The Net Impact Code of Conduct (“Code of Conduct”) reflects our philosophy and mission to engage the community of students and professionals who want to become the most effective change agents they can be. Our Code of Conduct is a statement regarding participant standards of conduct, both when participating in Net Impact Programs (“Programs”) and after participation when representing the Program, Net Impact, or other partner organizations. Participants are expected to obey all laws and regulations. In addition, students are expected to abide by their college/university Code of Conduct in addition to this Code of Conduct. Participants in violation of the Code of Conduct can be subject to dismissal from the Program and may lose all benefits therein, including association with the Program, Net Impact, and partner organizations. 

Participants shall conduct themselves in accordance with the Code of Conduct at all times, including during participation in online or hybrid events, virtual communities, or at college sponsored events or programs regardless of location, and at related social events. 

Be mindful of how much you participate. If you tend to observe more than speak, consider stepping deeper into the conversation. If you like to chime in, be sure to make room for others.

The Code of Conduct includes the following requirements: 

• Be respectful: Net Impact brings people together from diverse perspectives, in person and online. Whether you are speaking with a peer, a faculty member, a member of the press, or a community member, show respect for them and for their ideas;
• Be careful in the words that we choose: We are a community of leaders, and we conduct ourselves professionally. Be kind to others. Do not insult or put down others. Harassment and other exclusionary behavior aren’t permitted;
• Try to understand why we disagree: Disagreements happen all the time. It is important that we resolve disagreements and differing views constructively.

Virtual Events

Net Impact’s code of conduct extends to the virtual events we run. We expect attendees to follow the guidelines included here. In addition, due to the nature of virtual events attendees are asked to consider the following:

• Net Impact requests that attendees are respectful of fellow attendees and limit promotional messages shared during events. Excessive promotion will be flagged for potential removal from the event. Net Impact does not endorse any product or service shared during events, less that is stated explicitly. 
• Net Impact reserves the right to block attendees from any chat or messaging capabilities and to remove attendees from events if needed. All attempts to warn participants will be made, but Net Impact may remove attendees from any event at any time. 

Harassment

Net Impact strictly prohibits harassment. Harassment includes, but is not limited to: 

• Offensive comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, mental illness, neuro(a)typicality, physical appearance, body size, race, age, regional discrimination, political, religious affiliation or other protected characteristic;
• Unwelcome comments regarding a person’s lifestyle choices and practices, including those related to food, health, parenting, drugs, and employment;
• Deliberate misgendering. This includes deadnaming or persistently using a pronoun that does not correctly reflect a person’s gender identity. You must address people by the name they give you when not addressing them by their username or handle;
• Physical contact and simulated physical contact (e.g., textual descriptions like “hug” or “backrub”) without consent or after a request to stop; 
• Threats of violence, both physical and psychological;
• Incitement of violence towards any individual, including encouraging a person to commit suicide or to engage in self-harm;
• Deliberate intimidation;
• Stalking or following;
• Harassing photography or recording, including logging online activity for harassment purposes;
• Sustained disruption of discussion;
• Unwelcome sexual or romantic attention or advances, including gratuitous or off-topic sexual images, speech or behavior, whether conducted in person, via social platforms or through any other means of communication;
• Pattern of inappropriate social contact, such as requesting/assuming inappropriate levels of intimacy with others;
• Continued one-on-one communication after requests to cease; and
• Deliberate “outing” of any aspect of a person’s identity without their consent except as necessary to protect others from intentional abuse. 

Examples of What Constitutes Prohibited Harassment

In addition to the above listed conduct, Net Impact strictly prohibits harassment concerning race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability or other protected characteristic. By way of illustration only, and not limitation, prohibited harassment concerning race, color, religion, national origin, age or other protected characteristic includes:

• Slurs, epithets, and any other offensive remarks;
• Jokes, whether written, verbal, or electronic;
• Threats, intimidation, and other menacing behavior;
• Other verbal, graphic, or physical conduct; and
• Other conduct predicated upon one or more of the protected categories identified in this policy.

Diversity Statement

We encouragement everyone to participate and are committed to building a community for all. We seek to treat everyone both as fairly and equally as possible. Whenever a participant has made a mistake, we expect them to take responsibility for it. If someone has been harmed or offended, it is our responsibility to listen carefully and respectfully, and do our best to address the situation. 

Although this list cannot be exhaustive, we explicitly honor diversity in age, gender, gender identity or expression, culture, ethnicity, language, national origin, political beliefs, profession, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and technical ability. We will not tolerate discrimination based on these or any other protected characteristics, including participants with disabilities.

Reporting

If you experience or witness unacceptable behavior—or have any other concerns—please report it by contacting us via hr@netimpact.org. All reports will be handled with discretion. In your report please include:

• Your contact information;
• Names (real, nicknames, or pseudonyms) of any individuals involved. If there are additional witnesses, please include them as well. Your account of what occurred, and if you believe the incident is ongoing. If there is a publicly available record (e.g. a mailing list archive or a public IRC logger), please include a link; and
• Any additional information that may be helpful.

After filing a report, a representative of Net Impact will contact you personally, review the incident, follow up with any additional questions, and make a decision as to how to proceed. If the person who is the subject of your report (or would likely be a witness) is part of the response team, they will be excluded from handling your incident. We will respect confidentiality requests for the purpose of protecting victims of abuse, and we will let you know if confidentiality becomes an obstacle to the full investigation and resolution of the matter.

Retaliation for good-faith reporting under this policy, or for assisting in an investigation as a witness, is strictly prohibited, and any suspected retaliation should be reported immediately to hr@netimpact.org.

Rights

Net Impact reserves the right to amend the Code of Conduct at any time without notice, and encourages Program participants to periodically review these guidelines to ensure you are in compliance.