WordPress Campus Connect Flagship WordCamp Sponsorship Guidelines

These guidelines are designed to provide a fair and equitable process for WordPress Campus Connect event organizers to assess and recommend deserving students for sponsorship to attend a flagship WordCampWordCamp WordCamps are casual, locally-organized conferences covering everything related to WordPress. They’re one of the places where the WordPress community comes together to teach one another what they’ve learned throughout the year and share the joy. Learn more. event. Given the limited number of sponsorship slots, this system ensures a transparent and thorough evaluation, culminating in approval by the WordPress Campus Connect Committee.

Eligibility Criteria for Student Sponsorship

To be considered for a flagship WordCamp sponsorship, students must meet the following criteria:

1. Active Participation in WordPress Campus Connect Events:
   • Demonstrated consistent attendance and engagement at WordPress Campus Connect events (e.g., workshops, meetupsMeetup Meetup groups are locally-organized groups that get together for face-to-face events on a regular basis (commonly once a month). Learn more about Meetups in our Meetup Organizer Handbook., hackathons). For example, if an event is three days, attendance during 3/3 days is considered consistent attendance.
   • Active involvement in discussions, contributions to WordPress Campus Connect projects, or volunteer efforts.
2. Demonstrated Interest and Aptitude in WordPress:
   • Evidence of independent learning or project work related to WordPress.
   • A clear articulation of how attending a flagship WordCamp will benefit their WordPress journey and future contributions.
3. Financial Need (Optional but Recommended for Equity):
   • While not a strict requirement, organizers may consider a student’s financial circumstances to ensure equitable access to opportunities.

These guidelines are designed to provide a fair and equitable process for WordPress Campus Connect event organizers to assess and recommend deserving students for sponsorship to attend a flagship WordCamp event. Given the limited number of sponsorship slots, this system ensures a transparent and thorough evaluation, culminating in approval by the WordPress Campus Connect Committee.

Eligibility Criteria for Student Sponsorship

To be considered for a flagship WordCamp sponsorship, students must meet the following criteria:

1. Active Participation in WordPress Campus Connect Events:
   • Demonstrated consistent attendance and engagement at WordPress Campus Connect events (e.g., workshops, meetups, hackathons). For example, if an event is three days, attendance during 3/3 days is considered consistent attendance.
   • Active involvement in discussions, contributions to WordPress Campus Connect projects, or volunteer efforts.
2. Demonstrated Interest and Aptitude in WordPress:
   • Evidence of independent learning or project work related to WordPress.
   • A clear articulation of how attending a flagship WordCamp will benefit their WordPress journey and future contributions.
3. Financial Need (Optional but Recommended for Equity):
   • While not a strict requirement, organizers may consider a student’s financial circumstances to ensure equitable access to opportunities.

Organizer Assessment and Recommendation Process

WordPress Campus Connect event organizers are responsible for identifying and recommending students who exemplify dedication and potential within the WordPress community.

1. Initial Student Evaluation:
   Organizers should evaluate students based on the following factors, providing concrete examples where possible:
   • A. Attendance and Engagement:
     • Frequency and consistency of attendance at WordPress Campus Connect events. For example, if an event is three days, attendance during 3/3 days is considered consistent attendance.
     • Level of active participation in discussions, Q&A sessions, and practical exercises.
     • Volunteer contributions to WordPress Campus Connect events or initiatives.
   • B. Project Difficulty and Uniqueness:
     • Complexity of WordPress Projects: Evaluate the technical challenges and depth of any WordPress projects the student has undertaken (e.g., custom theme development, pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party creation, complex site builds, contributions to coreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress.).
     • Innovation and Originality: Assess the uniqueness or innovative aspects of the student’s WordPress work. Does it demonstrate creative problem-solving or a novel approach?
     • Impact of Projects: Consider the practical application or potential impact of the student’s WordPress projects.
   • C. Commitment and Growth:
     • Demonstrated passion for learning and growing within the WordPress ecosystem.
     • Evidence of applying learned skills and continuous improvement.
2. Preparation of Student Case:
   For each recommended student, organizers must compile a brief case outlining why the student is a strong candidate for sponsorship. This case should include:
   • Student’s Name 
   • Summary of student’s participation in WordPress Campus Connect events.
   • Description of relevant WordPress projects, highlighting difficulty and uniqueness.
   • A statement on the student’s demonstrated commitment and potential.
   • A brief justification for why this student would benefit most from the sponsorship.
3. Submission to Community Managers:
   Organizers will submit their recommended student names and accompanying cases to the designated WordPress Campus Connect Community Managers at support@wordcamp.org.

WordPress Campus Connect Committee Review and Approval

The WordPress Campus Connect Committee (or a designated subcommittee) will serve as the vetting body for all sponsorship applications, ensuring impartiality and adherence to guidelines.

1. Application Vetting:
   The WordPress Campus Connect Committee will review all submitted student cases, evaluating them against the established eligibility criteria and the strength of the organizer’s recommendation. The Committee may consider factors such as:
   • Alignment with WordPress Campus Connect mission and values.
   • Diversity and inclusion considerations to ensure equitable representation.
   • Overall impact of the sponsorship on the student’s development and the wider WordPress community.
2. Decision Making:
   Based on the vetting process and the number of available sponsorship slots, the WordPress Campus Connect Committee will make final decisions on student sponsorships. All decisions will be made with fairness and equity as guiding principles. Decisions will be made at least 3 months before the event start date.
3. Funding Confirmation:
   Once a student is approved, the WordPress Campus Connect Committee will confirm the availability of sponsorship funds required for the flagship WordCamp attendance (e.g., ticket, travel, accommodation if applicable).

Student Notification and Sponsorship Confirmation

1. Notification of Eligibility:
   Upon approval and confirmation of funds, the selected students will be officially notified of their eligibility to attend the flagship WordCamp event with sponsorship. The notification will include details regarding the scope of the sponsorship and next steps.
2. Sponsorship Acceptance:
   Students will be required to formally accept the sponsorship via email to support@wordcamp.org within a specified timeframe to confirm their attendance and allow for necessary arrangements.

Current WordPress Campus Connect Committee members: Anand Upadhyay (@anandau14), Destiny Kanno (@piyopiyofox), and Juan Hernando (@unintended8).

These guidelines aim to foster a merit-based and inclusive approach to identifying and supporting promising students within the WordPress Campus Connect program, enabling them to gain invaluable experience at flagship WordCamp events.

Companies can support these stipends as well! Submit your interest to do so through this form.