TPAC diversity scholarship

Everyone,

This year the W3C offered a diversity scholarship, intended to give a 
financial grant to self-funded people from under-represented groups, to 
assist with the cost of attending TPAC. It was the first time such a 
thing had been tried, and as with all first attempts, some things worked 
well and some things didn't.

The W3C would like to create a diversity scholarship again for TPAC 
2019, and has asked for our help putting it together.

1. How, when, and in what form, should we try to raise the money?

This year it began with an impromptu suggestion and donation from one 
member, at the AC meeting in Berlin. A handful of other members followed 
suit, and so the scholarship fund was created. A follow-up email was 
sent to the AC, which resulted in other donations, but it isn't clear 
that this is the best approach to raising funds.

2. How should we present the scholarship?

The goal of the scholarship is to achieve greater diversity at TPAC, but 
W3C received criticism this year because it was felt that the 
scholarship was based on positive discrimination, instead of being open 
to any self-funded person wanting to attend TPAC.

3. How do we differentiate the scholarship from the Invited Expert (IE) 
fee waver?

W3C also introduced a fee waver for all IE attending TPAC. There was 
some confusion as to whether the scholarship and IE fee waver were the 
same thing (they're not), and it would be good to avoid that confusion 
next time.

4. When should the scholarship be announced and/or opened for applications?

5. Who should be on the committee that awards the scholarships?

It was handled by W3M this year because the donors felt it was the best 
approach at the time. It may be that this is still the best approach, or 
it may be that this CG could be involved in some way.

Putting this out for initial discussion and thoughts.


Léonie.

-- 
@LeonieWatson @tink@toot.cafe Carpe diem

Received on Tuesday, 20 November 2018 11:07:59 UTC