Council for Advancement and Support of Education

Event Code of Conduct

Thank you for choosing to enhance your professional development by attending a Council for Advancement and Support of Education (“CASE”) event, conference, meeting or activity. To help provide a safe and productive environment for Participants, this Event Code of Conduct (“Code”) establishes minimum expectations of conduct for all individuals (including attendees, speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, staff, contractors, volunteers, award recipients, and other guests, collectively referred to as “Participants”) who participate in any manner in CASE events, including conferences, meetings, webinars, social gatherings, and other activities held, sponsored, or affiliated with CASE, whether in person or virtual (each, an “Event”).

By attending a CASE Event, you agree to abide by this Code. This Code is intended to supplement any other applicable CASE policies and may be revised at any time without further notice. We intend for the policies and provisions to be compliant and construed in accordance with applicable law.

Expected Conduct

We invite you to help us make each Event an experience that is welcoming and respectful to all participants. Participants are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, to communicate with respect and consideration for others, to encourage collaboration and participation, to embrace diversity and inclusivity, and to refrain from conduct that is (or may be perceived to be) harmful to themselves, other participants, or CASE.

The following behaviours are expected and requested of all Event Participants:

• Behaving in a courteous and professional manner;
• Treating all participants with respect, dignity, and consideration, in the spirit of valuing a diversity of views and opinions;
• Welcoming all voices, whether participating in-person or remotely;
• Being considerate, respectful, and collaborative in your communication and actions;
• Discussing differences and critiquing ideas, not people, in a non-confrontational manner with due regard for the viewpoints of others;
• Refraining from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behaviour and speech;
• If using a webcam, maintaining a professional presence;
• Reporting suspected inappropriate behavior directed at yourself or others;
• Respecting the rules, policies, and property of CASE and its contracted Event facilities and vendors; and
• Complying with the directions of meeting leaders/organisers, and all applicable laws and regulations.

Prohibited Conduct

Violations of this Code include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Discriminatory conduct based on race, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, ethnicity, political affiliation, religion, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law;
• Harassment, meaning unwelcome or offensive verbal comments, visual displays, or physical contact directed at any Participant, including conduct, comments or images that a person would reasonably find offensive.
• Sexual harassment, meaning unwelcome, unsolicited, and unreciprocated sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, and other physical conduct, comments, or gestures of a sexual nature that has or that might reasonably be expected to be perceived to offend, humiliate, or intimidate another person;
• Deliberate intimidation, threatening, stalking, or following;
• Conducting oneself in a manner that is unruly, disruptive, or unprofessional, or that endangers the health or safety of yourself or others, including alcohol over-intoxication or overindulgence;
• Actual or threatened pushing, shoving, or use of any physical force or weapon of any kind against any person;
• Possession of prohibited items, including, but not limited to, weapons of any kind (including knives, firearms, or other items that may cause harm to others), illegal drugs, or alcohol not served by venue personnel, CASE staff, or officially designated CASE suppliers. 
• Destruction, theft, dismantlement, defacement, abuse or intentional misuse of CASE or CASE-contracted venues, property, equipment, signage or supplies;
• Failure to comply with directions of Event leaders, Event venue personnel, or CASE staff regarding Event operations; 
• Retaliation or threat of retaliation against Participants for reporting activity that they reasonably believed to be in violation of this Code; and
• Knowingly and falsely reporting violations of this Code in bad faith.

This Code is not intended to be all inclusive, and it is likely there will be conduct issues that it does not specifically address. In that event, as in all others, Participants are expected to follow the direction of CASE staff who will take appropriate action to ensure the safety, security and well-being of Participants.

Consequences of Participant Engagement in Prohibited Conduct 

CASE has a zero-tolerance policy regarding prohibited conduct. Participants asked to stop any inappropriate conduct are expected to comply immediately. CASE, in its sole discretion, will determine the nature of the Participant’s conduct that warrants corrective action as well as the corrective action to be taken. Corrective action may take any of the following forms: verbal warning; expulsion from the Event without a refund or credit; bar from future CASE Events; an individual’s suspension or expulsion from CASE membership (subject to established CASE procedures); and/or notifying appropriate authorities, including Participant’s employer. The decision(s) of CASE are final.

Reporting Unacceptable Behaviour

Violations of this Code are taken seriously. Please promptly report any concerns about inappropriate conduct to CASE staff present at the event. If a CASE staff member is the subject of a complaint or if you are not comfortable reporting a complaint to a CASE staff member onsite, you are encouraged to bring your complaint to  Terry Flannery, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, at tflannery@case.org, or to any member of CASE’s Executive Leadership Team.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, or if you see something suspicious or would like to report a security issue or emergency, please contact Event venue security or local law enforcement.

Thank you for keeping CASE’s Events professional, welcoming, and respectful to all.

Code of conduct endorsed by CASE Board of Trustees November 2023