Standards & Ethics

• THE STANDARDS AND ETHICS COMMITTEE (heretofor referred to as “the Committee”
• The Standards and Ethics Committee:
  Membership on the Committee is attained by appointment. Said appointment is complete only after:
  1. Recommendation by the Chairperson of the Committee,
  2. Approval by all members of the Committee,
  3. Approval of IASI Board of Directors.

  Each member, after appointment, serves at the pleasure of the IASI Board of Directors. There is no term limit on length of membership service to the Committee and experienced members will be encouraged to remain in service. Removal from the Committee may take place in one or more of the following ways:

  1. Voluntary resignation,
  2. Committee request for resignation,
  3. Directive for removal by the IASI Board of Directors.

  The Committee Chairperson is expected to attend at least two-thirds of the IASI Board of Directors meetings and present a verbal and written report. Exceptions must be approved by the President of the Board.

• The purpose of the Committee is to:

1. Serve the IASI membership,
2. protect the IASI’s reputation,
3. Support the membership and the public in standards and ethics matters related to the structural integration practice of IASI members,
4. Foster successful professional relationships in the practice of Structural Integration,
5. Foster relationships of integrity among all IASI members.

• The Committee will perform the following functions:

1. Facilitate the Standard and Ethics Procedures,
2. Advise members on Standards and Ethics issues,
3. Help members to resolve disagreements,
4. Encourage and facilitate mediation and negotiation of all disputes,
5. Investigate and conduct interviews and hearings regarding alleged ethics violations or ethics complaints,
6. Make recommendations to the Board of Directors for final disposition of each case unable to be mediated by the Committee and/or requiring punitive action,
7. Determine financial costs incurred during investigations and hearings and recommend a dollar amount as to a fine to be levied as part of the final disposition by The Board of Directors,
8. Create and administer all rules governing the internal operations of the Committee,
9. Serve the wishes of the Board of Directors in all Standards and Ethics matters.

• PROCEEDINGS
• Confidentiality
  All necessary communication regarding the complainant, i.e. regarding the declared principals and/or the Committee and/or the Board of Directors, will be dealt with in a manner afforded privileged communication. All records and information which are the concern of the Committee will be kept confidential. It should be noted here that such information, although held confidential by the IASI, does not have a protected status by law and may be vulnerable to disclosure through legal process or court order. The IASI may have to make disclosures regarding the proceedings of the Committee as necessary to prosecution or in litigation defense, regarding legal action between a member and the IASI.
• The Complaint
  Any person may submit a complaint alleging improper action of an IASI member. Said complaint will be in writing and signed by the complainant and submitted to National Office of the IASI or directly to the Executive Director of the IASI. Verbal complaints or anonymous written complaints will not be accepted or acted upon by the Committee.

Once a signed, written complaint has been received, the Executive Director, or their official representative, will respond to the complainant by phone within five business days. The Executive Director or representative, will, in this verbal communication, inform the complainant:

1. Of the details of the ethics procedures,
2. That they have the respect and support of the IASI,
3. Of the possible consequences,
4. Of issues of confidentiality,
5. That within twenty business days, they will be contacted by phone by a member of the Committee, who will begin to move the complaint to resolution.

The Executive Director or their representative will then summarize the conversation in writing and forward same to complainant, along with a copy of the IASI Code of Ethics and this section of the IASI by-laws, via Certified Mail.

Should it be impossible to make phone contact with the complainant within five business days, a letter will be sent, via Certified Mail, by the Executive Director, informing the complainant of the issues usually discussed by phone contact and requesting that the complainant contact the Executive Director by phone if they wish to proceed with the complaint. If this contact is impossible, then the complaint cannot proceed.

The original written and signed complaint will remain filed at the IASI National Headquarters along with any notes compiled. A copy of all documents compiled by the Executive Director, will be forwarded to the Committee Chairperson.

• The Committee Proceedings
  The Committee investigation will ensue with the assigned Committee investigator contacting the complainant and the respondent, first by phone and then by summary letter sent by Certified Mail. After a complete investigation, including contacting witnesses, the Committee will determine if a hearing, at a sight most convenient to all parties involved, will take place. After the investigation has concluded, the committee, within a reasonable time, will do one of the following:

1. Dismiss the complaint because it does not allege a violation of the Code of Ethics, lacks merit or for other good cause as determined by the Committee.
2. Try to resolve the situation, if appropriate, through mediation, negotiation and/or advice.
3. Dismiss the complaint after reaching resolution, to the satisfaction of all parties involved, if appropriate, through mediation, negotiation or advice.
4. Dismiss the complaint, after the investigation, if the Committee determines that the complaint has no merit.
5. After complete investigation, make recommendation to the IASI Board of Directors for punitive action and disposition. If a formal Board of Directors hearing is to take place at a Board of Directors meeting, both the complainant and respondent are both to be invited to make a presentation at said hearing.

At the conclusion of one of the above, the Committee Chairperson will notify the complainant and respondent via Certified Mail, to inform them of the manner of case conclusion and /or disposition by the Board of Directors. The Board’s decisions concerning dispositioning complaints is final.

• Records
  All records will be archived. All notes from entire proceedings, including phone call logs, notes, all letters (original and copies) and recordings from any investigation proceedings will be kept secured and archived at the IASI National Office.

 P.O. Box 8664 / MISSOULA, MT 59807 / USA