GENERAL INFORMATION
GSA’s Events Code of Conduct and RISE help ensure that GSA continues to offer a respectful, safe, and inclusive environment at all GSA events. You play an important role in bringing these initiatives to life at Section Meetings.
The GSA Council approved the Events Code of Conduct in 2016. This policy applies to everyone – members and non-members – who attend GSA-sponsored activities, including but not limited to section meetings, field trips, short courses, and planning meetings.
GSA rolled out RISE in 2016 to drive awareness of the Events Code of Conduct and to help ensure that we continue to provide safe and professional scientific meetings and events. In practice, we use conspicuous RISE posters at major GSA events, such as the Annual Meeting and Section Meetings, to remind attendees of the need to comply with the Events Code of Conduct and how to speak up when potential violations occur. While we don’t ask that other meetings such as a committee or management board meetings have a RISE sign we encourage you to announce that the Events Code of Conduct applies.
Please refer to the Ethics Homepage on GSA’s website for more information about the Events Code of Conduct and RISE. If you have questions about these initiatives, send an email to ethics@geosociety.org.
Registration, Section Meeting Announcement Web Page, and RISE Posters
The GSA Meetings Department will include links to the Events Code of Conduct and RISE on the web page set up for your Section Meeting. GSA requires that all individuals who register for your Section Meeting certify that they agree to comply with the Events Code of Conduct. GSA has included this certification requirement in both online and paper registration materials.
The GSA Headquarters produces the RISE signage to display throughout your meeting. We will print three 24 × 30½ signs and four 8½ × 11 signs, and bring them to the meeting. We also will be responsible for placing these signs in highly visible areas. Sections are not charged for these signs.
Section Officer RISE Training
Here is a basic checklist to ensure that your Section Meeting has proper RISE staffing:
- Designate at least 2 section officers to serve as RISE Liaisons. Make sure these individuals will be present for the entire meeting. Feel free to select more than 2 RISE Liaisons.
- Notify GSA’s Ethics & Compliance Officer of the names and email addresses of the designated RISE Liaisons at least 2-3 months before the meeting by sending an email to ethics@geosociety.org. The Ethics & Compliance Officer will send these individuals a link to complete the training, which takes approximately one hour.
During your Section Meeting, GSA will have additional staff and Members in leadership roles available onsite or by phone to address any ethics concerns reported to the RISE Liaisons. Typically, RISE Liaisons are responsible for escalating potential issues to GSA’s Ethics & Compliance Officer, who is responsible for investigating complaints. Additional information about these roles and responsibilities will be provided to RISE Liaisons during their training.