Code of Conduct

Creating a Welcoming Environment

The program organizers are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive, harassment-free learning environment for participants of all races and ethnic backgrounds, gender identities and expressions, sexual orientations, physical abilities, physical appearances, socioeconomic backgrounds, nationalities, ages, religions, and beliefs. We strive to provide an environment that’s free from all forms of harassment, including microaggressions. Harassment includes, but is not limited to:

• Verbal comments and nonverbal expressions that reinforce social structures of domination related to gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, employment status, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion, marital status, political affiliation, or physical or cognitive ability
• Bullying behaviors
• Sexual images in public spaces
• Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following
• Unwanted audio or visual recording
• Sustained disruption of talks or other events
• Inappropriate physical contact
• Unwelcome sexual attention
• Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior

Community Agreements

We recognize that we will all make mistakes and may unintentionally harm individuals or groups as we engage as a community, but we agree to take responsibility for the results of our words and actions. We further agree that:

• We will not speak for others, and we will not ask someone else to speak for others.
• We will practice active listening and listen more than we individually speak, paying attention to how much space we take up in the room (or virtual room).
• We value everyone’s voice and encourage everyone to speak up.
• We will not become defensive when someone shares the effect our communication has on them.
• We will respect people’s preferred names and gender pronouns.
• We will give credit where credit is due.
• We are open to social media use during this Institute, but we will ask before mentioning others in the room or sharing photographs, and we will respect people’s decisions.

Enforcement

Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in behavior that contravenes this code of conduct, we retain the right to take any actions to keep the event and associated online interactions a welcoming environment for all participants. This includes warning the offender or asking them to leave the event.

What to Do

If someone makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or unwelcome, please report it to one of the program organizers or DH Center staff members as soon as possible. We will not tolerate any violation or circumvention of this code of conduct. We will assist you by contacting venue security or local law enforcement, providing escorts, or otherwise helping you to feel safe. To report incidents after the conclusion of our Institute, please email Dr. Pam Lach [plach AT sdsu DOT edu]. All reports and inquiries will be handled in confidence.

This Code of Conduct was inspired by, and borrows heavily from, the HuMetrics HSS Code of Conduct and the ACRL Digital Scholarship Section Community Agreement.