NCPH Events Code of conduct

Adopted by the NCPH Board of Directors on November 6, 2018 and amended on October 26, 2019.

The National Council on Public History (NCPH), in keeping with the core principles outlined in its mission statement and Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, is committed to providing a welcoming and harassment-free space for its members and others who attend, participate in, and support NCPH conferences, events, meetings, and online programming.

As public historians, our membership is committed to exploring diverse and inclusive historical narratives and developing practices that embrace and support stories, individuals, and collaborative partners from all backgrounds. NCPH actively supports diversity and inclusion amongst its membership and at its events and does not tolerate discrimination or harassment in any form.

Discrimination is the unjust or prejudicial treatment of others based on real or perceived characteristics or identities. Harassment includes but is not limited to:

  • intimidation or unwanted attention based on race, ethnicity, color, nationality, religion, age, class, ability, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, sexual identity, appearance/presentation, physical disability, and other characteristics or identities;
  • threats or acts of violence;
  • suggestions of retaliation by the harasser if the harassed person(s) reports;
  • deliberate misgendering;
  • unwelcome sexual attention, including unwelcome comments or dialogue of a physical or sexual nature or unsolicited physical contact;
  • derogatory comments in face-to-face and online spaces;
  • sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, or otherwise discriminatory jokes or language;
  • sustained, non-constructive disruption of programming.

All participants at the NCPH annual meeting and other NCPH programming such as mini-cons acknowledge this policy and note their willingness to abide by it by registering and attending. NCPH seeks constructive resolutions to disagreements, which can yield new ways of seeing and thinking.

Our community norms are strengthened when members communicate these problems when they arise. Accordingly, participants of NCPH events are encouraged to immediately report instances of harassment that they experience or witness to the NCPH Executive Director and Board Officers. NCPH will investigate all complaints and will maintain confidentiality to the extent possible. Anyone who is found to have engaged in harassment will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, which may include the following: (1) a written reprimand or censure; (2) a request for resignation; (3) removal of such person from the individual’s position within NCPH; or (4) termination of the individual’s membership, employment, engagement, and/or participation in current and/or future NCPH operated, sponsored and/or affiliated events. No individual will be retaliated against for making a complaint or assisting with the investigation of a complaint.

n.b. This statement incorporates some language from policies drafted by other professional associations.