ACTR Standards of Professional Conduct
and Procedures for Adjudicating Complaints of Violations
As stated in Article IV "Standards of Professional Conduct" of the ACTR Rules of Governance ("Bylaws"):
- Members of ACTR shall enjoy as well as foster and maintain an environment of mutual respect free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in any of their interactions with other members and in the profession at large. To this end members shall observe ACTR’s Anti-Harassment Policy Statement, ACTR’s Diversity Statement, and ACTR’s Statement on Racism and Equity as published on the ACTR website, as well as the standards of the Corporation.
- ACTR shall maintain an adjudication procedure for complaints, to be approved by the Board of Directors and published on the ACTR website, that website referenced in the ACTR Newsletter.
Adjudication Procedure for Filing a Complaints of Violations of the ACTR Standards of Professional Conduct
Filing a complaint
Any member of the organization may file in writing a complaint about the conduct of another member of the organization for lack of professionalism, collegiality, or respect. A complaint about harassment or the lack of professionalism, collegiality and respect shall be filed only in the case of a serious infraction and with documentation of the offending conduct. The complaint shall be filed with the Executive Director of ACTR.
Action on complaint
Once a written complaint has been filed, the Executive Director shall consult with the Executive Committee, with the recusal of any member implicated in the complaint, on procedures for adjudication. A complaint against the Executive Director shall be submitted to the President, who in consultation with other members of the Executive Committee shall initiate an adjudication process.
Ad hoc adjudication committee
The Executive Committee shall convene an Ad hoc Adjudication Committee of no fewer than three Directors Emeriti, to investigate the complaint, to interview the parties to the complaint, and to recommend action to be taken. The deliberations of the Ad hoc Adjudication Committee shall be conducted per the rules of executive session as defined in the most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised.
Recommendations for resolution
On conclusion of its deliberations the Ad hoc Adjudication Committee shall submit its report to the Executive Committee, with the recusal of any member implicated in the complaint. The report shall include the committee's assessment of the complaint and its recommendation for action to be pursued. The assessment and recommendation shall be:
Recommendations for expulsion
Should the Ad Hoc Adjudication Committee recommend one of options 1 through 4, it shall inform the parties to the complaint of its recommendation and any actions proscribed therein shall be carried out by the Executive Committee.
Should the Ad Hoc Adjudication Committee recommend option 5, the Executive Committee shall bring the matter forward to a vote of the Board of Directors. Any procedure to expel a member shall conform to those indicated in the most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised and must be approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee has the prerogative to invite an individual about whom an expulsion option will be raised at a meeting of the Board to peremptorily resign without the right to rejoin the Board or the organization, as per the nature of the expulsion.
Should a recommendation for expulsion not be approved by the Board of Directors, the recommendation shall revert to Option 4.
Appeal of the Ad hoc Adjudication Committee's decision
The Ad hoc Adjudication Committee's decision shall be final and may not be appealed.
Adjudication outside ACTR
The procedures outlined above do not constrain complainant(s) from taking legal action against the respondent(s) outside ACTR. On notification that the matter has been taken beyond the organization, ACTR will cease all adjudication procedures and withhold all judgments.
Approved by the ACTR Board of Directors
18 June 2022
Any member of the organization may file in writing a complaint about the conduct of another member of the organization for lack of professionalism, collegiality, or respect. A complaint about harassment or the lack of professionalism, collegiality and respect shall be filed only in the case of a serious infraction and with documentation of the offending conduct. The complaint shall be filed with the Executive Director of ACTR.
Action on complaint
Once a written complaint has been filed, the Executive Director shall consult with the Executive Committee, with the recusal of any member implicated in the complaint, on procedures for adjudication. A complaint against the Executive Director shall be submitted to the President, who in consultation with other members of the Executive Committee shall initiate an adjudication process.
Ad hoc adjudication committee
The Executive Committee shall convene an Ad hoc Adjudication Committee of no fewer than three Directors Emeriti, to investigate the complaint, to interview the parties to the complaint, and to recommend action to be taken. The deliberations of the Ad hoc Adjudication Committee shall be conducted per the rules of executive session as defined in the most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised.
Recommendations for resolution
On conclusion of its deliberations the Ad hoc Adjudication Committee shall submit its report to the Executive Committee, with the recusal of any member implicated in the complaint. The report shall include the committee's assessment of the complaint and its recommendation for action to be pursued. The assessment and recommendation shall be:
- The complaint is deemed unwarranted and no further action is required.
- The complaint is warranted and shall be addressed through facilitated mediation among the parties to the complaint..
- The complaint is warranted, and the target of the complaint shall receive a warning.
- The complaint is warranted, and the target of the complaint shall be suspended from ACTR activities for a period to be determined, contingent upon the given individual’s remorse and apology
- The complaint is warranted, and the target of the complaint shall be expelled from the Board and/or from the organization.
Recommendations for expulsion
Should the Ad Hoc Adjudication Committee recommend one of options 1 through 4, it shall inform the parties to the complaint of its recommendation and any actions proscribed therein shall be carried out by the Executive Committee.
Should the Ad Hoc Adjudication Committee recommend option 5, the Executive Committee shall bring the matter forward to a vote of the Board of Directors. Any procedure to expel a member shall conform to those indicated in the most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised and must be approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee has the prerogative to invite an individual about whom an expulsion option will be raised at a meeting of the Board to peremptorily resign without the right to rejoin the Board or the organization, as per the nature of the expulsion.
Should a recommendation for expulsion not be approved by the Board of Directors, the recommendation shall revert to Option 4.
Appeal of the Ad hoc Adjudication Committee's decision
The Ad hoc Adjudication Committee's decision shall be final and may not be appealed.
Adjudication outside ACTR
The procedures outlined above do not constrain complainant(s) from taking legal action against the respondent(s) outside ACTR. On notification that the matter has been taken beyond the organization, ACTR will cease all adjudication procedures and withhold all judgments.
Approved by the ACTR Board of Directors
18 June 2022