Code of Conduct

CUR Code of Conduct, Community Rules, Etiquette, and Privacy Guidelines

This policy outlines the Code of Conduct for all members, volunteers, and community participants of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) and summarizes the behavior expected of members and volunteers representing CUR in any forum or private correspondence, along with CUR community programming participants. CUR is dedicated to hosting safe and productive experiences for all members of the CUR community.  CUR will not tolerate discrimination, or any form of unlawful harassment, and is committed to enforcing this Code of Conduct (the “Code”) at all CUR events, programming, governance meetings, and in any instance where an individual is presenting on behalf of CUR.  As a professional society, the CUR is committed to providing an atmosphere that encourages the free expression and exchange of ideas as they relate to undergraduate research.  Furthermore, CUR upholds the philosophy of equal opportunity for and treatment of all community participants and staff whether in person or online. For the entire outline of the CUR Code of Conduct, please view here

By joining and using this community, you agree that you have read and will follow these rules and guidelines. You also agree to reserve discussions, shared files, and content that is best suited to the medium. This is a great medium with which to solicit the advice of your peers, benefit from their experience, and participate in an ongoing conversation. Questions should be directed to our member services department via email to cur@cur.org

CUR Online Community 

By using CUR online forums, you agree that you have read and will follow these rules and guidelines. You also agree to limit discussions and shared files to content applicable to CUR’s mission. CUR is strongly committed to the wide expression of all forms and topics of undergraduate research, by all members of the undergraduate research community, and views with great concern any actions or policies that affect that commitment to inclusivity. CUR’s programs serve as “home” for all champions and practitioners of undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative inquiry. CUR is committed to diversity and inclusion for all people, regardless of race, sex, national origin, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. This forum will provide a welcoming, safe, and inclusive environment for all participants.

The Rules

  • Don't engage in personal or ad hominem attacks of others. The discussions and comments are meant to stimulate conversation, not to create contention. Let others have their say, just as you may. 
  • Don't post commercial messages on any discussion list, resource library entry, or other areas where others might see it. Contact people directly with product and service information if you believe it would help them.  Open positions or other opportunities may be posted in the Job and Opportunity Board.  Only enhanced and institutional members will be able to post.  Any CUR member may view the postings.
  • Use caution when discussing products. The information posted on the lists and in the libraries is available for all to see, and comments are subject to defamation and antitrust laws. 
  • All defamatory, abusive, profane, threatening, offensive, or illegal materials are strictly prohibited. Do not post anything that you would not want the world to see or that you would not want anyone to know came from you. 
  • Please note carefully all items listed in the disclaimer and legal rules below, particularly regarding the copyright ownership of information posted. 
  • Remember that other participants have the right to reproduce postings to this site unless you specify otherwise. Any reproduction should include attribution to both the Council on Undergraduate Research and the author of the post.
  • Post your message or documents only to the most appropriate lists or libraries. Do not spam several lists or libraries with the same message.
  • All messages must add to the body of knowledge. CUR reserves the right to reject any message for any reason.

Discussion Group Etiquette

  • Include a signature tag on all messages. Include your name, affiliation, and location.
  • State concisely and clearly the topic of your comments in the subject line. This allows members to respond more appropriately to your posting and makes it easier for members to search the archives by subject. 
  • If you quote the original message in your reply, only include the relevant portions of the original message. Delete any header information, omit irrelevant text, and put your response before the original posting. 
  • Only send a message to the entire list when it contains information that can benefit everyone. 
  • Send messages such as "thanks for the information" or "me, too" to individuals—not to the entire list. Do this by using the "Reply to Sender" link to the left of every message.
  • Do not send administrative messages such as "remove me from the list." Instead, use the web interface to change your settings, subscribe to a list, or remove yourself from a list. If you are changing e-mail addresses, you do not need to remove yourself from the list and rejoin under your new e-mail address. Simply change your settings.
  • When posting lengthy messages, place either in the subject line or at the beginning of the message body the phrase "Long Message." 

The Legal Stuff

This site is provided as a service for the members of The Council on Undergraduate Research. CUR is not responsible for the opinions and information posted on this site by others. We disclaim all warranties with regard to information posted on this site, whether posted by CUR or any third party; this disclaimer includes all implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event shall CUR be liable for any special, indirect, or consequential damages or any damages whatsoever resulting from loss of use, data, or profits, arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of any information posted on this site. CUR does not endorse any material posted on this site.

Do not post any defamatory, abusive, profane, threatening, offensive, or illegal materials. Do not post any information or other material protected by copyright without the permission of the copyright owner. By posting material, the posting party warrants and represents that they own the copyright with respect to such material or has received permission from the copyright owner. In addition, the posting party grants CUR and users of this site the nonexclusive right and license to display, copy, publish, distribute, transmit, print, and use such information or material.

Messages should not be posted if they encourage or facilitate members to arrive at any agreement that either expressly or implicitly leads to price fixing, a boycott of any business, or other conduct intended to illegally restrict free trade. Messages that encourage or facilitate an agreement about the following subjects are inappropriate: prices, discounts, or terms or conditions of sale; salaries; profits, profit margins, or cost data; market shares, sales territories, or markets; allocation of customers or territories; or selection, rejection, or termination of customers or suppliers.

CUR does not actively monitor the site for inappropriate postings and does not on its own undertake editorial control of postings. However, in the event that any alleged inappropriate posting is brought to the attention of CUR, CUR will take appropriate action to remedy the matter at CUR’s discretion.  If you feel that a post is inappropriate, you may mark it as such, and it will be removed from the site until it can be reviewed. 

CUR reserves the right to terminate access to any user who does not abide by these guidelines.

Community Participants

This policy applies to all persons involved in any way in the Council on Undergraduate Research community and summarizes the behavior expected of participants in any CUR forum, public meeting, or private correspondence. In addition, all members are expected to adhere to the CUR Code of Ethics.

  1. Abusive language or actions, including any form of harassment, peer pressure, intimidation, or bullying will not be tolerated. Additionally, we will not tolerate discrimination against another community participant, member, volunteer, or staff.
  2. Acting in a professional manner is expected, including behaviors that are courteous and considerate, and communications that are honest, fact-based, and politically neutral.
  3. Hold themselves to the highest standards of professional behavior, with honesty and integrity, and treat others with equity, fairness, and respect.
  4. Contribute to an environment that is welcoming, inclusive, safe, open, and professional.

Violations

Any CUR member, volunteer, staff, or community participant may file a complaint against another CUR member, volunteer, or community participant. Claims shall be filed within ninety (90) days of the incident. Investigation and decisions on complaints shall not result in any disciplinary actions against the complainant unless the complaint was made in bad faith. Specifically, for the Eboard, Divisions, and Committees, if the Chair or President observes any unacceptable behavior during meetings or conference calls, the member should be asked to leave immediately. NOTE: Any physical threats or physical (or attempted) assaults should be immediately reported to local law enforcement without any requirement for CUR involvement.

Complaint Process

The CUR Executive Officer shall maintain a confidential log of all complaints registered. This will facilitate timely compliance with the procedures noted below.

CUR will promptly and impartially investigate the facts and circumstances of any claim of inappropriate conduct or harassment at CUR activities, on CUR forums, or at CUR events, but only with the approval and cooperation of the individual(s) who experienced harassment.  CUR will make every effort to keep the reporting individual’s complaint confidential and will not share personal information other than to the investigator(s); however, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed (for example, although efforts will be made to reduce the chances, it may be possible to infer something about the person(s) involved based upon the situation under question and information about the complaint and the individual making the complaint will need to be disclosed to the individual who the complaint is made against).

  • Notwithstanding, CUR reserves the right, upon receipt of a complaint, if in CUR’s sole reasonable discretion, the nature of such complaint requires the immediate removal of an individual in order to ensure that any CUR forum may proceed safely and without undue interruption, to remove an individual without undertaking an investigation as described herein.
  • Any individual may submit a formal written complaint by email to the current executive officer. The CUR Executive Officer will refer the complaint to the CUR Executive Committee.
    • The email should include the following information: 
      • Complainant’s full name, and contact information (phone and email).
      • Name of person(s) that this complaint is levied against.
      • Does the complainant wish to remain anonymous during any investigation? CUR willfully strives to maintain confidentiality.
      • Approximate Date and Time of the Event prompting this complaint.
      • Full details explaining the incident prompting this complaint.
      • Did the complainant feel physically threatened or harassed by the person(s) involved in prompting this complaint?
  • The Executive Committee shall review all complaint forms submitted within fourteen (14) calendar days of receipt.
  • CUR’s Executive Officer shall notify the complainant of the Executive Committee’s decision to initiate or not initiate an investigation. If the Executive Committee determines to initiate an investigation of the complaint, CUR’s Executive Officer shall also notify the accused member(s) of the complaint, the allegations in the complaint, and CUR’s intent to investigate the matter. The accused member(s) shall be entitled to submit evidence to the Executive Committee in their defense.
  • A designated investigator may be secured to investigate the complaint through witness interviews/statements, interviews with the accused individual(s), review of documents or materials, and/or involvement of local law enforcement, as appropriate. A specific timeline for the investigation cannot be predicted in advance, as it may depend upon the nature of the allegations and the investigation process. Every effort will be made to act upon the investigation in a prompt and timely manner. Upon completion of the investigation, CUR will take corrective measures against any person who has engaged in conduct in violation of this policy, if CUR determines such measures are necessary. 
  • CUR’s Executive Officer shall communicate the Executive Committee’s recommendation to the complainant and accused member(s).
  • The accused member(s) has/have up to fourteen (14) days in which to file an appeal with CUR’s Executive Officer and such appeal shall be provided to the CUR Executive Committee.  The Executive Committee may hold a hearing as it determines necessary or appropriate.
  • The Executive Committee shall render a decision within fourteen (14) days.
  • CUR’s Executive Officer shall notify both the complainant and accused member(s) of the final decision.
  • Those involved in the investigation, handling, or decision regarding any complaint shall adhere to applicable CUR conflict of interest policy and confidentiality procedures.

Disciplinary Action

If CUR determines that an individual has engaged in prohibited conduct, CUR shall determine the appropriate action to be taken, which may include, but is not limited to a verbal warning to the accused; a written warning from the CUR President; removal of the member from volunteering in any CUR-sponsored activity; or revocation of member’s CUR membership. If the Executive Committee determines that revocation of CUR membership is appropriate, it shall refer such a decision to the CUR Eboard for approval.

Retaliation is Not Tolerated

Retaliation for complaints of inappropriate conduct or harassment is also considered harassment and will not be tolerated.  Retaliatory behavior in connection with CUR activities, on CUR forums, or at CUR events will be investigated in a similar manner to initial complaints.


Privacy Policy

We Respect Your Privacy

Any personal information you provide to usincluding and similar to your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail addresswill not be released, sold, or rented to any entities or individuals outside of our organization except as noted below.

Use of Personal Information Collected Through This Site

Membership Directory
There is a membership directory built into this online platform.  Your contact information has been imported from our membership database, but you must manage the privacy of this information in both your membership profile as well as in this online platform.  Changes made to your privacy settings will not transfer from your membership profile to this platform or vice-versa.

Service Providers
We may share your personal information with companies (including our affiliates) that perform services on our behalffor example, companies that help process credit card payments. Our service providers are required by contract to protect the confidentiality of the personal information we share with them and to use it only to provide specific services on our behalf. 

Business Transfers
Your personal information may be transferred to another entity (either an affiliated entity or an unrelated third party) in connection with a merger, reorganization, dissolution, or similar corporate event. If such a transfer were ever to occur, the acquiring entity’s use of your personal information will still be subject to this Privacy Policy. 

Government and Legal Disclosures 
We may disclose the personal information we collect through this site, when we, in good faith, believe disclosure is appropriate to comply with the law (or a court order or subpoena); to prevent or investigate a possible crime such as fraud or identity theft; to enforce our Terms and Conditions or other agreements that govern your use of this site; or to protect the rights, property, or safety of our company, our users, or others.

Internal Leadership
If you have opted-in to the membership directory, we may disclose your contact information with our leadership, including board members, division chairs, councilors, and committee and task force members. 

External Sites

We are not responsible for the content of external Internet sites. You are advised to read the privacy policy of external sites before disclosing any personal information.

Cookies

A "cookie" is a small data text file that is placed in your browser and allows us to recognize you each time you visit this site (personalization, etc.) Cookies themselves do not contain any personal information, and we do not use cookies to collect personal information. Cookies may also be used by third-party content providers such as newsfeeds.

Remember the Risks Whenever You Use the Internet

While we do our best to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee the security of any information that you transmit to us, and you are solely responsible for maintaining the secrecy of any passwords or other account information. In addition, other Internet sites or services that may be accessible through our site have separate data and privacy practices independent of us, and therefore we disclaim any responsibility or liability for their policies or actions. Please contact those vendors and others directly if you have any questions about their privacy policies. For any other information, please contact us using the Contact Us page