The Board of Advisors of the Central States Section of The Combustion Institute approved this Code of Conduct on January 8, 2022. This document complements the Code of Ethics adopted by the Board of Directors of The Combustion Institute, March 23, 2017.
The Central States Section of The Combustion Institute (CSSCI) is committed to providing a safe environment for all its members and meeting attendees free from harassment. Harassment in any form—including that based on sex, gender, gender identify and expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), medical condition, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristics recognized by law—is a violation of this Code of Conduct. Everyone should be treated with respect. No one should fear discrimination. This policy applies to all CSSCI members and covers behaviors that takes place at any programs or activities associated with The Combustion Institute.
Reporting an Incident or Violation of the Code of Conduct
The CSSCI has established a standing committee to deal with reports of harassment. This committee will hereafter be referred to as the Committee. The Committee will consist of the Chair, Chair-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer of the CSSCI.
The CSSCI takes all reports of behavior prohibited by the Code of Conduct seriously and encourages any individual who experiences or witnesses such behavior to report, including anonymously, such violations to the Committee, including by email. The CSSCI encourages the prompt reporting of such matters to ensure timely and constructive resolutions.
The Committee will evaluate each report to determine the most appropriate response, including both informal and formal responses, in accordance with the rights of each party and may undertake further investigation as the Committee considers necessary. The desired response of the reporting party will be taken into account but cannot be determinative of the CSSCI’s response. In meeting with the reporting party, the Committee will explain that reports will be handled with sensitivity and kept as confidential as possible to respect the privacy of all parties.
Informal and formal responses are initiated to stop the prohibited behavior and prevent its recurrence. Possible responses and outcomes include, but are not limited to, issuing a warning to cease the behavior before further sanctions are pursued; separation of the involved persons; exclusion from the remainder of the current and/or future programs and activities; and revoking membership. The CSSCI will maintain a record of the report and corresponding response.
Any person who experiences or witnesses prohibited behavior also has reporting options outside of the CSSCI, including filing a report with their home institution or law enforcement agencies.
Retaliation
The CSSCI does not tolerate any kind of retaliation against an individual filing a report or assisting in the resolution of a report of prohibited behavior (even if no responsive action is taken). Retaliation is a violation of the Code of Conduct. The CSSCI takes reports of retaliation very seriously. Anyone who experiences or witnesses retaliation in any form should report it immediately to the Committee that will determine further actions as needed.