CODE OF CONDUCT

USITT Code of Conduct

USITT is committed to providing a safe, productive, and welcoming environment for all at every USITT event. All participants, including, but not limited to USITT Members, attendees, speakers, volunteers (including Members who hold a volunteer leadership role within the Institute), industry partners, exhibitors, USITT staff members, service providers, and all others, are expected to abide by this Code of Conduct. This Code of Conduct applies to the USITT Annual Conference & Stage Expo and other events, such as meetings, symposia, classes, regardless of whether the aforesaid meetings, symposia or classes are held in-person or virtually, as well as those sponsored by organizations other than USITT but held in conjunction with USITT events.

Anyone attending an event not sponsored by USITT who is acting as a representative of USITT warrants that they will abide by this Code of Conduct.

This Code of Conduct outlines USITT’s expectations for participant behavior, as well as the consequences for unacceptable behavior. USITT promotes equal opportunities and treatment for all participants. All participants are expected to treat others with respect and consideration, follow venue rules, and to alert staff to any violations of this Code of Conduct, dangerous situations, or to any participant in distress.

Basic Tenets of Ethical Conduct

  • Be considerate, respectful, and collaborative.
  • Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory or harassing behavior and speech.
  • Respect copyright and intellectual property rights of others.
  • Be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants. Alert USITT staff as soon as possible if you notice a dangerous or harassing situation or notice someone in distress.

Unacceptable Conduct
Unacceptable behavior includes:

  • Intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory, or demeaning speech or actions, in-person or online, by any participants at or in relation to the USITT meeting or related events. All who participate in USITT events deserve respectful treatment, regardless of the capacity in which they are attending or participating. USITT appreciates and values individual differences and welcomes diversity of opinion; however, under no circumstance will USITT allow participants and others in attendance to be compromised by potentially threatening language, actions or activities. Discussion of opposing or different viewpoints is expected to be conducted in a respectful tone and manner that avoids personal attacks;
  • Verbal or physical abuse, intimidation, or efforts to annoy others, which in any way creates a disturbance that is disruptive or dangerous or creates reasonable apprehension in a person;
  • Harassing behavior including, but not limited to, offensive verbal comments or online posting(s) related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, national origin, inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in USITT-sponsored spaces or in presentations, yelling at or threatening participants, stalking or unwelcome following, harassing photography or recording, or unwelcome physical or verbal contact or sexual attention;
  • Disrupting a meeting or related event, including but not limited to picketing or protesting in common spaces that are either disruptive or could threaten the safety of participants or guests. All participants must comply with the instructions of the moderator and any USITT staff;
  • Recording and sharing any meeting or related event (including, but not limited to, educational sessions, presentations, demonstrations, displays and the like) in any format without prior express written consent. (Recordings and photographs for personal use are allowed, unless otherwise notified.)


What to do if you witness or experience behavior that you believe may violate this Code of Conduct?
Conduct believed to be in violation of this Code of Conduct should be promptly brought to the attention of a member of the USITT staff or their designee or, if applicable, the President of the Board of Directors, so that appropriate action may be taken.

Consequences of Unacceptable Behavior
Unacceptable behavior as outlined herein will not be tolerated at USITT meetings, gatherings, conference, exposition, symposia, activity, class or related event.

Anyone asked to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately. USITT reserves the right to take any action deemed necessary and appropriate, including immediate removal from the event without warning or refund, in response to any incident of unacceptable behavior, and USITT reserves the right to prohibit attendance at any future USITT event, virtually or in person, based on past documented inappropriate behavior. USITT further reserves the right to involve law enforcement at any time in order to keep the peace or to investigate potential or alleged unlawful activity.

Participants must also cooperate with any USITT investigation into reports of a violation of this Code of Conduct by providing information requested by USITT that is relevant to USITT’s investigation. USITT will also report on the outcome of any investigation to individuals who have reported a violation of this Code of Conduct, who may choose to remain anonymous. The information provided to those individuals will be limited to whether USITT found a violation of the Code, whether any sanctions or corrective actions were imposed, and, at USITT’s discretion, the nature of those sanctions or corrective actions.

Anyone found in violation of this Code of Conduct may be required to surrender their entry credentials (including but not limited to badges, name tags, or remote login access) without refund and to leave the event immediately and not return. Further, anyone found in violation of this Code of Conduct may be deemed ineligible to hold a position of leadership in USITT.

By attending the event you agree to abide by this Code of Conduct in its entirety.

(based in part on the ASAE Standards of Conduct, Core Ethical Standards, as amended)