diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/model_update_request.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/model_update_request.md
index 02f9a86a..47062904 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/model_update_request.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/model_update_request.md
@@ -18,3 +18,4 @@ labels: update
 - [ ] The potential update will be either 
   - [ ] backward compatible or 
   - [ ] a (chain of) migration strategy(-ies) from all non-deprecated previous versions to the new model will be developed
+- [ ] A modeling steward has been assigned
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/new_model_request.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/new_model_request.md
index ca440e51..d480efcc 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/new_model_request.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/new_model_request.md
@@ -22,3 +22,4 @@ labels: creation
 - [ ] The proposal references a Catena-X use case
 - [ ] Relevant standards are mentioned/linked
 - [ ] A first draft of the data structure is provided in an example
+- [ ] A modeling steward has been assigned