The Controlled Release Society (CRS) is dedicated to maintaining a professional, educational, and inclusive environment that ensures safety, support, and respect for all participants—whether attending in person or virtually. This commitment extends to all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, citizenship status, age, religion, politics, disability status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical appearance, or any other personal characteristic.

We expect all participants to uphold these principles by respecting the rights, privacy, safety, and dignity of others. Professionalism, consideration, and respect should be evident in both speech and actions. Harassing behavior or speech of any kind is strictly prohibited.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of the CRS, essential to achieving excellence in delivery science research and communication. We celebrate the diverse backgrounds, ideas, and cultural experiences of our members. This diversity, along with the collective expertise of our community, fosters scientific discovery and innovation, benefiting both our members and society.

Unacceptable Behavior is defined as:

✓ Harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form.
✓ Verbal abuse of any attendee, speaker, volunteer, sponsor, exhibitor, service provider, CRS staff member, or other meeting guests.
✓ Comments, visual images, or behaviors that are sexually suggestive, derogatory, or hostile toward an individual or group, or that create a hostile, intimidating, or offensive environment. 
 ✓ Any actions that interfere with another individual’s ability to participate fully in a CRS event. 

Examples of verbal abuse include but are not limited to, verbal comments related to an individual’s characteristics (noted above). 

In addition, participants are asked to adhere to the following rules:

✓ Recording, transmission, or reproduction of any educational content, including sessions, presentations, demos, videos, or any other content, is prohibited. Copying or taking screenshots of Q&A or chat activities during CRS events is also not allowed.
✓ Disruption of presentations during sessions, at any event, whether virtually or in-person will not be tolerated. All participants must comply with the instructions of the session moderator and the CRS event staff at all times.
✓ The CRS reserves the right to remove any messages or communications that contain promotional materials, special offers, product announcements or any form of solicitation.

The CRS takes all reports of unacceptable behavior seriously and reserves the right to take immediate action, which may include removal from an event without warning or refund. The CRS also reserves the right to prohibit attendance at any future meeting, whether virtually or in-person. Violation of this policy, as determined by the CRS in its sole discretion, is grounds for any action that the CRS deems appropriate.

Any person who is denied access to or whose access is terminated during a CRS event based on this policy may request that CRS review the matter after the event has concluded. However, the action of the CRS will be effective immediately and will continue until and unless the CRS issues a contrary decision. Unless a contrary decision is issued, any person who is denied access to or removed from a CRS event based on this policy will not be eligible for a refund of any registration fees paid for access to or participation in any CRS event.

Any participant who feels unsafe or experiences unwelcome conduct, who observes or experiences unacceptable behavior, or who believes there has been a violation of this policy, is encouraged to send an email to meetings@controlledreleasesociety.org or Jessica Hayes, CMP, HMCC, CRS Meetings Manager at jhayes@controlledreleasesociety.org so that the CRS can take the appropriate immediate action.