--- title: "Academy Takes Steps to Implement Conduct Standards for Members" id: "41266" type: "post" slug: "academy-takes-steps-to-implement-conduct-standards-for-members" published_at: "2018-01-30T19:01:46+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T16:07:05+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/01/30/academy-takes-steps-to-implement-conduct-standards-for-members/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/01/30/academy-takes-steps-to-implement-conduct-standards-for-members.md" excerpt: "The organization that puts on the Oscars has detailed concrete steps to handling widespread issues of sexual misconduct within the industry—issues that have led the academy to ban Harvey Weinstein and could lead to further actions in the coming months." taxonomy_category: - "Ethics" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Ethics" - "Membership" - "online conduct" - "Standards" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Academy Takes Steps to Implement Conduct Standards for Members The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), responding to a scandal-heavy awards season that has shaken the film industry to its very core, is getting tough on bad behavior. The organization behind the Oscars, which [handed disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein a lifetime ban (opens in a new tab)](http://www.newsweek.com/weinstein-booted-out-film-academy-after-sexual-assault-claims-685277) in October and has seen numerous other Oscar winners, nominees, and Academy members accused of sexual harassment or assault in the past few months, announced over the weekend detailed code of conduct procedures intended to encourage a high ethical standard among its members. The code of conduct, the plans for which were [first announced in December (opens in a new tab)](http://variety.com/2018/film/news/film-academy-moves-forward-with-code-of-conduct-procedures-for-membership-1202679197/) , will create an official review process for allegations against members, including how the Academy will review such actions internally, criteria for substantiating such claims, and how AMPAS will decide whether an action should be taken against the member. “The Academy’s goal is not to be an investigative body, but rather ensure that when a grievance is made, it will go through a fair and methodical process,” AMPAS CEO Dawn Hudson wrote in a letter to membership [reprinted by Variety (opens in a new tab)](http://variety.com/2018/film/news/film-academy-moves-forward-with-code-of-conduct-procedures-for-membership-1202679197/) . “This process will determine whether a claim will be brought to the Board for possible action regarding membership status.” Hudson added, “This is a difficult time and a challenging process that will not be solved overnight.” The code of conduct, [which can be read here (opens in a new tab)](https://pmcvariety.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/standards-of-conduct-process.pdf) [PDF], will help the Academy, which had previously only given a lifetime ban [to one other person (opens in a new tab)](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/banned-oscars-story-godfather-actor-booted-academy-harvey-weinstein/) , move forward as it attempts to decide how it should handle other prominent members who have faced scrutiny for their behavior in recent months, such as actor Kevin Spacey and director Roman Polanski. Additionally, it sets the stage for how AMPAS should handle issues that arise in the future. The outcry against Weinstein, who cofounded the Miramax and Weinstein Company film studios and [stands accused of a widespread abuse of power within the industry (opens in a new tab)](http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-41594672) over the span of multiple decades, helped set off a social movement over the past few months. Earlier this month, this movement led to [the creation of the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund (opens in a new tab)](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/01/movies/times-up-hollywood-women-sexual-harassment.html) , which aims to fight systemic sexual harassment inside and outside of Hollywood. (baona/iStock Unreleased/Getty Images Plus) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#Ethics](https://associationsnow.com/tag/ethics/) [#Membership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/membership/) [#online conduct](https://associationsnow.com/tag/online-conduct/) [#Standards](https://associationsnow.com/tag/standards/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [TemplateMembers onlyEthics Toolkit for AssociationsMarch 31, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/03/31/ethics-toolkit-for-associations/) - [ArticleWhen Should an Association Accept an Ethics Complaint?February 19, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/02/19/when-should-an-association-accept-an-ethics-complaint/) - [ArticleSo, You Want To Be a Director of Ethics…July 22, 2024](https://associationsnow.com/2024/07/22/so-you-want-to-be-a-director-of-ethics/) - [Video2026 Summit Awards DinnerOctober 2, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/02/2026-summit-awards-dinner/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2018%2F01%2F30%2Facademy-takes-steps-to-implement-conduct-standards-for-members%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !