Wikipedia:RFA reform

This is a list of selected WP:RfA reform projects and RfA reform-related pages.

Yearly reforms

These reform projects are usually large and consist of multiple related WP:RfCs.

• WT:RFA/R (2007) – compiled a lot of ideas but no concrete proposals were implemented
• WP:RREV (2008) – compiled many editors' opinions on reforming RfA and some data
• WP:RFA2011 – compiled large amounts of data, but no concrete proposals were implemented
  • Data on questions, voters, and candidates was gathered
  • Possible proposals – a list of considered proposals
• WP:RFA2012 – received a number of proposals, but few were implemented
  • Problems – a list of identified problems
• WP:RFA2013 – consisted of three WP:RfCs:
  • Round 1 – generated broad categories of problems to be addressed
  • Round 2 – four proposals received solid support, and three went to the next round
  • Round 3 – all three proposals failed by large margins
• WP:RFA2015 – consisted of two phases (in the form of RfCs):
  • Phase I – out of the problems and proposed solutions, seven went to the next phase
  • Phase II – four out of eleven proposals passed; the question of whether RfA should be clerked was taken to another RfC
    • Clerking RfC – the basic proposal failed, but the closing statement identified consensus for some of the changes proposed

Other major reforms

• Wikipedia:Requests for de-adminship – a list of de-adminship proposals, and other RfA overhauls
• Wikipedia:Unbundling administrators' powers – a list of unbundling proposals
• WP:BARC – a proposal to create the "Bureaucrats' Administrator Review Committee" to review community requests for removal of sysop rights; failed

By topic

Topic	Name	Date opened	Discussion	Description	Status
Inactivity	Initial proposal	31 May 2011	Link	Automatically desysop completely inactive admins after a year	Passed

See also

Data

• User:WereSpielChequers/RFA by month – widely cited in discussions about RfA, even though it's not a RfA reform proposal itself
• Wikipedia:RFA study – not widely cited, but still useful for investigating RfA trends
• Wikipedia:Requests for adminship/Debriefs – post-RfA thoughts from RfA candidates

Analysis

• Wikipedia:Generally accepted RfA principles
• User:Worm That Turned/Rant On/Adminship – user essay about RfA

Reform ideas

• Category:Requests for adminship reform – a complete list of RfA reforms
• User:Barkeep49/RfA Reform – list of various identified issues and proposed solutions

The Signpost series

• 2005 Changes to adminship debated
• 2006 Requests for adminship reform discussed
• 2007 Efforts to reform Requests for Adminship spark animated discussion
• 2008 Experimental request for adminship ends in failure
• 2010 RfA drought worsens in 2010—wikigeneration gulf emerging
• 2011 RFAs and active admins—concerns expressed over the continuing drought
• 2012 Is the Requests for adminship process 'broken'?
• 2012 AdminCom: A proposal for changing the way we select admins
• 2012 Adminship from the German perspective
• 2013 Requests for adminship reform moves forward
• 2013 Another admin reform attempt flops
• 2015 Editorial: Recent retirements typify problem of admin attrition
• 2015 Wikipedia needs more administrators
• 2018 Has the wind gone out of the AdminShip's sails?
• 2018 What do admins actually do?
• 2018 The last leg of the Admin Ship's current cruise
• 2019 Administrator cadre continues to contract