Committee to Aid REporting on discrimination and haraSsment (CARES) policy violations

The SIGHPC Executive Committee encourages a welcoming, harassment-free research community at all professional meetings sponsored by SIGHPC. CARES seeks to discourage bad behavior and offer a compassionate ear for community members to discuss their experiences confidentially.

SIGHPC CARES serves as a resource for those who experience discrimination and/or harassment in violation of ACM’s policies governing SIG activities:  policy against discrimination and harassment, policy on plagiarism, misrepresentation, and falsification; policy on coercion and abuse in the ACM publications process; and policy on roles and responsibilities in ACM publishing. CARES supports these individuals by allowing them to work with established members of the SIGHPC community, who are approachable and willing to listen and help navigate the SIGHPC and ACM reporting and accountability process. By its existence, CARES seeks to raise awareness of and deter discriminatory, harassing, or other unethical behavior and incidents related to SIG activities and publications. It seeks to support those who have had such experiences directly, offering them an open and confidential conversation, with dual intent of: (a) creating better awareness of discriminatory dynamics on the part of conference organizers; and (b) increasing accountability of conference organizers, event staff, and conference attendees. Our goal is to empower all SIGHPC community members to speak up if we observe such behavior. Note that in certain cases of imminent danger, including threats of violence, suicide, harm to children, etc., CARES committee members are required to report to appropriate authorities.

Why CARES?:

All SIG events and communications abide by ACM’s Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment. If a violation of this policy occurs, ACM urges reporting the incident to the event chair or the ACM President, CEO, or COO. We recognize that reporting to a conference chair or an upper-level ACM administrator can be intimidating, especially in the face of an already unpleasant experience.

The role of CARES is to serve as a resource for people who experience discrimination and harassment at our events. The CARES committee will be comprised of well-known and respected people in the SIGHPC community who are approachable and willing to help. They are intended to act as a sounding board, and provide advice on the appropriate next steps to have the matter further investigated by ACM. For any matter to be reported, the person experiencing the incident must report the complaint to ACM, where it will be handled according to ACM’s policy. The CARES committee cannot serve as an intermediary in that official process and cannot be involved in any aspect of the handling of the complaint by ACM. The role of the CARES committee is purely advisory.

By providing a standing CARES committee, in addition to reporting to ACM, SIGHPC aims to make our events and meetings a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all. The presence of such a committee should serve as a deterrent for discriminatory or harassing behavior. It should also encourage us all to be aware and speak up if we observe behavior that violates these policies.

How do I report unacceptable behavior?

ACM urges individuals to report these incidents promptly, to the event chair or the ACM President, CEO, or COO. See the ACM site for instructions for reporting any action that violates the ACM Policy, including the form to be completed.

“Prompt reporting is critical so that ACM can take action to stop the conduct before it is repeated. All reports will be followed up promptly, with further investigation conducted where needed to confirm facts or resolve disputed facts. In conducting its investigations, ACM will strive to keep the identity of the individual making the report as confidential as possible beyond the investigation.”

How do I reach a CARES member?

If you have experienced discrimination or harassment, or have witnessed it, and are unsure of next steps, please email cares@sighpc.org. Members of the CARES committee are available to correspond via email, or to set up a call to discuss your experience, whether it falls under harassment, discrimination, or other concerns related to building and sustaining an inclusive research community.

Additional CARES Resources

Please see CARES Resources for additional information. 

CARES By-laws

Please see CARES By-laws for additional information.