Member Code of Conduct
I - Purpose of the Code
The primary concerns of the National Society of Black Engineers
(NSBE) are our mission and our members. NSBE is dedicated to the
academic, professional, and cultural development of our student and
professional members, as well as the development of ethically sensitive
and responsible persons.
It seeks to achieve these goals through sound academic and
professional programming and through regulations and policies governing
conduct that encourages independence, maturity and respect for the
rights and viewpoints of others. Conduct at non-Society-sponsored
activities is viewed as the members' personal business.
Conduct at Society-sponsored events is expected to be in accordance
with this Member Code of Conduct (hereafter referred to as "the Code").
The Society reserves the right to impose disciplinary sanctions or
take other appropriate action when conduct is not in accordance with the
Code. T
his Code is in effect for chapter, regional and national Society
activities.
The following categories and examples of unacceptable behavior are
subject to disciplinary actions. The Society reserves the right to
identify other behaviors not listed below. Such determinations will be
made by the National Executive Board (NEB). For Society activities at
chapter and regional events, Chapter or Regional Executive Boards can
make the determination with the consent of the NEB.
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II - Personal Misconduct
Unacceptable personal misconduct is defined as:
- Harassing, physically threatening, or physically or verbally
abusing any person in the Society or at any Society sponsored
function or event.
- Conducting oneself in a manner endangering the health or safety
of another person.
- Harassing any individual because of that person's race, color,
gender, religion, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or
for other reasons by:
- Intentionally subjecting another person to offensive
physical contact other than self-defensive.
- Specifically insulting another person in his or her
immediate presence with abusive words or gestures when a
reasonable person would expect that such act would cause
emotional distress or provoke a violent response.
- Unwanted sexual behavior directed toward an individual,.
- Engaging in lewdness or indecency.
- Exhibiting disorderly conduct (including that resulting from
drunkenness), unreasonable noise, or behavior that results in
unreasonable annoyance.
- Tampering with safety systems (such as fire-fighting equipment),
turning in a false alarm, or engaging in behavior that constitutes a
fire hazard.
- Stealing any property.
- Selling, brandishing, or possessing firearms, ammunition,
explosives, dangerous chemicals, or any other objects as weapons.
- Defacing property, public or private.
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III -
Disruption
Disruption shall be defined as:
- Creating noise or other disturbances that disrupt Society
activities or Society- sponsored events, or that disrupt either
participants or non-participants at the venue of a Society-sponsored
event.
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IV - Abuse of Controlled
Substances
Controlled substances shall be defined as:
- Intoxicants: The purchase, possession or consumption of
alcoholic beverages is regulated by State law. Members are expected
to know and abide by State law and by Society rules and regulations
governing the use of alcoholic beverages at Society- sponsored
events. The following is not permissible:
- Possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by persons
under 21 years at Society sponsored events.
- Furnishing alcoholic beverages to any member under the age
of 21 years
- The use of alcohol is not permitted at Society sponsored
events for persons under the age of 21 years
- Consuming alcohol at a Society sponsored event in public
areas (i.e. hotel lobbies or hallways).
- Using Society funds for the purchase of alcoholic beverages.
- Illegal Drugs and Substances: Members are not permitted to be
under the influence of, possess, manufacture, distribute, or sell
illicit drugs, as prohibited by State law, at Society-sponsored or
approved events. Reasonable suspicion of possession or use of
illegal drugs and substances at Society sponsored events may subject
the person involved to investigation.
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V - Disciplinary Authority
Violation of the Code may be reported by any attendee at a
NSBE-sponsored event. Such violations should be reported in writing
no less than 10 days after the alleged occurrence. Violations should
be reported to the Standards & Ethics Committee of the National
Executive Board.
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VI - Violation of the Code
Violation of the Code may subject the member to disciplinary action,
including suspension of membership or expulsion, as well as punishment
in accordance with federal, state, or municipal law.
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VII - Warning
A warning constitutes administrative action that informs the member
that he/she has violated the Code and that a record will be kept of
that violation at NSBE Headquarters for one year. If a member who is
on warning again violates the Code f Conduct, probation or more
serious and formal disciplinary action will be taken.
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VIII - Probation
Probation constitutes administrative action that informs the
member in writing that he/she has violated the Code, and that a
record will be kept at NSBE Headquarters for two years. The behavior
of the member is expected to be exemplary during the two-year
probation period. Any future charges against the member may be cause
for suspension, expulsion, or more serious disciplinary action
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IX - Restitution
Restitution constitutes reimbursement for damage to or
misappropriation of property, which may take the form of direct
financial compensation, of service, or other forms of indirect
compensation. In the event that damage occurs as a result of a
member's action and that action represents a Code violation, the
member will be held personally liable for restitution.
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X - Suspension
Suspension is the exclusion from all Society sponsored events for
a period of one year. Records of suspensions will be kept on file
for five years.
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XI - Expulsion
Expulsion is the termination of member status for an indefinite
period. Records of expulsions will be kept on file for ten years.
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XII - Readmission
Conditions for readmission, if any, shall be stated in the notice of
expulsion. Readmission will be granted at the discretion of the National
Executive Board following a recommendation from the Standards and Ethics
Committee.
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