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GSA Ethics & Compliance Update

Almost two years have passed since GSA hired an ethics & promptly addressed and managed properly. We also provide GSA
compliance officer to oversee GSA’s ethics programs and projects. Council—the Society’s governing body—with biannual summaries
GSA created this position because ethics is fundamental in the of such cases. This oversight prevents cases from being “swept
work we do as geoscientists, and our Society is committed to play- under the rug,” identifies patterns of conduct that GSA can address
ing a leadership role in this important area. through policy changes and outreach, and enables GSA to identify
ways to continuously improve its ethics program.
Ethics Program Framework In 2019, GSA received a total of eleven reports, including three
GSA has implemented several policies, procedures, and programs complaints about behavior at GSA-sponsored events, one publishing-
to guide its members and event participants in fostering a culture of related complaint, and seven complaints arising under GSA’s Code of
integrity, respect, and scientific excellence. A few examples include: Ethics. As is its practice, GSA investigated each of these cases. While
• Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct (“Code of Ethics”): sets the complaints involving GSA events and publishing did not result in
forth aspirational and mandatory conduct standards for GSA adverse findings, in April 2020, the GSA Council determined that
members’ professional activities. two GSA members violated its Code of Ethics or bylaws and should
• Ethics Disclosures: requires individuals selected for honors, be disciplined. Of the five remaining Code of Ethics cases, two were
awards, and leadership roles to certify their compliance with closed without findings and three are pending.
GSA’s ethical standards. For privacy and confidentiality reasons, GSA does not release
• Events Code of Conduct: establishes a conduct standard for all details about specific ethics cases. However, when GSA Council
individuals who participate in GSA meetings, field trips, and other determines that a member has violated the Code of Ethics, it may
GSA-sponsored events. direct GSA’s Executive Director to carry out whatever disciplinary
• Respectful, Inclusive, Scientific Events (RISE) and Complaint- action it deems appropriate. A non-exhaustive list of examples
Handling Procedures: encourages individuals to report conduct includes restricting a member’s attendance at GSA events, revok-
concerns so that GSA may respond appropriately and fairly. ing honors and awards, and terminating membership.
For additional information about our ethics program, please refer
Ethics Cases to GSA’s ethics homepage. To access this homepage, navigate to the
GSA follows established procedures to ensure that all complaints “About” tab on GSA’s website (https://www.geosociety.org) and
submitted under the Code of Ethics and Events Code of Conduct are then click on “Ethics.”

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