Guides

5 The Washington Center • Code of Conduct Spring 2025 Unauthorized Departure from Internship: Any act or behavior by a participant demonstrating resignation that results in the disruption of the internship as determined by a TWC program official. Acts may include reneging acceptance of a confirmed internship placement during the placement process, leaving the internship, prolonged lack of attendance at the internship, or communicating to the supervisor intent to leave the internship without express prior authorization from a Washington Center program official. Dismissal from Internship: The termination of the participant by their internship site due to poor or unsatisfactory performance, disruptive behavior, or other reasons at the discretion of the internship site supervisor. Unsatisfactory Performance: Performance that does not meet The Washington Center's standards in a course, internship, or career programming that results from a failure to exercise minimally due diligence is prohibited. Bias-Related Incidents: Any act or behavior that is a violation of the Code of Conduct and reasonably believed to be motivated by a consideration (real or perceived) of race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, gender identity, national origin, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by law. Individuals are encouraged to report all bias-related incidents immediately to their Program Manager and to the Housing and Community Life department. Safe Space Recognition: Participants are free to express themselves in a responsible manner. Such expression shall not impinge on the rights of others or disrupt administrative activities or approved programs or events. TWC identifies as a safe space for individuals to come together to communicate regarding their experiences and does not tolerate violence, harassment or hate speech, or expression that thereby nullifies a safe place for all students. Harassment: Harassment is not permitted and will not be tolerated by TWC. Harassment is defined as any targeted unwanted or unwelcome behavior that is severe and persistent enough to negatively impact an individual's ability to learn and/or work in The Washington Center community. • Harassment may include repeated slurs, or taunts in the guise of jokes, or disparaging references to others, use of epithets, bullying, stalking, stereotypes, comments, gestures, threats, graffiti, display, or circulation of written or visual materials, taunts on manner of speech, and negative reference to customs when such conduct is discriminatory, as explained below, or other characteristics identified by The Washington Center. • This applies to acts that take place in-person, through social media, online platforms or any method of communication. • Discrimination: Targeted harassment (defined above) based on an individual's status in a protected class • Intimidation and Threat: Behavior or conduct that intentionally causes another individual to reasonably fear for their immediate safety. • Sexual Misconduct (including sexual harassment and sexual violence) constitute grievous violations of TWC policy. • Sexual harassment is defined as making any unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors to another person or engaging in any activities or conduct of a sexual nature with respect to another person that is offensive, degrading or pervasive, or that creates an intimidating or hostile academic, work, or social environment for that person. • Sexual violence is defined as any physical sexual act against any person, including without limitation any sexual abuse, assault, battery, invasion or penetration (including but not limited to sexual intercourse), against that person's will, or without that person's consent, or when that person is incapable of giving consent due to his or her age, family relation to the other person, medical or physical condition, intellectual or other disability, or use of alcohol or other drugs. "Consent" requires words or actions indicating a freely given agreement to have sexual intercourse or engage in other sexual activities. • The lack of verbal or physical resistance does not by itself constitute consent. The degree of impairment of a person's ability to give or withhold consent (including but not limited to incapacity or helplessness caused by alcohol or other drugs) may be introduced as pertinent information at any disciplinary hearing.

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