs depending on the requests we get. To meet those demands, applicants that can assist with the following are in high demand:
- Because of the increasing activity from the Asia & Eastern Europe CheckUser applications are particularly sought from people who not only meet our general requirements but also are familiar with the ISPs and typical editing patterns of any of these regions.
- Checkuser applicants who are familiar with Account creation interface and/or the Unblock Ticket Request System are encouraged to apply as backlogs can occur very easily with these tools.
- Oversight applicants are especially sought from users who can handle requests between 03:00 UTC and 12:00 UTC, though adminstrators all timezones are encouraged to apply.
- Recommended experience or knowledge
Prospective candidates should be familiar with (i) the English Wikipedia CheckUser and Oversight policies; and (ii) the Wikimedia Foundation privacy policy and related documents. They will also have good communication skills and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively. Additionally, CheckUser candidates are expected to be familiar with basic technological issues (including some understanding of [or willingness to learn about] IPv6), sockpuppet investigation tools and techniques, and, preferably, willing to help at the Account creation interface, and the Unblock Ticket Request System. While not a requirement, previous experience with the Volunteer Response Team (OTRS) is beneficial for Oversight candidates.
- Eligibility
Due to a Wikimedia Foundation rule that binds the Committee, only those who have passed an RFA or RFA-like process may be appointed. Therefore, interested administrators are invited to apply for either or both of the permissions. Current holders of either permission are also invited to apply for the other. For an overview of the appointment process, see here. This time, during the vetting stage of the process, the existing functionary team will be invited to give their feedback on the applicants.
Applicants must also be:
- available regularly to assist with the workload distribution;
- familiar with Wikipedia processes, policies, and guidelines;
- an administrator on the English Wikipedia
- at least 18 years of age and have legal majority in their jurisdiction of residence;
- willing to identify to the Wikimedia Foundation prior to receiving permissions.
- Additional scrutiny
Anyone considering applying should be aware that CheckUsers and Oversighters (and candidates for these permissions) are subject to considerable internal and external scrutiny. The external scrutiny may include attempts to investigate on- and off-wiki activities, and has previously resulted in the personal details of candidates being revealed, and unwanted contact with employers, family, or others. Please be aware that the Arbitration Committee is unable to prevent such off-wiki activities from occurring or off-wiki distribution and discussion of personal information. This risk will continue if the candidate is successful in their candidacy.
Further details on the appointment process may be found below.
Appointment process
- Dates are provisional and subject to change
- Applications: 1 February to 17 February
Candidates self-nominate by email to arbcom-en-c
lists.wikimedia.org. Each candidate will receive an application questionnaire to be completed and returned to the arbcom-en-c mailing list. This should include a nomination statement, to a maximum of 250 words, for inclusion on the candidate's nomination sub-page(s). Candidates will be sent a questionnaire to return before the nominations period ends.
- Review period by the Arbitration Committee and Functionaries: 18 February to 28 February
During this period, the Arbitration Committee will review applications, and ask the functionary team for their feedback.
- Notification of candidates moving forward: 1 March to 3 March
During this period, the Arbitration Committee will notify the candidates going forward for community consultation, and create candidate sub-pages as necessary. The pages will be transcluded to the Candidates section below prior to the community consultation period.
- Community consultation: 4 March to 18 March
The nomination statements are published and the candidates invited to answer standard questions and any additional questions the community may pose. Simultaneously, the community is invited to comment on the suitability or unsuitability of each candidate. These comments may either be posted publicly on the candidates' pages or submitted privately by email to arbcom-en-c
lists.wikimedia.org. Editors are encouraged to include a detailed rationale, supported by relevant links where appropriate.
- Appointments: by 31 March
The committee shall review all the comments submitted and other relevant factors before finalizing an internal resolution, at which point the appointments will be published. The successful candidates will be required to identify to the Wikimedia Foundation prior to receiving the permissions.