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An Open Letter to NEAR University Fellows

Dear Fellows,

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The NEAR University Fellowship program was initially launched to open new opportunities for people to explore Web3 with NEAR and reduce friction in being fairly compensated for valuable contributions. We happily engaged entrepreneurs, engineers, writers and researchers, teachers, designers, and more in growing their contribution to the NEAR ecosystem.

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In the first three months of the program, we received an overwhelming response of almost 1000 applications, and we engaged one out of ten applicants in a 90-day fellowship. While the program has had its challenges, we're delighted with the results and plan to continue on this path.

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Over the past months, we have learned many lessons, and more work needs to be done to streamline the program from application to compensation. In addition, we want to ensure the best possible experience for each contributor.

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Much more help will be needed from all the incredible contributors in our ecosystem, including you.  Stay tuned!

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Today we are also announcing that we will take some time to make these changes and prepare for the next wave of this exciting opportunity.

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Please be aware that:

• We are winding down the Fellowship Program
• All current work should be finished by May 31, 2022
• All invoices submitted for April and May will be paid in full

If you or anyone you know is interested in joining us for the relaunch of this program later this year, please make sure to apply on this page (at https://near.university/fellows). If you have already completed the form for your application, there is no need to submit it again.

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Please direct any questions  to learn@near.foundation, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

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If you’re an active Fellow currently working on a project, please reach out to your point of contact with questions.

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Open Letter FAQ

• Why is the program pausing?
  The NEAR University team has learned many lessons in the first three months of running the program. However, more work needs to be done to streamline the program, from application to compensation, ensuring the best experience is provided at each program stage.
  
• Will I get paid for work completed?
  Yes.All invoices submitted for April and May will be paid in full as soon as possible.
  
• Should I stop working if I’m in the middle of the project?
  With few exceptions, all current work should be finished by May 31, 2022.  Some individuals and teams will continue to work through the transition. Please reach out to your point of contact.
  
• Who can I talk to if I have questions?
  Please reach out to your point of contact at NEAR University or send your question to learn@near.foundation.
  
• What should I do if I want to continue building?
  Please reach out to your point of contact at NEAR University or send your question with the project description to learn@near.foundation.
  
• When will the Fellowship program be relaunched?
  Later in the year 2022.
• Can I participate in the program after its relaunch?
  ‍Yes. The NEAR University Team will be reaching out with news on how to participate in the program.