diff --git a/app/models/project.rb b/app/models/project.rb
index 5c61c82dd..3262da1a6 100644
--- a/app/models/project.rb
+++ b/app/models/project.rb
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ class Project < ActiveRecord::Base
     # Documentation
     documentation_basics: ['MUST', false, false],
     documentation_interface: ['MUST', false, false],
+    # Other
+    discussion: ['MUST', false, false],
     # CHANGE CONTROL
     # Public version-controlled source repository
     repo_url: ['MUST', false, false],
diff --git a/app/views/projects/_form.html.erb b/app/views/projects/_form.html.erb
index 057a48032..63ef85166 100644
--- a/app/views/projects/_form.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/projects/_form.html.erb
@@ -278,6 +278,26 @@ The project MUST include reference documentation that describes its interface.},
 The project MAY use hypertext links to non-project material as documentation.
 }}) %>
 
+
+      <br><br>
+      <h3>Other</h3>
+
+      <%= render(partial: "status_chooser", locals: {f: f, is_disabled: is_disabled,
+              criteria: "discussion", desc: %{
+The project MUST have one or more mechanisms
+for discussion (including proposed changes and issues) that are
+searchable, allow messages and topics to be addressed by URL,
+enable new people to participate in some of the discussions, and
+do not require client-side installation of proprietary software.},
+              details: %{
+Examples of acceptable mechanisms include
+GitHub issue and pull request discussions, Bugzilla, Mantis, and Trac.
+Asynchronous discussion mechanisms (like IRC) are acceptable if
+they meet these criteria; make sure there is a URL-addressable
+archiving mechanism.
+Proprietary Javascript, while discouraged, is permitted.
+}}) %>
+
       <br><br><br>
 
       <h2 class="center h2">Change Control</h2>
diff --git a/db/migrate/20160130165746_add_discussion.rb b/db/migrate/20160130165746_add_discussion.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b3a59c84a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20160130165746_add_discussion.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+class AddDiscussion < ActiveRecord::Migration
+  def change
+    add_column :projects, :discussion_status, :string, default: '?'
+    add_column :projects, :discussion_justification, :text
+
+    reversible do |dir|
+      dir.up do
+        execute <<-SQL
+          UPDATE projects
+            SET discussion_status='Met',
+                discussion_justification='GitHub issue tracker and pull requests support discussion'
+            WHERE project_homepage_url LIKE '%github.com%' OR
+                  repo_url LIKE '%github.com%' ;
+        SQL
+      end
+      # dir.down do ...
+      # end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/db/schema.rb b/db/schema.rb
index c83481c0d..ac569eecd 100644
--- a/db/schema.rb
+++ b/db/schema.rb
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #
 # It's strongly recommended that you check this file into your version control system.
 
-ActiveRecord::Schema.define(version: 20160123144005) do
+ActiveRecord::Schema.define(version: 20160130165746) do
 
   create_table "projects", force: :cascade do |t|
     t.integer  "user_id"
@@ -156,6 +156,8 @@
     t.string   "test_continuous_integration_status",                   default: "?"
     t.text     "test_continuous_integration_justification"
     t.string   "cpe"
+    t.string   "discussion_status",                                    default: "?"
+    t.text     "discussion_justification"
   end
 
   add_index "projects", ["user_id", "created_at"], name: "index_projects_on_user_id_and_created_at"
diff --git a/doc/criteria.md b/doc/criteria.md
index 94e07d1ba..d2bcf0dd8 100644
--- a/doc/criteria.md
+++ b/doc/criteria.md
@@ -195,6 +195,23 @@ Note that:
   <sup>[<a href="#documentation_interface">documentation_interface</a>]</sup>
 - The project MAY use hypertext links to non-project material as documentation.
 
+
+*Other*
+
+- <a name="discussion"></a>The project MUST have one or more mechanisms
+  for discussion (including proposed changes and issues) that are:
+    - searchable,
+    - allow messages and topics to be addressed by URL,
+    - enable new people to participate in some of the discussions, and
+    - do not require client-side installation of proprietary software.
+  Examples of acceptable mechanisms include
+  GitHub issue and pull request discussions, Bugzilla, Mantis, and Trac.
+  Asynchronous discussion mechanisms (like IRC) are acceptable if
+  they meet these criteria; make sure there is a URL-addressable
+  archiving mechanism.
+  Proprietary Javascript, while discouraged, is permitted.
+  <sup>[<a href="#discussion">discussion</a>]</sup>
+
 ### Change control
 
 *Public version-controlled source repository*