@5d71550a10bb07de12bc19f74c7ff6fa00b7ec40f85aa3af6403acea778b5ef9 [Posted on DevHub](https://near.social/#/devgovgigs.near/widget/Post?id=1628) ## Idea: NEAR Campus <> Boston University Blockchain **Proposal for NEAR Campus Program [bublockchain.xyz](https://) Overview** boston university blockchain. **our mission:** we are an inclusive, multifaceted community dedicated to equal education in the web3 space. We aim to foster creativity, build a diverse network, and shape a decentralized future together. Through research, development, and building companies - BU Blockchain aims to act as a springboard for all students to unleash their potential in the field. **our vision:** we see a decentralized future for all that allows for equal opportunity to create and innovate on any chain, regardless of a person's field of experience, gender identity, race, or origin. We plan to aid all members in their intellectual pursuits in the Web3 field - while simultaneously connecting them to opportunities both near and far, that stimulate their personal growth and development through speaker events, workshops, hackathons, and our women in blockchain (WiBlock) initiative. **our collaboration:** we pride ourselves on collaboration and diplomacy with other university organizations, which has opened many doors for us in terms of working across the aisle and our reputation as a well-respected organization. in the four past hackathons we have attended, our members have taken home first place overall at each competition, winning a combined USD 28,000 overall, and we hope to continue building our knowledge-hungry team with the help of NEAR. **our mantra** unifying chains, celebrating voices. **Where we fit with NEAR Campus** * Plan to contribute to and highlight the importance of participating in open-source projects and value a collaborative, welcoming culture of curious builders. * Provide a connection between NEAR and Boston University. * Be an active participant in NEAR by focusing on NEAR Campus through speaker series, fireside chats, and hackathons, be it in-person or virtual. * Encourage diversity and inclusion in the web3 space by supporting our WiBlock initiative and bringing female, underrepresented builders to NEAR. **What we can promise to NEAR as our sponsor** * Speaking opportunities at club events and acknowledgment at our club events. * Logo placement on event materials. * Keynote and panel participation. * Social media shout-outs for sponsorship and premier logo visibility on club materials * Access to a blockchain-focused student talent pool and our hackathon team, with a 100% 1st place win rate at the four competitions attended since inception. * Customized networking with club members, faculty, and experts. * Exclusive flagship event sponsorship and specialized, NEAR-focused blockchain workshops at club events. * Customized thought leadership content with club members. **Our plan** * Create a NEAR Node at Boston University that provides comprehensive mentorship, IRL/online workshops for Rust and NEAR, fireside chats and recruitment events within the overall ecosystem, host other workshops meant to enhance member success and knowledge of protocol, encourage and incentivize participation in the NEAR Ecosystem as an active contributor. **Monitoring Reception to Initiatives and our Key Indicators of Success** * Monthly reports: Create a detailed data analysis of the reception of workshops and emphasize attendance and potential innovation incubated as a result of NEAR Campus initiatives. * Open line of communication with the NEAR team to evaluate the success of initiatives and meetings by analyzing member surveys and feedback given by members and work to consistently improve our initiatives with the help of all members of Boston University Blockchain. * Keeping an eye on innovation: The success of our members equates to the success of initiatives, and any NEAR-related bounties or press as a result of our members will be looked at to ensure our consistency with creating the best environment for our members to thrive. * Acting as a springboard: Our strategic partnership will serve as a foundation for continued growth and support if they take their ideas to the next level. * Recruitment: Through our partnership, we also plan to increase recruitment efforts and aim to double, if not triple, our current member base of 80 and market our organization as a firm supporter of innovation and creativity in the field - as well as onboard those in the web2 space to web3, helping them unlock their full potential. Our numbers here are at the low end of our estimates; however, we aim to record-break our numbers constantly. **Our 8-month plan** *To begin ASAP and Conclude on 05/15/2024* *Total Requested: USD 7000* **ASAP (October 2023): Establish a NEAR Node at Boston University** *Estimated Cost: USD 450* * Create materials for members to reference regarding the NEAR Network in an easy-to-digest fashion. * Update the website with materials and create a specific NEAR Campus resource page for our members. (USD 100 for site building and hosting to support new content more consistently). * Merchandise for builders that encourages BU Blockchain team spirit and lists NEAR as a sponsor. This would be in the form of windbreakers and available to members who show the most support for initiatives and are active contributors to the community. They would be available at USD 25 to members, whereas the wholesale price is about USD 50. Through this, word-of-mouth talk about the NEAR campus will begin to increase, doubling as a unification strategy and a word-of-mouth recruitment strategy. (USD 350 for ten windbreakers with the NEAR logo prominently on the back). * Establish a connection with those involved in NEAR Campus and its network to finalize contact points for aid with events. * Create a schedule for Spring 2024 and the end of the Fall 2023 semester, and lock in essential dates/events/workshops. **November 2023: Introductory Education and Support Network Establishment** *Estimated Cost: USD 650* * Plan a small introductory workshop for members, with food and refreshments provided. (60 members estimated attendance and a USD 300 budget on small snacks). * Bring awareness to new NEAR initiatives, the benefits of an open-source network, and the benefits of contributing to it. * Hold another workshop that's blockchain 101 style to aid our members in onboarding onto the NEAR Ecosystem, as well as establishing a new support network for our members and curious builders. (USD 350 total, with USD 250 for food and refreshments and 100 towards providing small prizes as an incentive for completing onboarding steps. This will incentivize participation, recruitment, outreach, and morale when building on a new platform). **December 2023: Evaluation, End-of-Semester Event, and Community Outreach** *Estimated Cost: USD 1100* * Draft the final plan for Spring 2024 and present it to our NEAR Campus points of contact for feedback and additional support. Present metrics and success of initiatives from October to December, and revise any strategies that may not have worked initially. (USD 0) * Provide food and refreshments for our end-of-semester gala that showcases our members and their talents to a 120-person audience of Boston University Blockchain members, Boston-area community members, and other organizations. We plan to award NEAR Campus the title of flagship sponsor at this event. We will provide a table of 8 for NEAR representatives and those interested in attending and hearing more about what our members have been up to through the semester and our vision for 2024, which includes enhanced recruitment, more hackathon participation, and possibly attending a NEAR event. (This would total about 1100, with 1000 going to food/refreshments and 100 to materials needed for the event like table linens, catering fees, etc). **January 2024: Ringing in the 'NEAR Year'** *Estimated Cost: USD 950* * Execute Spring campaign for member recruitment and retention, titled: Ringing in the NEAR Year. This will include investment into better marketing materials for our semi-annual club fair and the creation of both BU Blockchain club stickers, but also promoting and passing out NEAR stickers to generate buzz for our initiatives and demonstrate our past successes - encouraging potential members to join BU Blockchain to break the boundaries of what they may think of when they hear the word 'web3'. (We budget USD 250 in this case, with about USD 100 going towards creative material for the club fair booth and USD 150 towards stickers and other promotional items). * Hold kickoff event for Spring theme with introductions to the team, NEAR Campus, WiBlock, and initiatives spearheaded by our organization. Incentivize participation and recruitment and intertwine Blockchain 101 with NEAR 101. As flagship sponsor, we will provide high-quality workshops and opportunities for continuous building, mentorship, strategy, and open-source contributions to all (USD 300, going towards food and refreshments). * Plan WiBlock <> NEAR Campus event to encourage female participation in the space. Bring in female NEAR builders to talk about their experience building in the industry and provide a point of support for our members to learn more about women in the space, which will encourage more participation. Our organization comprises about 35% women, and our president and vice president are both female. We wish to increase that number and seek out talent through a collaborative event to stir buzz and excitement about our organization, thereby growing recruitment numbers. (USD 400 total, USD 250 for food and beverage, USD 150 for small prizes like branded merch/stickers for members who successfully answer trivia questions about women in NEAR and web3). **February 2024: Growth, Research, and Development** *Estimated Cost: USD 700* * Hold check-in meeting with NEAR Campus stakeholders to discuss approaches that worked, what needs improvement, and how BU Blockchain as an organization can continue to support all members in their endeavors. We plan to present metrics from the past few months and a transparency report to show how funds have been appropriately distributed to optimize member morale and participation. * We plan to hold a career panel with web3 professionals from NEAR and beyond to give members insight into the process of working at a top web3 firm that is at the forefront of innovation. This can occur through a fireside chat, networking event, or recruiter workshops to aid members in their job application process. As of May 2023, at the end of our second year in operation, we assisted 11/20 of our members (55%) looking for an internship or new-grad opportunity by providing connections to the industry and recruiters open to discussion. We hope to bring this number as close to 100%. (Total estimated cost is USD 700, with USD 500 to be budgeted towards food and refreshments, as well as securing a larger venue within Boston University, USD 100 for materials needed for a demo day such as table linens and dividers to showcase projects, and allocating USD 100 to the Events and Conferences department to secure a venue at a discounted rate for student orgs). **March 2024: An Open Web for an Open World** *Estimated Cost: USD 1200* * Hold check-in meeting with NEAR Campus stakeholders to discuss approaches that worked, what needs improvement, and how BU Blockchain as an organization can continue to support all members in their endeavors. We plan to present metrics from the past month and a transparency report to show how funds have been appropriately distributed to optimize member morale and participation. * Hold an open-source workshop/symposium of the different NEAR projects out there so members may contribute their knowledge and expertise, with NEAR Campus reps or project reps available either on-site or virtually to give members additional insight into building on their projects (USD 100 on light refreshments) * BOS in BOS: We plan to host a dedicated workshop about the Blockchain Operating System (BOS) at Boston University to help onboard members quickly into web3 and break down common knowledge barriers to onboarding into the space. Highlighting BOS' interoperability within chains and using prior knowledge of programming languages to continue building on the BOS. Emphasizing the easy creation of Dapps on the NEAR ecosystem will incentivize our technical team to create and innovate on NEAR, potentially laying the groundwork for the next big project. Ideally, we'd like to have a few NEAR professionals either online or on-site to provide real-time technical support during the initial onboarding process. This would be one of our flagship events with NEAR in Spring. (We budget USD 400 on food, refreshments, and any costs associated with hosting the workshop.) * We plan to hold a small build-a-thon, a smaller stakes hackathon, that will incentivize new development and creation in the space using the NEAR ecosystem and provide builders with office hours from the professionals themselves to aid in troubleshooting and additional technical assistance. This would be a more spread-out initiative through March with a loose deadline of early April 2024. The goal of this is to give our members raw technical experience by helping them build on the NEAR protocol and use the BOS in their projects, with a culminating event being held in April in a symposium/demo-day style for our members to present their creations to NEAR Campus reps and other NEAR protocol professionals, and gain valuable insight/feedback while encouraging them to be lifelong builders on the ecosystem. Community is a significant part of this, and we plan to continue cultivating a web of support between NEAR and BU Blockchain to encourage transparent communication. (800 USD would be estimated: 800 for food/refreshments/small swag, and possible NEAR support for small bounties to incentivize creation). **April and May 2024: NEAR Knows No Bounds, End-of-Year Event, and Next Steps into Summer** *Estimated Cost: USD 1750* * NEAR representatives at Boston University by hosting a more prominent, culminating event that would bring not only builders on the platform together but also NEAR ecosystem professionals and those closely involved with NEAR Campus for another flagship event titled: "NEAR Knows no Bounds" meant to campaign on the fact that the versatility of the NEAR Ecosystem and the BOS is an essential part to continued innovation, talent, and development in the space overall. We also plan to host a fireside chat or lecture with NEAR professionals to encourage members to diversify their portfolio and field of view within the ecosystem to continue positive innovation for the benefit of the community. NEAR Knows no Bounds would be a cross-industry event that we encourage those with only web2 experience in our organization to pursue and participate in, as a wealth of knowledge could easily be provided by those already in the space. * Not only will this event promote the strong collaboration between NEAR and Boston University, but it will also show how NEAR's investment into an up-and-coming university organization has paid off and created a strong community of talented builders that are eager to build on NEAR's ecosystem for years to come. The event will feature NEAR reps at prominent tables and in a solid position to network with BU students and builders, as well as a keynote speech by a NEAR Campus professional highlighting the innovation that's brewed at BU and a small demo-day symposium from the buildathon and other projects. This event would be at a 100-person capacity and held on the final weekend of April. (USD 1750, USD 250 for event reservation and associated fees, and USD 1500 for hors d'oeuvres to be served. * Close to the conclusion date of May 15, we plan to create a final culminating report detailing our financial transparency, analytics on member recruitment and retention as a result of the NEAR partnership, and how we can potentially continue our strong relationship into the 2024-25 academic year with NEAR Campus being our flagship sponsor. **Conclusion** In conclusion, Boston University Blockchain's proposal for the NEAR Campus Program offers a visionary strategy for fostering a decentralized and inclusive future in the web3 space. Our equal commitment to collaboration, diversity, and equal opportunity aligns perfectly with NEAR's values and mission. By establishing a NEAR Node at Boston University and implementing a detailed plan, BU Blockchain intends to create educational and networking opportunities for its members and bridge the gap between NEAR and the university as a whole. Our dedication to encouraging participation in open-source projects, promoting diversity through initiatives like WiBlock, and consistently monitoring the success of endeavors showcases our firm commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive environment. With a detailed 8-month plan, BU Blockchain seeks to deliver tangible results, and in our promise to NEAR as a sponsor, we include speaking opportunities and customized networking. This demonstrates our seriousness and dedication to a long, fruitful partnership. By supporting BU Blockchain, NEAR can empower a new generation of builders and innovators, ensuring that NEAR's ecosystem continues to thrive. This partnership will be mutually beneficial, propelling us toward a bright and decentralized future. We want to establish a fruitful partnership that will cultivate builders' interests in web3 and work to bridge the knowledge gap commonly present in onboarding those from a web2 field into the world of possibility that is web3, NEAR, and the BOS. We are open to feedback and reception from the community on any of the points above.