New Rules of Conduct Launch in January

This September, APA's Welcoming Environment Task Force submitted proposed Rules of Conduct to the Board of Directors that outline a new anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policy, and a process for acting on alleged violations of the policy. The rules will apply to all participants (members and non-members) at official association functions, and to the Board of Directors and AICP Commissioners when acting in their capacity as leaders, regardless of their location.

When reviewing the proposed rules, the board considered legal advice and feedback from AICP and component council executive committees. The final rules will be approved by the board in December and will be published in January 2025.

The task force also recommended, and the board approved:

• Appointment of a new Welcoming Environment Committee, which will be a standing committee responsible for reviewing complaints made under the new rules.
• Updates to existing policies and procedures related to the National Planning Conference and onboarding of new leaders.
• An annual sexual harassment and discrimination training requirement for APA leaders.
• A series of online resources to appear on a permanent APA webpage, including educational materials, workflow diagrams to help members navigate new and existing processes, and a list of curated websites providing support to victims of sexual harassment and discrimination.

The Welcoming Environment project was launched in 2023 under the leadership of task force chair Wendy Moeller, FAICP, and board members Silvia Vargas, FAICP, and Allison Mouch, AICP. Following the publication of the new rules and resources in January 2025, APA will continue to collaborate with AICP, as well as APA chapters, divisions, and student groups, to implement the new policies and processes, and make continual improvements.