Code of Conduct Policy

The American College of Osteopathic Surgeons (ACOS) is committed to providing its employees, directors and officers, volunteers, members, independent contractors, event participants and event faculty (collectively, “covered persons”) with settings that are free from harassment in any form.

Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to: 1) harassment based on race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected status, as provided by local, state, or federal law; 2) sexual harassment including unwelcome attention, stalking and physical contact; 3) abusive conduct that has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with another person’s ability to enjoy or participate in the Conference, including social events related to the Conference; and 4) undue interruption of any Conference event, speaker or session.

Harassment takes many forms and may be, but is not limited to: words, signs, jokes, pranks, intimidation, physical contact, unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, stalking, other verbal or physical contact of a sexual, aggressive, or hostile nature, vulgar or abusive language, or violence as it relates to race, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation or any other classification protected by local, state or federal laws.

ACOS will not tolerate harassment of or by these individuals. Any conduct by a covered person towards another covered person that is intimidating, hostile, offensive and/or specifically prohibited by law is prohibited. Any covered person engaging in such conduct will be subject to disciplinary action, which may include termination of ACOS employment or as a contractor, member referral to the ACOS Ethics Committee, immediate expulsion from ACOS-sponsored events, removal as a director, officer, volunteer or faculty member, or other actions as may be deemed appropriate.

The covered person(s) who believe that they have been the subject of any form of harassment should immediately report such conduct to the ACOS CEO, any member of the ACOS Executive Committee, or the chair of the ACOS-sponsored event at which the harassment allegedly occurred. Complaints alleging a violation of this policy by the ACOS CEO shall be made to the ACOS President.

Any covered person submitting a complaint must be acting in good faith and have reasonable grounds for believing the information disclosed indicates a violation of this policy. Any allegations that prove to have been made maliciously or knowingly to be false will be viewed as a serious disciplinary offense.

To instigate an investigation, a written statement of the incident(s) will be requested. ACOS will promptly investigate all reports of harassment and will keep the identity of the covered person(s) making the report and all aspects of the report and investigation confidential to the greatest extent possible. ACOS will take appropriate action(s) to remedy substantiated complaints.

ACOS will not condone any form of retaliation against any covered person who in good faith reports an alleged violation of this policy. A covered person who retaliates against someone who submits a complaint is subject to discipline, up to and including termination of ACOS employment/engagement, loss of position, and/or revocation of ACOS membership.