MAC Code of Conduct

Objective

The Midwest Archives Conference (MAC) is committed to advancing the archival profession and community. As such, it recognizes a commitment to social responsibility which reflects values that are consistent with upholding and enhancing professional standards. Further, MAC's organizational commitment reflects the accountability, stewardship, transparency, fairness, professionalism, and balance that make up an individual archivist's core values. MAC’s values are clearly manifested in its meeting planning, programming, and publishing processes.

MAC is strongly committed to providing an environment of cooperation and collaboration. These values are central to our mission. Similarly, we aim to provide an environment in which all participants may learn, network, and enjoy the company of colleagues in an environment of mutual respect in all physical and online spaces, including events, committee work, social media, forums, and in other activities.

By becoming a MAC member, an individual accepts responsibility for abiding by the Code of Conduct. Those participating in a MAC event (including but not limited to conferences, workshops, educational programs, and webinars) agree to abide by this Code of Conduct as well. That means at all times being respectful of others in all of the venues in which MAC activities are held, including virtual meeting platforms.

Expected Behavior

All participants in MAC programming (including without limitation MAC members, guests, speakers, exhibitors, vendors, staff and service providers) are expected to conduct themselves professionally and with good judgment and common sense. MAC is committed to developing and maintaining a welcoming, inclusive, and respectful environment—one that will strengthen collaboration, promote intellectual freedom, and support honest discourse and debate. Following are some behaviors that help to promote such environments:

Listen as much as you speak;
Yield the floor to those whose viewpoints may be underrepresented;
Use welcoming language;
Accept critique graciously and offer it constructively;
Give credit where it is due; and
Stay attuned to the welfare of those around you.

Unacceptable Behavior

MAC does not tolerate harassment in any form. MAC is committed to providing a harassment-free environment for its members and others who participate in its conferences, events, meetings, formal mentoring relationships, and online spaces regardless of age, color, creed, disability, family relationship, gender identity and expression, individual lifestyle, marital status, national origin, political or ideological association, physical appearance, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Harassment may include, but is not limited to, abusive verbal comments, slurs, epithets and/or discriminatory images in public spaces; deliberate intimidation such as invasion of personal space or blocking behaviors; stalking; harassing photography or recording; sustained disruption of talks or other events; inappropriate physical contact; and any unwelcome attention or communication in any form.

Sensitive Content

It is understood that content presented at MAC events or within publications or other online forums may, at times, deal with sensitive subject matter, ranging from visually sensitive historical material (such as images related to acts of genocide) to sexually explicit language or images (such as in archival letters, nude photographs, or film or audio recordings). This policy is not intended to constrain scholarly or professional presentation, discourse, or debate, as long as these exchanges are conducted in a respectful manner. Members who are presenting or writing about such topics are asked to provide public notice, in advance of their presentation, that their work contains potentially distressing or harmful material.

Code of Conduct Violations

In an emergency situation, please call 911.

At any MAC meeting or event, participants who are asked to cease harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. Those who violate these rules may be removed from the meeting or event at the discretion of an officer of MAC or a chair of the event’s Program or Local Arrangements committees. Violators may be denied access to the online space at the discretion of the administrator or a MAC officer. Persons who have been expelled or denied access may appeal to the Ethics and Inclusion Committee (EIC) using the procedure outlined below.

If you are harassed or witness another person being harassed, make a report through the online form and processes described below. If you are uncomfortable asking the harasser to stop, please seek a meeting organizer immediately to report the behavior. Points of contact will be established at the beginning of every MAC event, whether in person or online.

If you are accused of harassment, you are expected to stop immediately. Persons who do not comply with a request to stop will be removed from the event or space. If you would like to formally oppose your removal, please file a report with the EIC.

Ethics and Inclusion Committee (EIC)

The EIC is responsible for promoting and developing a culture that values diversity, inclusion, and ethical behavior within MAC. The EIC works with MAC leaders to publicize the Code of Conduct and orient members and other event participants to the importance of these values in MAC programs and venues. The Committee monitors professional trends and developments in code of conduct, ethics, and values programs; oversees the MAC Code of Conduct complaint process and suggests revisions and improvements to said process; and undertakes other activities to advance diversity and inclusion in coordination with MAC Council.

The Committee consists of a chair and two members who have been nominated by the President and approved by Council. Ideally, individual members of this Committee have completed Active Bystander Training prior to service. The Chair of the Committee shall serve for two years and may be reappointed for one additional two-year term. Committee members shall serve for staggered two-year terms and may be reappointed for one additional two-year term.

Reporting Procedures

File a report to the EIC using a Google form, which will ask:

Your name and contact information (you can report anonymously)
Whether you are accused, the accuser and/or the person being harassed
Name(s) of the other party/parties, if known
Date, time, location
A detailed narrative of what happened
Any supporting documentation

The EIC will respond to the report within 48 business hours.

Investigation Procedures

The EIC will convene to examine the report. (If the reporter is an EIC member, they will recuse themself from the procedure and will be replaced by the MAC President or someone of the President’s choosing.)
Based on the information in the report, the EIC will determine whether a Code of Conduct violation has occurred.

If a violation did not occur, the report will be filed in the MAC Google Drive for 3 years, where it will be accessible to only the EIC. A response will be sent to the reporter (when possible) to let them know that their report was investigated, what determination was made, and procedures for appeal.
If a violation did occur, both parties will be contacted (when possible). The outcome will be determined on a case by case basis, and may include temporary or permanent suspension of the perpetrator’s membership in MAC.

If any party would like to appeal, an email may be sent to the EIC at (email address) and copied to the MAC President. The President will convene with MAC Council to examine the appeal. The outcome will be decided by majority vote of the Council, and the decision is final.
Note: if the accused is a member of MAC Executive Leadership or Council, and is found in violation and decides to appeal, the appeals email should be sent to the EIC and Ex-Officio Council members. Conversely, if the accused is a member of the EIC, the appeals email should be sent to the MAC President and Ex-Officio Council members.

Confidentiality

All parties involved in Code of Conduct violation reporting procedures are expected to maintain confidentiality. MAC Leadership will address reports as confidentially as possible, but cannot guarantee complete confidentiality.

Various parts of this policy are based on and modeled after other professional codes of conduct, including those of ARL, DLF, SAA, NEA, and MARAC.

Approved by MAC Council, May 12, 2021.