Member and Events Code of Conduct
Our code of conduct outlines ISTE’s expectations for all members and participants at ISTE events, as adopted by the ISTE Board of Directors.
ISTE expects 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 opinion from fact.
ISTE and the ISTE community are committed to providing a friendly, safe, supportive and harassment-free environment for all ISTE members and participants, 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 others involved in ISTE events and activities.
Harassment includes offensive verbal or written comments and negative behavior, either in real or virtual spaces, including comments and behaviors that are related to or based on gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, relation or other group identity. Harassment also the 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 a 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 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 with the ISTE Board of Directors at isteboard@iste.org. The board will evaluate the concern and may take one or more of the following actions, 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 focused on supporting and promoting diversity and inclusiveness internally and in our work with educators, members and stakeholders worldwide. At ISTE events and in our virtual environments, our top priority is 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 all of our partners and vendors to 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 submitted by contacting ISTE customer support.