Standards of Professional Behavior Policy

The Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study is dedicated to ensuring equality of opportunity and treatment for all members, regardless of, but not limited to, age, body size, class, disability, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, physical appearance, political perspective, race, color, religion or religious belief, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, marital status, veteran status, or any other reason not related to academic merit. Our standards call for sensitivity to power dynamics, exhibited in part through respect for the ideas, work, personal autonomy, and contributions of individuals in more junior positions in the field. Our standards include a belief in open inquiry, as well as respect and tolerance for people with worldviews, opinions, and experiences different from our own.

All SASS members and participants are expected to exhibit professional conduct both in person and online at all SASS-related venues including, but not limited to, the annual meeting. Our scholarly interactions are meant to occur in spaces to which people come to exchange ideas and build intellectual and professional networks. All interactive venues managed by the Society—in person, through email and other electronic forms of communication, or on social media, and whether formal or informal—are shared professional spaces. Members should hold themselves and one another to professional expectations. Misconduct is unacceptable. Anyone requested to stop harassing or engaging in other inappropriate behavior is expected to comply immediately.

Unprofessional conduct online and in-person includes, but is not limited to:

• Personal remarks about individuals or groups that are offensive or abusive
• Inappropriate use of sexual images in public spaces
• Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following
• Unwanted photography or recording
• Sharing personal or professional information or images without permission
• Exploiting a position of power, perceived or real
• Sustained disruption of talks or other events
• Inappropriate and unwanted physical contact
• Unwelcome sexual attention
• Exhibiting disrespectful or discourteous behavior towards presenters, participants, audience members, or anyone else present
• Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior

Definition of the Professional Standards Committee

The Professional Standards Committee will be composed of the following individuals:

• The executive director
• One member of the advisory council to be appointed by the president
• Two representatives of the general membership to be appointed by the president

The president will make every possible effort to ensure that the committee represents a diverse cross-section of the society membership. The advisory council representative will serve a term that coincides with their term on the council. The member representatives will serve staggered two-year terms. In the absence of any member of this committee at any time, for any reason, the president may appoint a temporary replacement member. The names of the current members of this committee will be published in the conference program and on the society website. A phone number that directs to the committee members will be made available for SASS-membership.

Notifying the Society of a Breach of This Policy

Society members who find themselves subject to or witness to a breach of our standards of professional behavior may report said breach to any member of the Professional Standards Committee. Members in need of immediate assistance should contact a member of the Professional Standards Committee. If a member has reason to believe the breach may violate the law, the member should contact local authorities. The board has granted the members of this committee the right to request that an individual immediately comply with the standards of professional behavior outlined in this policy. If the individual refuses to comply or resumes any form of inappropriate behavior at any point during the annual meeting or in any SASS-related venue, the board grants members of the Professional Standards Committee the right to remove the individual in question from the venue. Pursuant to the Utah statutes that govern our incorporation, individuals who are removed from an event are not entitled to a refund of any registration or membership fees paid to the society or any event host, facility, or co-sponsor.

Members wishing to file an official complaint regarding a breach of the standards of professional behavior at any society-sponsored event or in any capacity associated with duties related to society business or membership, may contact any member of the Professional Standards Committee and can remain anonymous. Upon receipt of a complaint of the violation of the society’s standards of professional behavior, the committee will commence the response procedure outlined by this policy.

Responding to a Complaint

Once a member of the Professional Standards Committee receives a complaint of a violation of this policy:

1. The committee member who has received the complaint will notify the other members of the committee that a complaint has been received.
2. If the complainant has not already done so, the committee will request a copy of the complaint in written form. Identifying individuals by name (including the complainant themselves) is entirely at the discretion of the complainant. The complainant may request that their name not be shared with the other members of the Professional Standards Committee.
3. When a written complaint is made available, that complaint(s) will be shared with the full committee. The committee reserves the right to share the complaint or details of the complaint with officers of the society or outside advisors should they deem it reasonable and necessary.
4. The committee will contact any witnesses, complainant(s), targeted individuals, or other individuals mentioned in the complaint—excepting the accused—and request additional written statements from those individuals. Individuals identified may refuse to provide a statement or may request that their name be redacted from any documents.
5. When all witnesses, complainant(s), targeted individuals, or other individuals mentioned in the complaint—excepting the accused—have provided a statement, the committee will compile a summary of the complaint to provide to the accused.
6. Pursuant to Utah statutes, the committee will provide the accused with a written summary of the complaint and request a written response from that individual. The committee may set a time limit on a response that is reasonable and observes Utah law.
7. When the committee has received the response of the accused, they will review all the statements that have been submitted and decide, pursuant to Utah statutes, on a reasonable and fair response on behalf of the society.
8. The committee will provide a written decision to the accused, as well as all witnesses, complainant(s), targeted individuals, or other individuals mentioned in the complaint, per the procedures detailed in the Utah statute.

For specific information about applicable Utah statutes, including the required timeline for response, please visit the state website: https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title16/Chapter10A/16-10a.html

Outcomes

The response of the society as recommended by the Professional Standards Committee will abide by the Utah statutes that govern the incorporation of the society. The society reserves the right to respond to a policy violation in ways including but not limited to revoking an individual’s membership; removing an individual from a meeting, event, committee, or society-related venue; or denying an individual access to particular benefits of membership for a period of time or until the completion of all requirements set forth by the committee that are deemed fair and reasonable by recommendation of the committee. The society further reserves the right to choose not to respond to the complaint should the committee determine, based on the statements provided, that no response on the part of the society is warranted or reasonable.

The Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study cannot provide legal advice. Should a complaint of a violation of professional standards indicate that a violation of the law occurred, the individuals involved, including any potential witnesses to the incident, should contact the appropriate authorities. The Society has no authority to intervene in any way beyond the management of membership and events or access to society-related events and venues or access to the benefits of membership.

Conflict of Interest:

Any member of the professional standards committee can self-identify a conflict of interest and remove themselves from the committee at any time, to be replaced by a new member as appointed by the president. The president may also choose to remove and replace a committee member at any time due to a perceived conflict of interest. A conflict of interest can include, but is not limited to, a personal or extended professional relationship with the accused, the accuser, or witnesses involved in the complaint or if the committee member is the accused, the accuser, or a witness filing a complaint. Any member of SASS who has been found in violation of the Standards of Professional Behavior policy is not eligible to serve on the committee.

The executive board retains the right to identify a conflict of interest between the president and the accused, the accuser, or witnesses involved in the complaint. In this instance, the executive board may remove the president from this process and appoint a temporary replacement to fulfill the president’s duties on this committee.

This document has taken, with permission, inspiration and language from the policies of several other organizations, in particular the Medieval Academy of America, the Latin American Studies Association, and the American Philosophical Association.