Conduct expected of visitors to Cary Institute, off-site and virtual event participants (Institute staff and others), to ensure productive behavior, a feeling of congeniality and safety, and positive discussions for all attendees.
Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies (Cary Institute) is committed to providing an environment that is free of harassment and convening events, meetings, workshops, and conferences that support individual dignity and respect. As such, Cary Institute maintains a strict policy prohibiting sexual harassment and discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, familial status, protected veteran or disabled status, genetic information or any other protected class.
Cary Institute is also committed to preventing violence in the workplace and maintaining a safe work environment for all of its employees. Intimidation, harassment, or other threats of (or actual) violence that occur during or after business hours at events, meetings, workshops, and conferences organized by Cary Institute and its staff virtually, on Cary Institute property, or other off-site locations, is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated.
With the diversity of activities occurring at Cary Institute to further its mission, it is common for events, meetings, workshops, and conferences, whether in-person or held virtually (from this point forward, events, meetings, workshops, and conferences will be referred to collectively as “events”) to be held, involving Cary Institute employees, their colleagues, outside organizations, partners, and others.
Participants attending in-person or virtual meetings at or hosted by Cary Institute, whether they are organized by Cary Institute staff or another organization or group, fall under Cary Institute’s harassment-free policy. As such, participants are expected to behave in a respectful manner towards other attendees and staff as well as Cary Institute employees, and will also be treated by Cary Institute employees and other attendees in a respectful manner.
Further, Cary Institute staff organize and participate in events held off-site of the main Cary Institute campus in Millbrook, NY. The same policy applies to attendees of these off-site events, regardless of the event funding source (e.g., external sponsors such as the National Science Foundation, or internal Cary Institute funds).
Cary Institute expects this Code of Conduct to be followed by visitors to Cary Institute and off-site event participants (Cary Institute staff and others), as well as participants in virtual events, to ensure productive behavior, a feeling of congeniality and safety, and positive discussions for all attendees. It also provides guidance for reporting incidents of harassment and violations of Cary Institute’s Code of Conduct.
While attending an in-person or virtual event at Cary Institute or an off-site location, as a participant, you agree to:
The following behaviors are unacceptable and will not be tolerated at an event held in-person or virtually at Cary Institute or at an off-site event organized by Cary Institute staff:
As an in-person or virtual event attendee/participant at Cary Institute or an off-site location, if you feel that you are being or were harassed or discriminated against, or if you witness(ed) such behavior against another person, you may take one of the below actions:
Note: If the person about whom the report is being made is a Cary Institute trustee, officer, employee, or volunteer, you may be requested to fill out a Cary Institute Whistleblower Complaint Form and submit it to the Manager of Human Resources and/or the Senior Director of Administration/Comptroller.
Cary Institute’s Whistleblower Policy and Complaint Form
Cary Institute staff members receive annual training in handling reported violations of this Code of Conduct. Reports received by event organizers and staff will be handled as quickly as possible and ideally within the timeframe of the event. A thorough review of the submitted incident report will be conducted, which could include speaking with the individual submitting the incident report as well as the individual about whom the report is being submitted (alleged violator).
Reports submitted via the online version of the Incident Reporting Form will be funneled to the appropriate party and a review of the report will be conducted as soon as possible.
Incidents involving Cary Institute trustees, officers, employees, or volunteers reported as alleged violators of this Code of Conduct will be handled in a manner consistent with Cary Institute’s Policies on Sexual and Other Unlawful Harassment or Discrimination and Cary Institute’s Whistleblower Policy. Incident Reports submitted to the event organizer or staff member will be shared with Cary Institute’s Human Resources Manager. The person filing the report may then be asked to fill out and submit a Whistleblower Complaint Form.
The event organizer may on his/her own, with staff members (and venue security if needed), or in consultation with the Human Resources Manager, determine an appropriate immediate action to take in response to the complaint, consistent with this Code of Conduct (“Possible Actions Taken Against Alleged Violators of this Code of Conduct”).
Incidents involving non-Cary Institute employees will be handled by the event organizer and staff members (and venue security if needed), and possibly in consultation with Cary Institute Senior Management, in a manner consistent with this Code of Conduct (“Possible Actions Taken Against Alleged Violators of this Code of Conduct”). Incident Reports may be shared with the alleged violator’s home institution.
Any participant(s) found to be in violation of this Code of Conduct or Cary Institute’s Policies on Sexual and Other Unlawful Harassment or Discrimination may face one or more of the following consequences.
