[Announcements] Jasig-Sakai Joint Working Group Announcement and Update

[Josh Baron]

Sakai Colleagues, 

Below is an important update on the work that Jasig and Sakai are 
undertaking as well as information on a new mailing list on which future 
updates will be distributed and feedback gathered. 

In October, the boards of Jasig and the Sakai Foundation announced to 
their communities that the two non-profit organizations had decided to 
pursue an opportunity to join together to form a new entity that would 
“foster the development and use of open source software that supports the 
academic mission”.  More specifically, the resulting foundation would 
promote the development and sustainability of multiple open source 
projects and communities of practice dedicated to exploring the use of 
open source systems, tools, and processes to support teaching, learning, 
research, and other aspects of the academic enterprise.  Both boards felt 
that the similarities in goals, values, and practices between Sakai and 
Jasig could form the basis of a combined foundation which would be capable 
of providing far greater value to our communities than the sum of its 
parts. 

To further these efforts, a Jasig-Sakai Joint Working Group (JWG) was 
formed and has been reviewing the legal, financial, governance and other 
issues that factor into the decision making process.  Below is copy of the 
JWG Mission and Charter which has been approved by both boards and which 
will provide more details on the work this group is now engaged in.  It 
also provides information on a new Google Group the JWG has created as 
means to keep our two communities updated on our work, gather community 
feedback, distribute JWG meeting minutes and respond to questions.  We 
would encourage anyone who is interested in following the progress of the 
JWG and providing input into the process to join the list. 

Thanks, 

Josh Baron 
Chair, Sakai Foundation Board of Directors 
Co-Chair, Jasig-Sakai Joint Working Group 


Jasig-Sakai Joint Working Group Mission and Charter

Since the October announcement, the two boards have formed a Joint Working 
Group (JWG) whose mission is to perform the work required to fully 
evaluate the processes and models by which we might effectively bring our 
two organizations together, seek input and feedback from the Jasig and 
Sakai communities, and prepare a detailed proposal for acceptance by the 
respective boards of directors and communities.  Specifically, the working 
group will be responsible for the following: 
Establish procedures for communicating with the Sakai and Jasig 
communities to solicit input about the proposed partnership, set up 
appropriate avenues for dialog, provide relevant information, and report 
periodically on the status of the Joint Committee’s work. 
Determine the most effective governance model for the new foundation. 
Reconcile membership models and design a new, optimized model for 
institutions, professional affiliates, and commercial entities. 
Develop policies and procedures for organizational and project governance. 

Perform due diligence regarding the mechanics and practicalities of 
joining the two organizations (e.g., finances, legal, licensing, etc.). 
Develop budget and staffing models. 
Draft a high-level proposal for additional tasks that would need to be 
performed by the new organization, e.g., rationalize infrastructure, web 
presence, collaboration environments and tools, etc. 
Develop a detailed proposal for joining the two organizations; present it 
to our communities and boards of directors.

The Jasig-Sakai Joint Working Group will meet regularly over the next 
several months to work on these activities.  Sub-groups will be formed to 
work on specific deliverables.  The group aims to complete its work by 
October of 2011. 

Community members who have questions or who wish to comment on the 
evolving plans are invited to subscribe to the Google Group, “Jasig Sakai 
Collaboration”. The JWG will periodically post documents, questions and 
ideas to this group for community feedback.  If appropriate, a FAQ will be 
created to respond to regularly posted questions.  To subscribe, go to 
http://groups.google.com/group/jasig-sakai-collaboration and click on the 
“Join This Group” link on the right.

We look forward to working together over the next several months and 
invite you to share your thoughts, questions, and concerns about this 
process, its objectives, and its deliverables. 

-----------------------------
Joshua Baron
Senior Academic Technology Officer
Marist College
Poughkeepsie, New York  12601
(845) 575-3623 (work)
Twitter: JoshBaron
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