Member and Events Code of Conduct

This professional code of conduct outlines ISTE’s expectations for all ISTE members and participants at ISTE events as adopted by the ISTE Board of Directors.

ISTE expects its members and event participants to communicate professionally and constructively, whether in person or virtually, handling dissent or disagreement with courtesy, dignity and an open mind, being respectful when providing feedback, and being open to alternate points of view.

 

  • When sharing information about the organization or via public communication channels, ISTE expects its members and event participants to share responsibly and clearly distinguish individual opinion from fact.
  • ISTE members and event participants are committed to providing a friendly, safe, supportive and harassment-free environment for all ISTE members, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion or other group identity.
     

Unacceptable Behavior

ISTE does not tolerate harassment of ISTE members, ISTE staff, or other persons involved in ISTE events and activities.

Harassment includes offensive verbal or written comments and negative behavior, either in real or virtual space, including those that are related to or are based upon gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, relation or other group identity. Harassment also includes display of sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, and unwelcome physical contact or sexual attention.

Sexual language and imagery are not appropriate for any member venue, including events, talks, workshops, social events and social media.
 

Consequences of Unacceptable Behavior

If an ISTE member or participant at an ISTE event, in either real or virtual space, engages in inappropriate, harassing, abusive or destructive behavior or language, the ISTE Board of Directors will determine and carry out the appropriate course of action, including warning the offender, suspension or expulsion from membership in accordance with ISTE’s Bylaws and Policies with no membership refund, and/or banning the offender from future ISTE membership, events and activities.

All ISTE members are expected to observe these rules and behaviors in all ISTE membership venues, including online venues and conference social events where ISTE members seek to learn, network, and enjoy themselves, free from any type of harassment.  Please participate as an ISTE member responsibly and with respect for the rights of others.

Additional information specific to event codes of conduct can be found here.
 

What to Do

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns about an individual’s conduct, please follow the incident reporting procedures below.

To report an incident or problem, please file a written complaint to the ISTE Board of Directors at isteboard@iste.org. The board will evaluate the concern and may do one or more of the following depending on the findings:

  • Contact the complainant and/or the offending member directly for further explanation.
  • Convene the ISTE Board of Directors for handling according to the ISTE Member Code of Conduct incident procedures.
  • Revoke the offending member’s membership with no refund.

This Code of Conduct is regularly reviewed and revised by the ISTE Board of Directors.

ISTE Statement of Inclusivity

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is wholly focused on supporting and promoting diversity and inclusiveness both internally and in our work with educators, members and stakeholders all over the world. At ISTE events and in our virtual environments, it is our top priority to ensure a safe, healthy, discrimination-free atmosphere that openly accepts all individuals regardless of age, ethnicity, race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression or any other group identity.

ISTE expects that any partner or vendor we work with share and uphold our standards related to safety, security and inclusivity. This requirement plays a key factor in determining who we choose to work with, including the selection of states and cities where our events are hosted. Questions and feedback are always welcome and can be sent to iste@iste.org.