Continuing Education for Public Officials
Professional Conduct Policy 

The effectiveness of the Continuing Education for Public Officials (CEPO) programs depends on mutually respectful interactions among participants and staff. This requires a good deal of care to ensure that our conduct with each other is professional and respectful, particularly since we work with diverse cultural, gender based and generational norms.

All members of the CEPO community are entitled to respect. All individuals are expected, in their dealings with every other individual, whether on or off campus, to demonstrate respect for each person’s work, dignity, and capacity to contribute.

Because inappropriate conduct can arise from a lack of understanding of community norms, we offer general guidelines to all participants and staff to clarify CEPO’s standards and everyone’s obligation to meet them.

Professional Conduct:

• The staff and participants you work with at CEPO are professionals and your relationships with them while friendly and supportive, should be strictly professional.
  
• CEPO staff and participants often socialize with and support each other in the context of program activities. This kind of friendly interaction should not be interpreted as an invitation or signal of availability for a more personal relationship.
  
• All members of the CEPO community are entitled to work in an environment that is free from threat, harassment, abuse, or discrimination. Disrespectful behavior, sexual harassment, or racial/ethnic slurs will not be tolerated. This applies to all community activities, whether on or off campus during the CEPO week.
  
• If you are a recipient of sexual advances or behaviors that compromise your capacity to make use of the opportunities for learning within this community, we ask you to please notify the Program Director immediately. CEPO takes very seriously its obligation to provide a safe and professional environment for everyone.

It is common practice that in the CEPO setting, where people are learning together and from each other, participants and staff address each other by their first or given names; this is not intended to be disrespectful or discourteous.

It is also common practice that in the CEPO setting, where people are learning together and supporting each other in learning, some participants and staff hug each other; this is not intended to be disrespectful or discourteous. If you are personally uncomfortable with this practice, please feel free to say that you prefer verbal greetings and support rather than physical ones. Your feedback will be respected and appreciated.

If each of us makes an honest effort to ensure that we treat others with professional respect and dignity, all of us will enjoy the maximum possible benefit from working and learning together.