Code of Conduct

Tabs

Latest version as decided by the General Meeting of Members at March 28, 2025. 

CODE OF CONDUCT

General rules of communication and conduct

  • In the community, it is customary to use first names, but this is not obligatory.
  • Posts should be formulated in a readable and understandable way. Remember that others may not have the same level of knowledge about ILIAS or IT topics as you do.
  • Quote correctly and avoid misunderstandings through precise communication.
  • Adopt the perspective of others and reflect on how your statements might affect others.

Onboarding and support for new members

  • New members are welcomed actively and supported by structured onboarding processes.
  • Offers include:
    • Mentoring and personal contact persons.
    • A welcome pack with important information about the community.
    • Self-service resources for getting started (e.g. tutorials, forums, Discord).
    • Onboarding consultation hours or mentoring programmes.
    • Clear paths to participation opportunities, e.g. language files or SIGs.

Feedback culture and respectful interaction

  • Feedback is seen as a valuable gift, the use of which is left to the person receiving the feedback.
  • Give feedback promptly to maximise its impact.
  • Describe observations objectively and clearly, without judgement.
  • Use ‘I’ phrases and describe your personal perception rather than making general assumptions.
  • Show appreciation and recognise different opinions.
  • Be constructive by making concrete suggestions for improvement and addressing changeable behaviour.

Family friendliness and participation

  • Where possible, events and dates are organised to be family-friendly, e.g. in the mornings or outside of school holidays.
  • Digital participation should be made possible at events where neither content-related aspects (e.g. high confidentiality) nor the nature of the event (e.g. workshops) speak against it.

Common goals and openness to new ideas

  • The community pursues a common goal. (Reference to the [xln url=‘https://docu.ilias.de/go/copa/9682’]Manifesto[/xln])
  • We encourage new ideas and strive for open, respectful communication.
  • Every member takes responsibility and actively supports others.
  • Criticism and challenges are addressed openly and in a solution-orientated manner.

Dealing with conflicts and mediation

  • In the event of disagreements or perceived breaches of this Code of Conduct, the parties involved should first seek dialogue with each other if this appears reasonable.
  • If no agreement can be reached or if one of the parties feels uncomfortable, an arbitration committee can be convened.
  • This committee consists of one person appointed by each of the parties and another person appointed by the Executive Board.
  • This committee listens to the concerns confidentially and provides support in clarifying them.
  • The aim is to resolve conflicts in a fair, solution-orientated and transparent manner.

Fairness and diversity

  • We create an environment in which everyone can fulfil their potential regardless of gender, origin, age, disability or sexual orientation.
  • Diversity is actively promoted, particularly when appointing members to committees.