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MEETING SAFETY & RESPONSIBILITY POLICY
The Sponsoring Chapters Affirm the American College of Cardiology’s Code of Ethics
The Sponsoring Chapters (Delaware, DC, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, hereafter referred to as "Sponsor(ing) Chapters") affirm that adherence to the ACC Code of Ethics is a condition of membership in the ACC and the Sponsoring Chapters due to the relationship between the organizations.
The Sponsoring Chapters are committed to providing a safe, productive, and welcoming environment for all meeting participants and Chapter staff. All participants, including, but not limited to, attendees, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, Chapter staff, service providers, and others are expected to abide by this Meeting Safety & Responsibility Policy. This Policy applies to all Chapter meeting-related events, online and in-person.
Personal Safety and Security
The Sponsoring Chapters work to provide a safe and secure environment at its meetings and events. Attendees should report any questionable or concerning activity to onsite Chapter staff so that they can take immediate action.
If you witness or are the subject of behavior that constitutes an immediate threat to public or personal safety, you should immediately inform the nearest onsite Chapter staff, venue staff or dial emergency services (911).
Unacceptable Behavior
- Harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form. Sponsoring Chapters have zero-tolerance for any form of discrimination or harassment, including but not limited to sexual harassment by participants or our staff at our meetings.
- Physical or verbal abuse of any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, Chapter staff member, service provider, or other meeting guest.
- Boisterous, lewd or offensive behavior or language.
- Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to, verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, national origin, inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces or in presentations, or threatening or stalking any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, Chapter staff member, service provider, or other meeting guest.
- Disruption of presentations at sessions, in the exhibit hall, or at other events organized by the Sponsoring Chapters at the meeting venue, hotels, or other Sponsoring Chapter-contracted facilities.
- Smoking – other than in venue designated areas.
- Possessing any illegal substance.
- Failure to adhere to rules and regulations of the venue.
Reporting Unacceptable Behavior
If you experience harassment or hear of any incidents of unacceptable behavior, the Sponsoring Chapters ask that you inform the senior most staff person on-site or the program activity director.
If you witness or are the subject of intimidating behavior that constitutes an immediate threat to public or personal safety, should immediately inform the nearest onsite Chapter staff, venue staff or dial emergency services (911).
Consequences
Sponsoring Chapters reserve the right to take any action deemed necessary and appropriate, including immediate removal from the meeting without warning or refund, in response to any incident of unacceptable behavior.
Sponsoring Chapters reserve the right to prohibit attendance at any future meeting.
Sponsoring Chapters reserve the right to forward the complaint to the American College of Cardiology for investigation under its ACC Code of Ethics.
Photography/Videography
Attendees are prohibited from taking videos at all events. By entering the event the attendee agrees to have their image and likeliness used by the Sponsoring Chapters.
Attire
At all times attendees must conform to clothing that is acceptable in professional work settings.
Meeting Decorum
- All meeting attendees must wear the official badge of the conference while in the meeting space.
- No person who is not officially registered for the conference may be in the meeting space other than venue staff.
- Minors (children under the age of 18) are prohibited in the meeting space unless approval is sought for attendance prior to the meeting start. If approved, the minormust be a registered attendee and accompanied by a parent/guardian who must also be a registered attendee.