Code of Conduct

The Institute for Scientist and Engineer Educators (ISEE) brings together a community of scientist-educators and engineer-educators to work toward more effective and inclusive STEM education. We value the participation of each member of the community, and want all participants to have an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Accordingly, we expect all participants to behave respectfully and professionally throughout all ISEE institutes, workshops, and participants’ independent ISEE-related work. Below, we clarify what is expected of ISEE’s participants, instructors, and staff.

UCSC Policies

As part of the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC), ISEE endorses and adheres to sexual violence / sexual harassment and nondiscrimination policies, nicely summarized in this document: “UC Santa Cruz is committed to creating and maintaining a community where all individuals, including non-affiliated visitors, who participate in University programs and activities, can do so in an atmosphere free of violence, harassment, discrimination, exploitation, or intimidation. Every member of the community should be aware that the University prohibits sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and retaliation, and that such behavior violates both law and University policy. UC Santa Cruz, in accordance with applicable Federal and State law and university policy, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services.”

Expectations of Conduct

ISEE expects all of us to help maintain a welcoming and rewarding climate. Professional behavior is expected at ISEE events, in participants’ ISEE-related team meetings, and participants’ ISEE teaching activities. Unacceptable and inappropriate behaviors include, but are not limited to:

• Disparaging comments or offensive communication (verbal, written, online) related to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information (including family medical history), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services.

• Sexual language and images in public spaces

• Deliberate intimidation, stalking, following

• Harassing photography or recording

• Inappropriate physical contact

• Unwelcome sexual attention

• Sustained disruption of presentations or other events

• Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behaviors; denigrating another person’s discomfort with the above behaviors

When any member of the ISEE community is asked to stop any of these behaviors (by any other member of the community), they are expected to stop the offending behavior immediately.

Community members who violate this Code of Conduct will be held accountable, in ways that might range from discussions to warnings to being asked to leave the ISEE community.

Violations of the Code of Conduct reduce the value of ISEE activities for all participants. Thank you for helping make ISEE welcoming and friendly for all.

Reporting

If you feel unsafe or that someone is unsafe, do not hesitate to call local security or law enforcement. Use your judgment. Please report to ISEE if someone’s behaviors make you or those around you feel unsafe or unwelcome, or otherwise violate this Code of Conduct. Contact us in one of the following ways:

In person to any of the ISEE staff:

In the case of personal reports, we are happy to assist you, make you feel safe, and ensure your privacy during the report. You will not be asked to confront anyone. Any staff person may need to consult the Director to assure your report is handled properly; she, in turn, may need to consult with the UCSC Title IX office. Thus, while we cannot guarantee complete confidentiality, we can guarantee to protect your privacy to the greatest degree possible; only need-to-know staff will be notified of your report so that we can respond promptly and appropriately to the report and provide for your safety.

ISEE program participants can also make anonymous reports via the online reporting link on the Code of Conduct form distributed for that program (the Code of Conduct for all ISEE programs is the same as above, with minor variations in implementation based on program structure).  Anonymous reports will be received by ISEE Director Lisa Hunter.  In the case of anonymous reports, ISEE cannot follow up with you directly, but we will respect the report and take whatever action is appropriate.

UCSC Harassment & Discrimination Prevention & Investigation Unit / Title IX Office:

UCSC Title IX Office: 831-459-2462

Online reporting form to UCSC Title IX

You may contact the Title IX Office for any concern, but especially if your report involves the ISEE staff themselves, or for whatever reason you wish to bypass the ISEE staff.

Staff Procedures

Community members who violate this Code of Conduct will be held immediately accountable, in ways that might range from discussions to warnings to being asked to leave the community, at the sole discretion of the Director of ISEE.

As many ISEE staff, and instructors as possible will receive training from the UCSC Harassment & Discrimination Prevention & Investigation Unit in order to properly apply UC policies (including reporting). In addition, ISEE staff, developers, and instructors will be familiar with these excellent suggestions and guidelines for responding to incidents.

Credits

This Code of Conduct drew from the Code of Conduct of the 2015 Frank N. Bash Symposium, which was based on the example policy at the Geek Feminism wiki (licensed under a Creative Commons Zero license), with influence from the PyCon Conference Code of Conduct. Some language is explicitly aligned with University sexual violence / sexual harassment and nondiscrimination policies. More information regarding those policies is available at the Harassment & Discrimination Prevention & Investigation Unit / Title IX Office.

Scott Seagroves (ISEE), Lisa Hunter (Director of ISEE), Tracey Tsugawa (UCSC Harassment & Discrimination Prevention & Investigation Unit), Anne Metevier (ISEE)Feb 2016. Revised Dec 2016