We have instances where volunteer reviewers want to help but cannot commit to the full amount of applications to review when auto-assigned. They can only commit to completing X number of reviews. The work around is a two-tiered review timeline and locking volunteer reviewers. This disadvantages both volunteer ans assigned groups because we have to either work with a shorter timeline for our volunteers and tell our assigned reviewers to wait or to expect more reviews after volunteers are done. Once volunteers have completed the amount they committed to, we lock the reviews and the applications get re-allocated to the assigned reviewer group.

Implementing a min or max assignment feature for number of reviews would be a great solution to this challenge. This way reviews can get distributed in a more dynamic way allowing volunteers to help but not have to commit at the same level of assigned reviewers. We have reviews in the hundreds and it is daunting to our faculty and staff to be a part of something that should be an wonderful experience in my opinion.

Thank you for considering this!