In the modern digital era, online presence is a must for any educational institution. Educational institutions are no longer identified only by their campuses, results, and standing in the community. Parents, students, educators, researchers, and other organizations look for information about a school’s history, success, programs, and institutional impact. The most well-known online mechanism for institutional information presentation is Wikipedia.
A Wikipedia page for a school can be a useful tool for providing information, establishing a school’s history, legitimacy, and recognition of the school. Creating a Wikipedia article is not equivalent to creating a school’s profile. Wikipedia has a strict editorial policy, and school articles need to have verifiable information, independent references, and show the school’s notability.
Why Would a School Require a Wikipedia Page?
Wikipedia is among the most popular sources of information available globally. It is accessed by millions of individuals internationally as they seek information about various organizations, historical events, and institutions. With the help of a Wikipedia page, individuals will be able to access facts relating to the school’s history and development process.
It is worth noting that a good Wikipedia page will contain;
- The history of when the school was established
- Academic accomplishments
- Acclaimed ex-graduates
- Important events
- Recognitions
- Educational innovations
- Contribution to society
- Historical relevance
Wikipedia articles provide people with information as opposed to being exclusive marketing tools. This gives an advantage to schools that have been successful and gained recognition outside their marketing channels.
Understanding What Wikipedia Requires from Schools
A number of institutions assume that just being put up, or doing something commendable, would suffice for getting a page in Wikipedia. Wikipedia does not accept pages based purely on self-promoting information or achievements. The school has to fulfil the requirements concerning notability as set by Wikipedia.
The primary requirement is the substantial coverage of the institution’s activities in trustworthy and independent publications.
This means that educational institutions must be proven to have received acknowledgment in such sources:
- Reputable newspapers
- Educational publications
- Academic journals
- Independent magazines
- Institutional or governmental reports
- Books published by trustworthy sources
The Significance of Independent Media Coverage
When schools are trying to make a Wikipedia page, one of the hardest things is showing that they are notable. A school could have many students, great facilities, and successful programs, but this does not mean that it has some kind of independent recognition.
For instance, the media coverage of a school’s contribution to education, an interview with the school authorities, the story about something important that has happened to a school, or a description of an interesting program could help to prove the school’s notability.
At the same time, not all announcements can be considered as independent coverage:
- “School wins the yearly contest”
- “Enrollment for the new academic year starts”
- “Students take part in the event”
Some of the best sources usually give a detailed description of the school, its history, the impact it had, and its achievements.
How to Create a Wikipedia Article-the Right Way
A Wikipedia article about a school must be written in a neutral and encyclopedic tone. It should not resemble a sales pitch or promotional brochure, like so:
The Promotional version: “ABC school is the greatest in the industry, providing a great level of education, and a superb set of learning opportunities.”
The Wikipedia version: “ABC School is the institution that was created back in 1995.
It conducts education for students up to high school level, the institution was known for its scholastic results and various community participation actions.”
What’s different?
The tone is objective and academic, not marketing-like. When you plan to write about the school, you’d expect to include sections such as:
History and foundation: when the school was born, founders, and key stages of its growth;
Programs and offers: curriculum, special programs, level of education provided; facilities: details about campus infrastructure, library facilities, athletic areas, etc., based on the independent information resources available;
Accomplishments and distinctions: awards received by the school, prominent academic outcomes, other achievements;
Well-known graduates (alumni): successful former pupils in politics, research, science, culture, business, sports, etc.
Most schools trying to create a Wikipedia entry from a page, take a few missteps: Thinking they’re in the business of “doing marketing”.
Wikipedia isn’t a tool for advertising services of the school or institution. This is the most common error when schools make requests. When they start writing for the ‘we are the # 1 etc ’ and use exaggerated claims and marketing claims such as “the premier private high school,” “the leader of academic education,” “the largest institution in the area”, ”the most talented in” – basically anything that you’re not entitled to call without multiple independent citations. Rely on the school’s website too exclusively: A school’s website is typically useless (in terms of Wikipedia proof).
The website basically can confirm that the school does exist, this cannot confirm notability by any means. Providing claims not fully supported by reliable sources. Anything important that is published needs a reference.
Editors may remove it if it’s not referenced.
Bringing in too much data on school performance – awards, programs, activities, for example – without putting into perspective how great, meaningful, and independently recognizable these things really are.
What Professional Wikipedia Editors Can Do?
Editing a Wikipedia page correctly requires expertise in a number of areas. You need to be familiar with policy, editing practices, standards of referencing, and conflict of interest guidelines. To do this, it is common practice for businesses to have Wikipedia expertise in place for editing content.
Some services work with a number of qualified professional editors who understand these guidelines well and can prepare content accordingly.
These services work in the following ways:
- Review available references
- Check the subject for notability
- Pull the references together
- Format the article into a format expected in Wikipedia
- Write content so that it is objective and neutrally worded
- Edit for compliance with the article
- Are familiar with Wikipedia guidelines
Unfortunately, no professional editor can give a 100 percent guarantee that your article will be approved for publication, since the Wikipedia community decides whether content will be published.
Keeping a school’s Wikipedia page up to date
Wikipedia pages are not static documents. Once established, it may be necessary to refresh the content periodically as the institution progresses.
The following are examples of future updates that could warrant a fresh Wikipedia entry:
- The appointment of new school leaders
- The expansion of the school premises
- Winning of awards
- Milestones in history
- Importance of advancements in academics
There are rules to be followed when updating content. Therefore, a school updating its Wikipedia page should employ neutral language in accordance with Wikipedia guidelines.
In conclusion
Wikipedia could be seen as a valuable online asset that allows schools to share their successes and history with the public. Consequently, being visible on Wikipedia means that the institution must provide proof of its accomplishments backed by independent information sources free from bias. If written properly, an article posted on Wikipedia can become a source of great importance for parents, students, researchers, and society as a whole.
