Event code of conduct

updated 9/20/2022

Alaska Sea Grant is committed to providing safe and welcoming environments for all who participate in activities, meetings, or events. Alaska Sea Grant prohibits and will not tolerate any form of harassment, bullying, or discrimination.

Purpose

Alaska Sea Grant has established this Code of Conduct (the “Code”) to serve as a guideline for the professional conduct of anyone attending or participating in an Alaska Sea Grant event, meeting or activity, as well as the consequences for unacceptable behavior. We expect all participants and organizers to follow this Code, respecting the rights of others so that everyone can fully participate. Failure to abide by this Code is subject to response and sanctions, including refused admission, ejection, banishment, and other penalties consistent with this Code.

Scope and applicability

The Code applies to all attendees of Alaska Sea Grant events, meetings or activities. By attending, all participants agree to abide by this Code of Conduct.

Expected behavior

The following behaviors are expected and requested of all participants:

• Behaving in a courteous and professional manner;
• Treating all participants with respect, dignity, and consideration, in the spirit of creating an inclusive and accessible environment and valuing a diversity of views and opinions;
• Being considerate, respectful, and collaborative in your communication and actions;
• Discussing differences and critiquing ideas in a non-confrontational manner with regard for the viewpoints of others;
• Refraining from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior and speech;
• Reporting perceived unacceptable behaviors directed at yourself or others;
• Respecting the rules, policies, and property of Alaska Sea Grant and its contracted facilities and vendors;
• Complying with all applicable laws and regulations.

Unacceptable behavior

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

• Harassment, which this Code defines to include unwelcome or offensive verbal, visual, or physical contact directed at any participant, including conduct, comments, or images that a person could reasonably find offensive, demeaning, or hostile;
• Sexual harassment, which this Code defines to include unwelcome, unsolicited, and unreciprocated sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct or gesture of a sexual nature that could reasonably embarrass, offend, humiliate, or intimidate another person;
• Exhibiting behavior that is unruly or disruptive;
• Exhibiting behavior that endangers the health or safety of yourself or others;
• Discriminatory conduct based on race, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, transgender status, age, national origin, disability, religion, marital status, veteran status, political affinity, or any other characteristic protected by law;
• Deliberate intimidation, threatening, stalking, or following;
• Sustained disruption that prevents the event to achieve its intended goals;
• Invasion of privacy;
• Actual or threatened pushing, shoving, or use of any physical force whatsoever against any person;
• Possession of a weapon, or use of any item in a way that may cause danger to others;
• Destruction, theft, dismantlement, defacement, abuse, or intentional misuse of property, equipment, signage, or supplies;
• Failure to comply with directions regarding event operations or emergency response procedures;
• Retaliation against participants for reporting activity that he or she reasonably believed to be in violation of this Code; and,
• Knowingly and falsely reporting violations of this Code in bad faith.

Moreover, the unacceptable behaviors​ listed above are not intended to be exhaustive and should be understood to include any behavior that is disruptive to the equal and positive participation of individual attendees and the group.

Reporting unacceptable behavior

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, or if you see something suspicious or think there is an immediate need to report a security issue or emergency, please contact local law enforcement.

If you believe you are being subjected to inappropriate conduct, witness (observe or were told about) someone else is being subjected to inappropriate conduct, or have any other concerns, contact the Alaska Sea Grant designated incident responders. At the beginning of any event, two individuals who are employees of Alaska Sea Grant will be identified to serve as on-site incident responders. In the case that there are not two Alaska Sea Grant employees at an event, then the Alaska Sea Grant Director, Associate Director or Marine Advisory Program Leader could serve as off-site incident responders. Reporting for Title IX matters is discussed below.

Designated incident responders will work with individuals experiencing inappropriate conduct to implement measures to enable them to feel safe for the duration of the event. Violations of this Code are taken seriously and should be promptly reported. Please share as much information as you can to help the Alaska Sea Grant incident responders document the onsite incident. The incident responders will work with UAF and the Alaska Sea Grant Director, Associate Director and Marine Advisory Program Leader to investigate all incidents reported at an event with discretion.

Participants are required to maintain the confidentiality of materials submitted to or received by Alaska Sea Grant under this Code. Alaska Sea Grant shall make reasonable efforts to maintain the confidentiality of relevant materials but may disclose case-related materials or information in response to legal process, when already publicly known, or when the Alaska Sea Grant Director otherwise determines disclosure is in the best interests of Alaska Sea Grant.

Consequences of participant engagement in unacceptable behavior

Any event participants asked to stop engaging in unacceptable behavior are expected to comply immediately.

The Alaska Sea Grant Director, or designee, will determine the nature of the participants’ conduct that warrants a response as well as the response to be taken. Responses may take any of the following forms: verbal warning; immediate expulsion from the event; exclusion from future Alaska Sea Grant events; notification of institutional leadership; and notifying appropriate authorities. To protect all parties involved, Alaska Sea Grant will generally not make any detailed public statements about Code incidents.

University resources

UAF is committed to providing a safe and respectful campus environment free from gender-based violence and sexual harassment. The Title IX Office leads the effort to ensure UAF moves beyond mere compliance with civil rights laws to embodying the principles of respect and equality for all. All university employees have an obligation to report any Title IX sexual misconduct (https://uaf.edu/titleix).

United Academics AAUP/AFT (Local 4996) can assist faculty members.