Scholarship Policy Update 2025: Difference between revisions

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== Background ==
== Background ==
This is a vote to update the Scholarship policy to better serve our mission of creating an inclusive and accessible makerspace that reflects and enriches our diverse community. The proposed changes expand our scholarship criteria to explicitly support underrepresented groups, establish a dedicated Scholarship Committee, and implement a more structured and equitable selection process.
This is a vote to update the Scholarship policy to better serve our mission of creating an inclusive and accessible makerspace that reflects and enriches our diverse community. The proposed changes expand our scholarship criteria to explicitly support underrepresented groups, establish a dedicated Scholarship Team, and implement a more structured and equitable selection process.


The updated policy aims to allocate scholarships based on a weighted criteria system that prioritizes both economic need and community representation. Additionally, it introduces longer scholarship terms and includes provisions for storage access and workshop participation to ensure recipients can fully engage with PS1's resources and community.
The updated policy aims to allocate scholarships based on a weighted criteria system that prioritizes both economic need and community representation. Additionally, it introduces longer scholarship terms and includes provisions for storage access and workshop participation to ensure recipients can fully engage with PS1's resources and community.
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== Language ==
== Language ==


[Language review document link to be added]
=== 2025 Scholarship Policy Updates ===


Once language is locked, it will be posted to this section. Language in this wiki page takes precedent over language posted in the document.
=== Scholarship Application Process ===
'''To apply for a Pumping Station: One scholarship, please follow the link to fill out our [https://tinyurl.com/y3dc3fnx application form].'''


=== 2025 Policy Updates ===
Scholarship applications are reviewed by a Scholarship Team before being submitted to the board for approval. Once approved by the board, recipients are given Pumping Station One access at no cost until the end of the year. Notices of scholarship award are sent to selected candidates within the first week of the year. Selected scholarship recipients will have 2 weeks to accept or request to defer their scholarship. The scholarship will terminate at the end of December 31st of the same year. Applications will be dropped if not selected (requiring yearly re-application).


==== Scholarship Committee Structure ====
==== Scholarship Team Structure ====
A dedicated Scholarship Committee will be established, consisting of:
A dedicated Scholarship Team will be established, consisting of:
* One Board member or Director at Large
* One Board member or Director at Large
* One MMT (Member Management Team) member
* One member of MMT (Member Management Team)
* At least one Equity Analysts (members or volunteers)
* At least one Equity Analyst (member or volunteer)
* One frequent member with no other volunteer associations
* One frequent member with no other volunteer associations
* One other of any of the above positions to assure no deadlocks
* One other of any of the above positions to assure no deadlocks


==== Scholarship Allocation ====
==== Scholarship Allocation ====
The total number of scholarships will be changed from 15 static seats to a dynamic seat count capped at 5% of total paying membership.  
The total number of approved scholarships will be a dynamic seat count capped at 5% of total paying membership based on a snapshot taken at the beginning of November. This provides the Scholarship Team two months to finalize scholarship selections and gain board approval based on the determined number of available spots.  
==== Selection Criteria and Weighting ====
==== Selection Criteria and Weighting ====
Applications will be evaluated using a weighted point system maintained and enforced by the Scholarship Committee.
Applications will be evaluated using a weighted point system maintained and enforced by the Scholarship Team.


==== Process Improvements ====
==== Process Improvements ====
* Applications will be anonymized before Board review and approval
* Applications will be anonymized for final Board review and approval.
* Scholarship terms extended to 1 year
* Scholarship recipients are exempt from paid class fees. Should a member run a class that requires a material cost, that member will be responsible for adjusting the class structure to accommodate a scholarship recipient attendee. The Scholarship Team will be available as a resource for said member to help adjust the class structure accordingly.
* Recipients may opt in to free storage space, with option to share with other recipients
* A clear disclaimer about the applicant's anonymity will be included in applications.
* Scholarship recipients exempt from paid class fees
* Applications will be dropped after one year if not selected (requiring yearly re-application)
* Clear disclaimer about anonymity process included in applications


==== Storage and Resource Access ====
==== Storage and Resource Access ====
* Free storage space available to all scholarship recipients (opt-in)
* Recipients may opt in to free storage space, with the option to share with other recipients.
* Storage sharing options available to maximize space efficiency
* In extreme circumstances or at the Scholarship Team's or Board's discretion, recipients may be required to share storage space to better accommodate paying members and volunteers, or to otherwise maximize space efficiently.
* Full access to paid classes without additional fees


== Results ==
== Results ==