Wikipedia:Mediation Committee/Membership

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[edit] How does one become a member of the committee?

Members are selected by consensus of the Mediation Committee as a whole; nominations generally last around one month, and are open to comment from both Committee members and non-Committee Members. Emeritus members of the Mediation Committee retain the option to participate in nomination discussions as regular (active) Committee members. Non-Committee members are invited to comment, though the decision to promote lies within the Committee.

There is not a strict minimum amount of support necessary for a nomination to be promoted, though the Committee does enforce a "two oppose rule"; the Committee has determined that any nomination opposed by two or more members of the Committee cannot be promoted. (Opposition by non-Committee members is not counted towards the two oppose rule.) Final approval lies with Jimbo Wales, though he rarely comments on nominations. Promoted candidates are requested to join the Committee's internal mailing list. (The list is closed subscription; only confirmed members of the Mediation Committee are permitted to join.)

Parties interested in joining the Mediation Committee should begin by reading through the Wikipedia:Mediation pages and familiarizing themselves with Mediation Committee procedure. There are no hard and fast standards for Committee members, though certain trends have developed over time. Appointment to the Mediation Committee is an official appointment to an official Wikipedia Committee, and requires a high level of community trust. Many Committee members consider adminship to be an important indication of community trust and are reluctant to support non-administrators; adminship is not a requirement, however, and well-qualified non-administrators are frequently promoted.

Involvement in the Wikipedia community is a key factor, as is experience in Wikipedia dispute resolution; nominees should be able to demonstrate a strong history of resolving disputes on Wikipedia and interacting positively with the community. Very new contributors, individuals frequently involved in controversy, those who are frequently the subject of dispute resolution (helping to resolve disputes is positively regarded, being subject to dispute resolution is not), those who have little interaction with others, and those with little experience with dispute resolution are unlikely to be promoted.

Interested candidates should follow the procedure outlined below to submit their nomination. Candidates who are unsure of their qualifications are encouraged to consult a Committee member for advice before submitting a nomination. Candidates declined due to inexperience or being of a controversial nature are encouraged to reapply at a future date, not being within three months of a previously failed nomination.