I-GUIDE values the diversity of views, expertise, opinions, backgrounds, and experiences reflected among its team members, its advisory groups, and its community partners. We are committed to providing a safe, productive and welcoming environment during our meetings and events.
All I-GUIDE meetings and events participants – including, but not limited to, team members, attendees, and speakers (hereinafter, “participants”) – are expected to abide by this Code of Conduct. This Code of Conduct applies in all venues, including ancillary events and social gatherings, and on-line forums and discussions associated with I-GUIDE.
Expected Behavior
All I-GUIDE meetings are intended to be safe spaces. Participants are expected to treat everyone with respect and dignity, including:
- Being respectful in discussing and debating ideas – critique ideas, not people.
- Listening actively.
- Being collaborative while being mindful not to exert dominance over others.
- Respecting diversity, including communication differences.
- Using good practices for intercultural collaborations. Communicating openly and thoughtfully with others by listening and being considerate of the multitude of views and opinions that may be different than your own.
- Avoiding dominating the microphone or airtime in a virtual meeting.
- Respecting the privacy of participants.
- Asking for consent for audio-visual recordings, quotes, or photography.
- Handling disagreement constructively.
- Acting fairly, honestly, and in good faith with other participants.
- Being mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow attendees during an in-person event.
Abiding by these guidelines helps ensure that all individuals have a positive experience.
Unacceptable Behavior
- Harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form. Harassment includes speech or behavior that is not welcome or is personally offensive. Behavior that is acceptable to one person may not be acceptable to another, so use discretion to be certain respect is communicated. Harassment intended in a joking manner still constitutes unacceptable behavior.
- Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to:
- Disrespect
- Physical or verbal abuse of any participant
- Unwelcome or offensive verbal comments or exclusionary behavior related to age, appearance or body size, employment or military status, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, individual lifestyle, marital status, national origin, physical or cognitive ability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, race, or religion
- Inappropriate physical contact
- Unwanted sexual attention
- Use of sexual or discriminatory images in public spaces or in presentations
- Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following
- Harassing photography or recording, including taking photographs or recording of another individual’s oral presentation or poster without the explicit permission of that individual and of I-GUIDE
- Sustained disruption of talks or other events
- Bullying behavior
- Retaliation for reporting unacceptable behavior
Immediate serious threat to public safety
- Anyone experiencing or witnessing behavior that constitutes an immediate or serious threat to public safety at any time should contact local law enforcement (by calling 911) and immediately notifying facility security.
Reporting Unacceptable Behavior
- If you are not in immediate danger but feel that you are the subject of unacceptable behavior, have witnessed any such behavior, or have other concerns, please notify the I-GUIDE Principle Investigator (Shaowen Wang) or members of the Management Team (Anand Padmanabhan or Diana Sinton), as soon as possible. All reports will be treated seriously and responded to promptly.
- Once I-GUIDE leadership is notified, they will discuss the details first with the individual filing the complaint, then any witnesses who have been identified, and then the alleged offender before determining an appropriate course of action. Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent that it does not compromise the rights of others.
Consequences
- Anyone requested to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately.
- I-GUIDE leadership personnel (or their designee) or security may take any immediate action deemed necessary and appropriate, including removal from the meeting or virtual event without warning or refund.