Confidentiality Acknowledgment

Members of the Council of the Midwest Political Science Association (“MPSA”), owe a fiduciary duty of care to the MPSA. This includes a duty of confidentiality. Council members sign off on a conflict of interest policy that acknowledges information and documentation received from MPSA and others in connection a Council member’s service on the Council will be treated with strict confidentiality. Neither the contents nor the existence of this information or documentation will be shared with anyone other than the officers, directors, employees, and attorneys of the MPSA. Any questions regarding confidentiality obligations will be directed to the MPSA’s Executive Director or President.

Conflicts of Interest Acknowledgement

Members of the MPSA Council, owe a fiduciary duty of loyalty to the MPSA. This duty requires them to avoid conflicts of interest and to act at all times in the best interests of the MPSA. The purpose of the conflicts of interest policy (set forth below) is to help inform Council members about what constitutes a conflict of interest, assist Council members in identifying and disclosing actual and potential conflicts, and help ensure the avoidance of conflicts of interest where necessary. This policy may be applied to individual Council members as described below:

    • Council members have a fiduciary duty to conduct themselves without conflict to the interests of the MPSA. In their capacity as Council members, they must subordinate personal, individual business, third-party, and other interests to the welfare and best interests of the MPSA.
    •  A conflict of interest is a transaction or relationship which presents or may present a conflict between a Council member’s obligations to the MPSA and the Council member’s personal, business or other interests.
    •  Not all conflicts of interest are necessarily prohibited or harmful to the MPSA. However, full disclosure of all actual and potential conflicts, and a determination by the MPSA Executive Committee (composed of the President, immediate past President, and President Elect) – with the interested Council member(s) recused from participating in debates and voting on the matter – are required.
    • All actual and potential conflicts of interests shall be disclosed by Council members to the MPSA Executive Committee through the annual disclosure form and/or whenever a conflict arises. The disinterested members of the MPSA Executive Committee shall make a determination as to whether a conflict exists and what subsequent action is appropriate (if any). The MPSA Executive Committee shall inform the Council of such determination and action. The Council shall retain the right to modify or reverse such determination and action and shall retain the ultimate enforcement authority with respect to the interpretation and application of this policy.
    • On an annual basis, all Council members shall be provided with a copy of this policy and required to complete and sign the acknowledgment and disclosure form. All completed forms shall be provided to and reviewed by the MPSA Executive Committee, as well as all other conflict information, if any, provided by Council members.

Prohibition Against Harassment and Discrimination

The MPSA strives to maintain an environment which provides equal opportunity to all persons, and that is free from illegal discrimination and harassment. Complaints alleging illegal discrimination and harassment on the part of Council members toward another member of the association will be investigated promptly by the Committee on Professional Ethics (COPE). Any MPSA Council member or officer who, after an investigation, is found to have engaged in illegal discriminatory or harassing conduct towards another member of the association is subject to correctional measures as determined by COPE. Investigations will be handled as confidentially as possible, in order to conduct a thorough investigation.

Active Participation

Council members are expected to exercise the duties and responsibilities of their positions with integrity, collegiality, and care. This includes:

  • Making attendance at all meetings of the Council a high priority.
  • Being prepared to discuss the issues and business on the agenda, having read all background material relevant to the topics at hand.
  • Cooperating with and respecting the opinions of fellow Council members, and leaving personal prejudices out of all Council discussions, as well as supporting actions of the Council even when the Council member personally did not support the action taken.
  • Representing the MPSA in a positive and supportive manner at all times and in all places.
  • Showing respect and courteous conduct in all Council and committee meetings.