VRA 2024 Code of Conduct

About the VRA

The Visual Resources Association (VRA) is committed to creating and supporting inclusive, diverse, and equitable communities to further research and education in the field of visual resources. We strive to be a welcoming organization where professionals can broaden their knowledge and worldview through interactions with peers in a wide array of experiences and perspectives. To accomplish that goal, we aim to provide collaborative, thoughtful, and respectful environments for our members to promote research, learning, social justice, and the public good.

This Code of Conduct applies to all meetings, events, working groups, and other activities organized through the VRA, including those taking place in-person or online.

How to Be

The VRA is dedicated to holding events that are free from all forms of harassment and are inclusive of all people. To that end, we expect participants in the VRA community to help create thoughtful and respectful environments through their own actions.

For instance, we suggest: 

  • listening as much as you speak, and remembering that colleagues may have expertise you are unaware of; 

  • encouraging and yielding the floor to those whose viewpoints may be under-represented in a group; 

  • using welcoming language, for instance by using an individual’s stated pronouns; if you are unsure, refer to others by their names;

  • using the names people use for themselves and not names they have gone by in the past;

  • accepting critique graciously and offering it constructively; 

  • giving credit where it is due; 

  • seeking concrete ways to make physical spaces and online resources more universally accessible; and

  • staying alert, as Active Bystanders, to the welfare of those around you.

What is Harassment

Likewise, it is important to understand the range of behaviors that may constitute harassment. 

Harassing behavior may relate to:

  • age

  • appearance or body size

  • employment, student, or military status 

  • ethnicity

  • gender identity or expression

  • individual lifestyles 

  • marital status

  • name and pronouns

  • national origin 

  • physical or cognitive ability 

  • political affiliation 

  • sexual orientation 

  • race

  • religion. 

Harassment can include unwelcome or offensive verbal or written comments or nonverbal expressions, used in person or online, in private or in public.

Examples of harassment can include:

  • use of sexual and/or discriminatory images in public spaces (including online) 

  • deliberate intimidation

  • policing individual or group identities 

  • stalking 

  • trolling

  • photographing or recording without consent 

  • sustained disruption of talks or other events 

  • bullying behavior 

  • inappropriate physical contact

  • unwelcome sexual attention.

Sexual, discriminatory, or potentially triggering language and imagery is generally inappropriate for any VRA event. However, this policy is not intended to constrain responsible scholarly or professional discourse and debate. We welcome engagement with difficult topics when done with respect and care.

What to Do

VRA will not tolerate harassment in any form. If you are being harassed, witness someone else being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the VRA Board or someone at the registration table. You may also email the board at conduct@vraweb.org to report incidents that occurred at any VRA conferences, affiliated events, or online forums. However, if you or others are in imminent danger, please first phone emergency services at 911.

All reports and inquiries will be handled with discretion.

When reporting incidents, we encourage you to provide the following:

  • Your contact information (so we can get in touch if we need to follow up)

  • Names of any individuals involved. If there were other witnesses besides you, please try to include them as well.

  • When and where the incident occurred. Please be as specific as possible.

  • Your account of what occurred.

  • Any extra context you believe existed for the incident.

  • If you believe this incident is ongoing.

  • Any other information you believe we should have.

Participants in VRA events who are asked to stop harassing or intimidating behaviors are expected to do so immediately. Those who violate the code of conduct may be warned, sanctioned, or expelled without refund at the discretion of the organizers.

We value your presence and constructive participation in our shared community and thank you for your attention to the comfort, safety, and well-being of fellow attendees.

VRA Conference Code of Conduct adapted from DLF Code of Conduct CC-BY-NC 4.0