2025 SPE Annual Conference: Adaptation
Looking for a chapter event?
Past SPE Annual Conferences
exhibitions
2018 SPE Annual Conference Code of Conduct
print this pageCode of Conduct
PURPOSE
The Society for Photographic Education (SPE) is committed to an equitable and inclusive environment where all members have agency to contribute. Through our programming, annual conference, chapter events, and web presence, we represent the diversity of our membership and welcome everyone, regardless of race, gender, gender identity or expression, nationality, sexual orientation, ability, mental health status, military or veteran status, socioeconomic status, physical appearance, body size, age, religion, professional status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
This Code of Conduct outlines our expectations for SPE members, conference and event attendees, staff, contractors, volunteers, portfolio reviewers, vendors, sponsors, exhibitors, presenters, and any individual who participates in any activities of SPE. This Code of Conduct also outlines the consequences for unacceptable behavior by any of the parties included above. In this document, any individual who participates in any SPE activity in any capacity is referred to as an "SPE-associate."
This Code of Conduct applies to SPE-associate interactions at any SPE activity, including but not limited to SPE conferences, events, meetings, and online spaces. SPE also expects that SPE-associates will apply these standards of behavior in their daily lives, both in and outside of SPE.
SPE seeks to create online and in-person spaces in which diverse participants may learn from, network with, and enjoy the company of colleagues. The Code of Conduct is not intended to constrain scholarly or professional presentation, discourse, or debate, as long as these exchanges are conducted in a respectful manner.
UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR
SPE does not tolerate and explicitly prohibits harassing, offensive, and inappropriate behavior. Examples of prohibited conduct include, but are not limited to:
- Derogatory comments or conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual because of race, gender, gender identity or expression, nationality, sexual orientation, ability, mental health status, military or veteran status, socioeconomic status, physical appearance, body size, age, religion, professional status, or any other characteristic protected by law
- Unwelcome sexual advances or attention
- Requests for non-consensual sexual favors
- Continued one-on-one communication after requests to cease
- Physical contact and simulated physical contact without consent or after a request to stop (includes unwelcome touching and groping)
- Real or implied threat of physical harm
- Incitement of violence towards any individual, including encouraging a person to commit suicide or to engage in self-harm
- Stalking
- Deliberate misgendering or use of "dead" or rejected names
- Gratuitous or off-topic sexual images or behavior in spaces where they're not appropriate
- Sustained disruption of discussion at presentations and other public events
- Public distribution of private, personal communications or other materials shared with the expectation of privacy
- Harassing photography or recording, including logging online activity for harassment purposes
- Real or implied threat of professional or financial damage or harm
PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF SENSITIVE MATERIAL
Content presented at SPE conferences, meetings, or online forums may, at times, deal with sensitive subject matter. Those presenting sensitive subject matter are asked to be as clear and upfront as possible about session content so that participants may make an informed decision regarding their participation.
REPORTING CODE OF CONDUCT VIOLATIONS
SPE is committed to ensuring the physical safety and supporting the emotional well-being of all who participate in our community. We take any violation of this Code of Conduct seriously. If you experience or witness conduct that you believe violates the Code of Conduct, please report the incident to SPE immediately.
Reports may be submitted to the SPE Code of Conduct Committee at conduct@spenational.org or through the online incident report form. The form may be completed either with contact information or anonymously.
While we will be unable to follow up with you directly in the case of an anonymous report, SPE will monitor both named and anonymous reports to identify patterns of conduct and will do what we can to ensure the issue is appropriately addressed.
If you experience or witness behavior that presents an immediate danger, you should contact law enforcement (by dialing 911) or, if applicable, the facility front desk without delay.
PROCEDURE FOR REVIEW OF REPORTS
All reported violations will be directed to the Code of Conduct Committee for prompt review and, if appropriate, investigation.
If an investigation is pursued, the party who is the subject of the report will be provided a chance to respond to the allegations against him/her/them. The Code of Conduct Committee may also contact other individuals who may have knowledge of the facts and circumstances included and/or related to the report.
Upon completion of its investigation, the Code of Conduct Committee will determine whether there has been a violation of the Code of Conduct and, if so, the appropriate response to the violation. The appropriate responses will depend on the nature and severity of the violation, and may include:
- Requiring the individual stop their behavior
- Requiring a public apology
- Removing the individual from current SPE conferences, events, meetings, online spaces, or other SPE activities (without refund)
- Requiring that the individual avoid further contact with certain other individuals in relation to SPE activities
- Denying access to future SPE events
- Denying, suspending, or terminating membership in the SPE community
- Contacting appropriate law enforcement officials
The Code of Conduct Committee will provide written notice of its response to the reporting party (if contact information is provided) and the party who is the subject of the report. Either party may request review of the Code of Conduct Committee's response by the SPE Executive Committee, by submitting the request for review to executivecommittee@spenational.org within thirty (30) days from receipt. The SPE Executive Committee may accept, reject, or modify the Code of Conduct Committee's response with respect to either whether a violation occurred or whether the response applied was appropriate.
While complete confidentiality cannot be guaranteed, SPE will handle all reports with discretion and with the aim of preserving confidentiality to the extent compatible with conducting an appropriate investigation and responding appropriately thereafter.
All reports will be handled objectively. If the report alleges any misconduct by a member of SPE's Code of Conduct Committee or Executive Committee, that person will be excluded from investigating the report and considering any review of the Code of Conduct Committee's response. The current members of SPE's Code of Conduct Committee and Executive Committee are listed here.
About
- Board Reports, Letters, and Minutes
- History
- Staff
- Board Members
- Board Committees
- Board Elections
- SPE Code of Conduct
- Caucuses
Join
Members
Annual Conference
- About the Conference
- Overview
- Speakers
- Schedule
- Registration
- Announcements & Deadlines
- Volunteer
- Sponsors
- Exhibit
- Anti-Harassment Policy
- Hotel & Travel
- Location + Travel
- Hotel
- Schedule of Events
- Schedule
News & Events
Chapters
Exposure Journal
About this piece
Comments about this piece
Dialogue and critique are important to the SPE mission.
Please join the conversation.