APSA Anti-Harassment Policy for the Annual Meeting

The APSA Annual Meeting and related regional political science meetings are convened for the purposes of professional development and scholarly and educational interchange in the spirit of free inquiry and free expression. Harassment of colleagues, students, or other conference participants undermines the principle of equity at the heart of these professional fora and is inconsistent with the principles of free inquiry and free expression. Consequently, harassment is considered by APSA to be a serious form of professional misconduct


The following Anti-Harassment Policy outlines expectations for all those who attend or participate in APSA meetings. It reminds APSA meeting participants that all professional academic ethics and norms apply as standards of behavior and interaction at these meetings. The Anti-Harassment Policy can also be found on the APSA Governance Documents page.

Purpose Expected Behavior Unacceptable Behavior Procedures for Violations

APSA is committed to providing a safe and welcoming conference environment for all participants, regardless of actual or perceived gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability, socioeconomic status, age, or religion. “Participant” in this policy refers to anyone present at APSA meetings, including staff, contractors, vendors, exhibitors, venue staff, APSA members, and all other attendees.


All participants at APSA meetings are expected to abide by this Anti-Harassment Policy in all meeting venues including ancillary events and official and unofficial social gatherings.

Abide by the norms of professional respect that are necessary to promote the conditions for free academic interchange.

If you witness potential harm to a conference participant, be proactive in helping to mitigate or avoid that harm.

Alert conference or security personnel if you see a situation in which someone might be in imminent physical danger.


  • persistent and unwelcome solicitation of emotional or physical intimacy
  • persistent and unwelcome solicitation of emotional or physical intimacy accompanied by real or implied threat of professional harm
  • intimidating, harassing, abusive, derogatory or demeaning speech or actions by any participant in an APSA meeting and/or at any related event.
  • prejudicial actions or comments related to actual or perceived gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability, socioeconomic status, age, or religion that coerce others, foment broad hostility, or otherwise undermine professional equity or the principles of free academic exchange.
  • deliberate intimidation, stalking or following;
  • harassing photography or recording;
  • sustained disruption of talks or other events;
  • physical assault (including unwelcome touch or groping)
  • real or implied threat of physical harm


APSA’s procedures for addressing violations of the anti-harassment policy currently apply to all attendees at the APSA Annual Meeting & Exhibition and the APSA International Workshops, for the duration of the annual meeting and the particular workshop. Any attendee of the APSA Annual Meeting & Exhibition or the APSA International Workshops may pursue a complaint of sexual harassment regarding an incident that has occurred within the last two years.