Added approval section to RA agreement

README.md

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ In this handbook, we document our own processes, to support our own work and for
 -   [Technology](docs/technology.md)
 -   [On-boarding](docs/on_boarding.md)
 -   [Radio](docs/radio.md)
+-   [RAships](docs/RAships/)
 -   [Background reading](docs/background_reading.md)
 
 ## How to contribute

docs/RAships/agreement.md

@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+# MEDLab RA Agreement
+
+Dear {Student},
+
+Welcome to a research assistantship with MEDLab! I hope this will be a productive and creative semester, in addition to being a chance for us to invest financially and concretely in your education. The purpose of this letter is to clarify our shared expectations. If you have any questions or concerns about anything here, let's discuss them immediately to avoid any misunderstandings.
+
+Being an RA is part of a collective commitment. Our RAships are only possible, first of all, through commitments of funds from the university or external funders. MEDLab leadership has expended time and energy to secure those funds for you. We commit to supporting you and continuing to invest in your growth. Meanwhile, we expect that you invest back in us—that you bring not only time and labor, but also imagination and leadership. We hope that you will take co-ownership over this role, just as our lab seeks to support democratic co-ownership of the online economy.
+
+## Expectations
+
+Here are some of the basics of your RAship:
+
+- Period: {Date}
+- Hours: {Hours/week, etc.}
+- Supervisor: {Supervisor}
+- Funding source: {Funder}
+
+All funded members of the MEDLab team are expected to contribute in the following ways:
+
+- Attend weekly lab meetings
+- Attend MEDLab events
+- Coordinate work independently with your supervisor and collaborators
+- Be active and attentive to the Matrix chat and other collaboration tools on the MEDLab Cloud
+- Conduct at least one interview for the podcast, in consultation with the producer
+- Organize your dedicated hours and schedule to accommodate these responsibilities, and communicate clearly when adjustments are necessary
+
+We expect that the tasks and goals you'll be working on may change during the RAship, and we should have ongoing discussions about them. Our goal is for your MEDLab work to align as much as possible with your own interests and research, although that may not be entirely possible. At this stage, this is how we currently envision your role:
+
+- {Specify focus and deliverables for the period}
+
+You are responsible for establishing a rhythm of meetings with your supervisor and collaborators that enables you to accomplish your goals. Our lab often prioritizes directing funding to students over supervisors, so please keep that in mind and be judicious about your needs for supervisors' time.
+
+Be sure to discuss these in detail with your supervisor so you fully understand them.
+
+## Accountability
+
+Accountability is both an important theme in MEDLab's work and in how we work together.
+
+Plan to maintain an ongoing dialogue with your supervisor about mutual expectations. At minimum, your supervisor and you should discuss your progress and performance—as well as the supervisory relationship—at the midterm of a given appointment.
+
+In the event of egregious or unprofessional behavior, or consistent under-performance in agreed-on duties, RA roles may be subject to termination or reassignment. MEDLab will seek to pursue all possible opportunities for repair, consistent with meeting our commitments to collaborators and protecting the safety of our community.
+
+According to the Graduate School Appointment Manual, in the event of intractable disagreements, students or supervisors should raise them first with the direct supervisor, and then with the Director of Graduate Studies, and if neither of those interactions produce a resolution, with the Graduate School.
+
+## On-boarding
+
+If you have not already, please review the MEDLab Handbook and especially follow the guide on the On-Boarding page.
+
+Welcome aboard!
+
+## Approval
+
+We the undersigned commit to the terms of this agreement. If this agreement needs to be changed we will discuss, agree on, and commit to a revised version.
+
+* {Supervisor name} ({date})
+* {RA name} ({date})

docs/RAships/evaluation.md

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# MEDLab RA Feedback
+
+The purpose of this document is to provide feedback to students who hold paid research assistant roles in MEDLab. It should be used at both the midterm and end of any period of employment.
+
+Upon receipt of this form, the supervisor and RA should plan to meet to discuss its contents. The RA may also choose to respond in writing. The form and any written response should be retained in MEDLab’s internal records.
+
+Student: {Name}
+
+Supervisor: {Name}
+
+Date: {Date}
+
+Strengths and accomplishments in the RA’s contributions:
+
+{Feedback}
+
+Shortcomings the RA’s contributions, in light on the agreement at the start of the semester and ongoing discussions:
+
+{Feedback}
+
+Specific opportunities for improvement in the future:
+
+{Feedback}
+
+Evaluation: {Number}
+
+The evaluation system is the same as that used for faculty at CU Boulder. They are as follows:
+
+- 5: Outstanding
+- 4: Exceeding Expectations
+- 3: Meeting Expectations
+- 2: Below Expectations
+- 1: Fails to Meet Expectations
+
+This document is part of a process that is subject to ongoing evolution. If you have feedback about your experience with it, please share it with the MEDLab director.

docs/on_boarding.md

@@ -4,13 +4,15 @@ Welcome to MEDLab! The purpose of this page is to help you get set up in all our
 
 MEDLab is a dynamic community, and there is no one-size-fits-all way to be involved. The best way to find your place in MEDLab is to come to weekly meetings, discuss your work with the director, and get involved in at least one of our projects.
 
-If you're looking for the more intellectual side of on-boarding, check out our [background readings](https://handbook.medlab.host/background_reading "background_reading").
+Several times the instructions below refer to "an admin." This is most likely the MEDLab director, but it may also be someone else with administrative privileges in our systems.
+
+If you're looking for the more intellectual side of on-boarding, check out our [background readings](background_reading.md).
 
 ## Collaboration tools
 
-First, you'll need to get plugged into our self-managed collaboration tools. Learn more about our tools on the [Technology](https://handbook.medlab.host/technology "technology") page.
+First, you'll need to get plugged into our self-managed collaboration tools. Learn more about our tools on the [Technology](technology.md) page.
 
--   Nathan needs to send you an invitation to create an account through Cloudron at `my.medlab.host`. This is your main account, which grants access to all the other tools.
+-   An admin needs to send you an invitation to create an account through Cloudron at `my.medlab.host`. This is your main account, which grants access to all the other tools.
     
 
 ### Nextcloud
@@ -19,7 +21,7 @@ Nextcloud is an open-source, multi-purpose cloud platform. At our Nextcloud inst
 
 -   Log in at `cloud.medlab.host` with the credentials you created at `my.medlab.host`
     
--   Ask Nathan to add you to the MEDLab group, which will give you access to our shared files
+-   Ask an admin to add you to the MEDLab group, which will give you access to our shared files
     
 
 You can also access our server via the Nextcloud mobile app, though it is not as fully featured as the web interface.
@@ -56,14 +58,20 @@ Joining the MEDLab Space:
 
 -   A Space in Matrix is a collection of chatrooms.
     
--   Ask Nathan to invite you to the [MEDLab Space](https://cloud.medlab.host/apps/riotchat/#/room/!ODXsCLxXpycGkFBclI:medlab.host "https://cloud.medlab.host/apps/riotchat/#/room/!ODXsCLxXpycGkFBclI:medlab.host"), which will give you access to all our rooms.
+-   Ask an admin to invite you to the [MEDLab Space](https://cloud.medlab.host/apps/riotchat/#/room/!ODXsCLxXpycGkFBclI:medlab.host "https://cloud.medlab.host/apps/riotchat/#/room/!ODXsCLxXpycGkFBclI:medlab.host"), which will give you access to all our rooms.
     
 -   Choose which rooms you want to join by pressing the compass button right under your name in the top-left of the web interface. Be sure you're in #general, as well as the rooms related to any projects you're part of or interested in.
 
+### Git
+
+Gitea is an open-source, relatively simple implementation of the Git version-control system. It is similar to the commerical platforms GitHub and GitLab but easier to self-host and manage. We use it to manage the lab's software projects and other documentation (such as this Handbook). It is a useful way to collaborate on things that are too complex for the office tools on Nextcloud.
+
+If you're a MEDLab member, you can join the [MEDLab Contributors](https://git.medlab.host/org/MEDLab/teams/medlab_contributors) team, which gives you edit access to the main MEDLab repositories. If you need this access, let an admin know.
+
 
 ## Website profile
 
-We want to show you off! Email Nathan with a photograph of yourself and a bio. For examples, see [the About page](https://www.colorado.edu/lab/medlab/about "https://www.colorado.edu/lab/medlab/about").
+We want to show you off! Email an admin with a photograph of yourself and a bio. For examples, see [the About page](https://www.colorado.edu/lab/medlab/about "https://www.colorado.edu/lab/medlab/about").
 
 ## Newsletter
 
@@ -72,3 +80,7 @@ Be sure to [subscribe](https://www.colorado.edu/lab/medlab/newsletter "https://w
 ## Invoices and payment
 
 Learn about how to get paid through the university system on the [getting paid](getting_paid.md) page.
+
+## RAships
+
+If you are a paid research assistant, you should work with your supervisor to develop an RAship agreement, specifying mutual expectations. Find templates for the agreement and other RA documents in the [RAship directory](RAships/).