VassarWiki:About: Difference between revisions
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Once you register an account, click the "Edit" button. You can either use the visual editor (recommended for new editors) or switch to the source editor on the upper-right. Make whatever changes to the page you want, write a short edit summary, and save your changes. If your changes only contain superficial differences (e.g. fixing typos or minor formatting errors), click the minor edit button before saving your changes. | Once you register an account, click the "Edit" button. You can either use the visual editor (recommended for new editors) or switch to the source editor on the upper-right. Make whatever changes to the page you want, write a short edit summary, and save your changes. If your changes only contain superficial differences (e.g. fixing typos or minor formatting errors), click the minor edit button before saving your changes. | ||
If you want to create a page, search the name of the page you want and click the red link. You may want to use a template to get started. | If you want to create a page, search the name of the page you want and click the red link. You may want to use a [[:Category:Templates|template]] to get started. | ||
=== What can I contribute? === | === What can I contribute? === | ||
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== Policies and guidelines == | == Policies and guidelines == | ||
'''[[VassarWiki:Policies|Policies]]''' are the site's foundational principles and should always be followed. Like everything on VassarWiki, they are established by community consensus. Put simply, editors should: | |||
* Build and respect consensus when disputes arise | |||
* Leave a trail of references, edit summaries, and talk page signatures | |||
* Shouldn't steal copyrighted work and publish it here | |||
* Not censor information they don't like | |||
* Be civil and assume other contributors come in good faith | |||
'''[[Guidelines]]''' are records of consensus that contributors should ''attempt'' to follow, generally regarding more specific issues. | |||
== Governance == | |||
VassarWiki adopts a collective governance model, which means it has no single owner or leader. | |||
Administrators are ''not'' given any precedence in content disputes (unless the dispute involves a legal issue). | However, certain technical actions require their access be limited to a smaller group of contributors. Administrators are contributors who have been granted the ability to perform these actions on VassarWiki, including suspending users for policy violations, deleting and restoring pages, and approving prospective contributors who lack a vassar.edu email. Administrators are ''not'' given any precedence in content disputes (unless the dispute involves a legal issue). | ||
Anyone can apply to be an administrator. While there are no official requirements, candidates should have a track record of constructive editing. Applications to be an administrator are approved by consensus through community discussion. Administrators who abuse their authority should be [[VassarWiki:Reports|reported]]. | [[VassarWiki:Administrator elections|Anyone can apply to be an administrator]]. While there are no official requirements, candidates should have a track record of constructive editing. (Though given how new the wiki is, feel free to immediately apply if you're interested.) Applications to be an administrator are approved by consensus through community discussion. Administrators who abuse their authority should be [[VassarWiki:Reports|reported]]. | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
Revision as of 20:42, 9 April 2026
Welcome to VassarWiki, a wiki for the Vassar College community!
Put simply, a wiki (from the Hawaiian word for "quick"[1]) is a collaboratively edited website.[2] While many wikis are encyclopedias, they don't have to be. VassarWiki was created to be an encyclopedia and more. It's a space for the Vassar community to collectively share and organize information—building a persistent institutional memory and bridging otherwise isolated corners of our campus.
Getting started
Who can contribute?
Anyone connected to Vassar can contribute! All you have to do is sign up with your Vassar email. If you're connected to Vassar but lack a vassar.edu email, you have to apply to have your account approved.
How can I contribute?
Once you register an account, click the "Edit" button. You can either use the visual editor (recommended for new editors) or switch to the source editor on the upper-right. Make whatever changes to the page you want, write a short edit summary, and save your changes. If your changes only contain superficial differences (e.g. fixing typos or minor formatting errors), click the minor edit button before saving your changes.
If you want to create a page, search the name of the page you want and click the red link. You may want to use a template to get started.
What can I contribute?
Contributions generally don't require prior approval, so be bold! If there's an issue with your edit, another editor can revert it and you can discuss on a talk page. It's recommended that you read and understand VassarWiki policies and any relevant guidelines before you edit.
What belongs on VassarWiki?
VassarWiki is deliberately open-ended to adapt to community needs. There are a few main types of pages. If you feel limited by these types, please bring your concern to the village pump!
- Encyclopedia pages are about things like student orgs, events, classes, departments, and college lore. Content should be written from a neutral point of view and be sourced.
- Unlike other pages, user pages can only be edited by the relevant individual. You can put pretty much anything in your profile (e.g. interests, projects, org memberships, essays or freeform content, contact information).
- Project pages (those with the prefix "VassarWiki") deal with the governance and maintenance of VassarWiki. All project pages should be listed with Template:Consensus to indicate whether the page is established consensus, a proposal under consideration, or the position of a specific group or individual.
- Every page has a corresponding talk page, where you can resolve disputes about page content or otherwise talk freely about that page's subject.
- Pages can be assigned to multiple categories, to assist in navigation and organization. Categories are listed at the bottom of a page. To add a category to a page using the visual editor, click the hamburger menu button (yes, that's what the three-line menu icon is called[3]) and then "Categories". In the source editor, just wikilink to the category at the very bottom of the page.
- Templates are pages designed for inclusion in other pages.
Policies and guidelines
Policies are the site's foundational principles and should always be followed. Like everything on VassarWiki, they are established by community consensus. Put simply, editors should:
- Build and respect consensus when disputes arise
- Leave a trail of references, edit summaries, and talk page signatures
- Shouldn't steal copyrighted work and publish it here
- Not censor information they don't like
- Be civil and assume other contributors come in good faith
Guidelines are records of consensus that contributors should attempt to follow, generally regarding more specific issues.
Governance
VassarWiki adopts a collective governance model, which means it has no single owner or leader.
However, certain technical actions require their access be limited to a smaller group of contributors. Administrators are contributors who have been granted the ability to perform these actions on VassarWiki, including suspending users for policy violations, deleting and restoring pages, and approving prospective contributors who lack a vassar.edu email. Administrators are not given any precedence in content disputes (unless the dispute involves a legal issue).
Anyone can apply to be an administrator. While there are no official requirements, candidates should have a track record of constructive editing. (Though given how new the wiki is, feel free to immediately apply if you're interested.) Applications to be an administrator are approved by consensus through community discussion. Administrators who abuse their authority should be reported.