The Advanced Psychometric Methods for Cognitive Aging Research Conference (PsyMCA) is an event that brings together a community of professionals from around the world in the area of psychometric and statistical methods for cognitive aging science. PsyMCA is dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, welcoming, professional, harassment-free conference experience for everyone regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, caste, age, religion, and any other status protected by laws in which the conference or program is being held. The PsyMCA Code of Conduct ensures we collectively create this kind of experience. This document expresses the behaviors we expect at PsyMCA, what is unacceptable behavior, how we address unacceptable behavior, and how to ask for help if needed. All participants, including attendees, organizers, speakers, and event staff at PsyMCA are required to abide by the PsyMCA Code of Conduct. Organizers and their designated representatives will enforce this code throughout the event. We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everyone.
Expected Behavior
All event participants are expected to behave in accordance with professional standards, the PsyMCA Code of Conduct, applicable laws, and to the extent not contrary to the above, their respective employer’s policies governing appropriate workplace behavior.
WE ARE CONSIDERATE
PsyMCA is an international event that attracts diverse people from a wide variety of ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds. We acknowledge that cross-cultural communication can often be complicated and encourage everyone to consider the impact of their words and actions on those with different backgrounds and experiences.
WE ARE WELCOMING
One of the greatest strengths of the PsyMCA community is our inclusiveness. Making all participants feel welcome and included at PsyMCA is everyone’s job.
WE ARE RESPECTFUL
All participants should strive to treat each other with dignity and respect, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, caste, age, religion, and any other status protected by laws in which the conference or program is being held.
WE ARE COLLABORATIVE
If and when misunderstandings occur, we encourage people to work things out between themselves where this is practical. Where support is beneficial to achieve this, participants agree to ask for help. People are encouraged to take responsibility for their words and actions and listen to constructively-presented criticism with an open mind, courtesy, and respect. If people do not feel able to work out an issue between themselves, they are encouraged to seek the advice of a third party to help mediate.
To get help mediating you may contact any of the organizing committee (emails are linked)
Paul K Crane MD, MPH, University of Washington
Alden Gross PhD, Johns Hopkins University
Richard N Jones ScD, Brown University
Jennifer Manly PhD, Columbia University
Elizabeth Rose Mayeda PhD, University of California, Los Angeles
Luis D Medina PhD, University of Houston
Dan Mungas PhD, University of California, Davis
Laura Zahodne PhD, University of Michigan
WE LEAD BY EXAMPLE
Anyone who represents the conference, officially, informally, or otherwise, is a leader in our community. At PsyMCA, leadership roles include but are not limited to organizers, speakers, and work group leaders. Leadership is not an award, right or title; it is a privilege, a responsibility, and a mandate. As leaders, they must represent the best version of the PsyMCA community in what they say and do.
Unacceptable Behavior
We do not tolerate harassment and keep our conference a harassment-free zone for our attendees. Harassment will not be tolerated in any form, including but not limited to harassment based on gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, caste, age, religion, or any other status protected by laws in which the conference or program is being held. Any report of harassment will be addressed immediately. Harassment includes, but is not limited to:
• Verbal comments or imagery that reinforce social structures of domination related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, caste, age, religion, and any other status protected by laws in which the conference or program is being held.
• Unwelcome comments regarding a person’s lifestyle choices and practices, including those related to food, health, parenting, drugs, and employment.
• Abusive, offensive, or degrading language or imagery
• Language or imagery that encourages, glorifies, incites, or calls for violence, emotional, or physical harm against an individual or a group of people
• Intimidation, stalking, or following
• Harassing photography or recording
• Sexual imagery. At a minimum, no images containing nudity or expressions of sexual relationships that might be deemed inappropriate for a business environment should be used. In addition, participants should consider local societal customs of the hosting country when deciding what is deemed appropriate for a business environment.
• Sustained disruption of talks or other events
• Unwelcome sexual attention or advances or physical contact
• Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior
No weapons of any kind or illegal drugs are permitted at PsyMCA venues.
Speakers should not use sexual language, images, or anything that would constitute harassment as defined above in their presentations.
Consequences of Unacceptable Behavior
Unacceptable behavior from any PsyMCA participant will not be tolerated. If a participant engages in unacceptable behavior, PsyMCA organizers and designated representatives may take any of the following actions they deem appropriate, up to and including a temporary ban or permanent expulsion from the event without warning and without refund. These actions may include, but are not limited to:
• A warning to cease their behavior and that any further reports will result in further actions
• Removal from PsyMCA, with no refund
• Not being allowed to attend future PsyMCA, for a period of time or indefinitely
• Revocation of leadership roles related to PsyMCA events, programs, committees, and platforms.
• Reporting behavior to the applicable authorities.
What To Do If You Witness Or Are Subject To Unacceptable Behavior
If you feel threatened or violated as a result of intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory or demeaning conduct, please immediately notify a member of the organizing committee in person or by email (links are below). Likewise, please immediately notify us if you notice that someone else is being subjected to such behavior.
Paul K Crane MD, MPH, University of Washington
Laura Gibbons PhD, University of Washington
Alden Gross PhD, Johns Hopkins University
Richard N. Jones ScD, Brown University
Jennifer Manly PhD, Columbia University
Elizabeth Rose Mayeda PhD, University of California, Los Angeles
Luis D Medina PhD, University of Houston
Dan Mungas PhD, University of California, Davis
Laura Zahodne PhD, University of Michigan
You can also file a complaint with HHS OCR (see OCR’s webpage, Filing a Civil Rights Complaint) without contacting conference organizers if you prefer. You can notify NIH about concerns of harassment, including sexual harassment, discrimination, and other forms of inappropriate conduct at NIH-supported conferences (see NIH’s Find Help webpage).
We’re all in this together
We have an amazing community and this document is designed to continue and strengthen our ability to safeguard and foster our attendees’ wellness and encourage the community’s growth in a safe, productive and welcoming place by providing clarity and expectations around our attendees’ behavior and responsibilities. Parts of this Code of Conduct are derived from best practices used in other Conference Codes of Conduct and is in adherence with the February 11, 2022 NIH Notice NOT-OD-22-074, https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-22-074.html.