CODE OF CONDUCT

Purpose

Museum Alaska strives to provide a safe, inclusive, and welcoming event experience for everyone. Museums Alaska expressly prohibits any discrimination or harassment in any form.

Scope

Museums Alaska’s Code of Conduct  applies to all Museums Alaska programs, activities, and grant funded projects, including all conference venues and conference-related social activities at the Annual Meeting and Conference. Any person participating in a Museums Alaska sponsored program, activity, or grant funded project commits to maintaining respectful and ethical relationships in accordance with the Museums Alaska Code of Conduct.

Definitions

• Discrimination is the unjust or prejudicial treatment of others based on human difference.
• Harassment includes but is not limited to:
• Sexual harassment, according to U.S. Federal guidelines is “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.”  Importantly, the legal definition includes harassment that is sexist rather than sexual: it can "include offensive remarks about a person's sex," with this form being "illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment."
• Sexual assault which includes actual or attempted physical attack and any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient. Sexual assault is illegal.
• Physical contact without consent or after a request to stop
• Comments or actions the minimize a person’s life choices, identity, or safety
• Deliberate “outing” of any aspect of a person’s identity without their consent, except as necessary to protect vulnerable people from intentional abuse
• Sustained disruption of presentations or events
• Deliberate intimidation or stalking of any kind—in person or online
• Collection and distribution of harassing photography or recordings
• Threats or acts of violence
• Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behaviors

Reporting

Anyone who experiences or witnesses any violation of Museums Alaska’s Code of Conduct should report the incident to the Museums Alaska Executive Director or the Board of Directors as soon as possible.

If you witness sexual harassment or assault, respond first to the affected person's needs and safety. Support that person if they choose to report the incident but respect their decision to report or not report.

Anyone experiencing or witnessing behavior that constitutes an immediate or serious threat to personal or public safety is advised to contact 911.

You can make a report in person to Museums Alaska staff, board members, or through the Museums Alaska website. Online reporting may be anonymous.

• Executive Director: director@museumsalaska.org, 907-371-4348
• President of the Board, president@museumsalaska.org
• Board of Directors: board@museumsalaska.org,
  https://museumsalaska.org/board-of-directors
• Website: https://forms.gle/GHZTURo1ozuDabQZ8

We cannot follow up on an anonymous report directly, but we will take all reports seriously.

Consequences

Museums Alaska is committed to enforcing this code of conduct at all levels of its organization. Anyone requested to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately. The Museums Alaska Board may take any action deemed necessary and appropriate, including immediate removal from an activity, program, or grant funded project without warning or refund. The Museums Alaska Board reserves the right to prohibit participation in future programs, activities, and grant funded projects in addition to rescinding association awards, grants, and/or scholarship, and revoking or prohibiting membership.

Individuals who are currently sanctioned for assault or harassment by an adjudicating institution (e.g., a university) will be barred from Museums Alaska programs, activities, and grant funded projects. Appeals may be requested in advance of participation in an activity, program, or grant. On-site conference registration for such individuals will not be permitted.

Adoption

This code of conduct was adopted by the Museums Alaska Board of Directors on August 9, 2019, with amendments adopted on March 13, 2020.