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.