PCPG CODE OF ETHICS
PREAMBLE
The Pennsylvania Council of Professional Geologists (PCPG), herein after referred to as PCPG, is a non-profit corporation founded in 1989 by geologists seeking licensure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Today, having achieved licensure, PCPG provides numerous services to its members to advance the practice of geology and allied sciences and the success of our members through advocacy, education, and networking. Some of PCPG’s major activities include providing continuing education opportunities; information regarding state and national news relevant to earth resource professionals; networking opportunities for earth resource professionals, State officials, and business associates; advocacy in State Legislature; and Representation on State Advisory Boards and Commissions.
INTENT
It is the desire of the PCPG to establish a Code of Ethics, herein after referred to as the PCPG Code of Ethics, for all PCPG members and individuals formally associated with PCPG, to facilitate the professional and ethical operation of the PCPG by providing guidance to members to foster and promote ethical behavior in accordance with our organizational mission and values. Although this PCPG Code of Ethics provides ethical guidance, it cannot be expected to represent all possible ethical situations, and as such may be periodically updated to reflect updates to the organizational mission, organizational values and/or prevailing professional and societal behavioral norms. The PCPG Code of Ethics is not intended to usurp or replace in any form or part of the Code of Ethics established in Section 4(g) of PA Act 151 of 1992 for Pennsylvania Licensed Professional Geologists, Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors.
The PCPG Code of Ethics intends to establish principles and values that individuals will use to make good decisions while conducting business within and for the organization, in their workplaces and community at large. Membership with PCPG is a privilege and assumes members will be responsible to one another to uphold the values of the organization.
Roles and definitions
PCPG Members –include both individuals and companies representing the diverse professions which are developing, managing, researching and protecting Pennsylvania's earth resources. For Corporate members, those individuals listed on the current PCPG membership are considered PCPG Members; not all employees of a given firm. PCPG Members also includes members of all levels: Associate, Government, Individual/Academic, Adjunct, Retired, Life, and Student; and also includes PCPG Officers, Board of Directors Members, Committee Chairs, and Committee Members. The definition of PCPG Member is not intended to include Former PCPG Members.
PCPG Officers, Board of Director Members, Committee Chairs, Committee Members – include those PCPG Members elected to serve as Officers, Board of Director Members, Committee Chairs, Committee Members serving either by election or appointment by the members, Officers, or Board of Directors.
Individuals Formally Associated with PCPG –include PCPG employees and/or consultants formally associated with PCPG by written or oral contract.
State legislatures and Federal, State and Local regulatory agencies -- Those organizations or agencies having legislative and administrative responsibilities for guidance and regulations pertaining to the practice of geology and related fields.
ETHICAL EXPECTATIONS
Members that are Pennsylvania licensed professional geologists are additionally bound to the Code of Ethics established in Section 4(g) of PA Act 151 of 1992. All PCPG members and those formally affiliated with PCPG as defined above, regardless of PA Professional Geologist (PG) licensure status, are expected to conduct themselves in a fair, honest, and professional manner consistent with the organizational values. More specifically, PCPG members and those formally affiliated with PCPG should:
- Act with professionalism to enhance the image of the geologic and allied science profession and PCPG.
- Be honest, kind, cordial in all dealings with all parties.
- Maintain trust of the public, employers, colleagues and one’s clients by only providing guidance and/or expressing opinions in those areas in which the individual is technically competent.
- Avoid the potential for plagiarism by giving credit to others for their work.
- Be objective in all decisions.
- Take full responsibility for their work.
- Work diligently to enhance their personal professional competency.
- Work collaboratively to improve the services provided by PCPG.
- Cooperate with State and Federal regulators, as applicable.
- Maintain the civil rights of others by acting without prejudice with respect to sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity, race, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, PCPG membership type, employment status, political affiliation, or physical or mental disability.
- Work aggressively to emulate and uphold these guidelines; and report to appropriate PCPG Board of Directors, Executive Committee members any member or individual formally affiliated with PCPG in proposed violation of this PCPG Code of Ethics.
- Encourage all members to accept and to adhere to these guidelines.
Furthermore, PCPG members and those formally affiliated with PCPG should not:
- Act in violation of civil or criminal laws.
- Be involved in matters of moral turpitude.
- Unfairly target another individual through unsubstantiated, false, or malicious accusations of PCPG Code of Ethics violations. Reports of alleged violations brought to PCPG’s attention should, to the degree possible, be absent of hearsay and be first-hand accounts or experiences.
- Misuse organizational resources, whether they be resources of physical, financial or intellectual value.
- Participate in inappropriate gift giving and receiving.
- Be dishonest or incomplete in the disclosure of information.
- Disclose confidential written or oral information (i.e., non-public membership details, PCPG initiatives in progress if not yet publicly shared, confidential correspondence – including such correspondence related to a violation of the PCPG Code of Ethics, unless specifically authorized by the majority Board of Directors, etc.) and shall comply with all procedures to safeguard confidential materials.
- Represent PCPG in an official capacity in formal written and/or oral format without prior authorization.
- Discriminate based on race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, a nonjob-related handicap or disability.
PROCEDURES FOR RESOLVING ETHICAL ISSUES
The PCPG Board of Directors and the Executive Committee are the elements of PCPG that have the collective responsibility for overseeing issues related to ethics. This references solely to the PCPG Code of Ethics herein, not those matters involving a Pennsylvania Professional Geologist that violate the Code of Ethics established in Section 4(g) of the Pennsylvania Act 151 of 1992, as such matters shall be reported and handled in accordance with the Act, and PCPG will abstain from such violations under the purview of the Act. If a violation of the PCPG Code of Ethics is reported, the Executive Committee will appoint a sub-committee to conduct a review of the allegation, complaints or report received only when such activity is not otherwise under the purview of the Code of Ethics established in Section 4(g) of the PA Act 151 of 1992. The sub-committee will make recommendations for action to the Executive Committee on alleged violations of the PCPG Code of Ethics. If a complaint is lodged against a member of the PCPG Board of Directors or an Executive Committee member, that member shall abstain from all discussions on the matter. PCPG recognizes it may be necessary to convene such reviews separately from normal PCPG Board meetings to address such a situation. If the matter is determined to not be within the purview of the PCPG Board, the Board shall then advise the individual that lodged the complaint that no further action will be taken at that time by the PCPG Board. An individual need not be a PCPG member or individual formally associated with PCPG to lodge a complaint.
When a review is conducted and an action is found to be a violation of the PCPG Code of Ethics, the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee shall confer to determine appropriate consequences. The consequences of a violation of the PCPG Code of Ethics will be determined based on the gravity and impact of the action. Members and those formally affiliated with PCPG should be advised that violations could potentially result in revocation of membership, prohibition of future membership, contract termination or other appropriate actions.
Disclaimer: This PCPG Code of Ethics was updated by the PCPG Board of Directors in 2022 to meet the current needs of the PCPG. This PCPG Code of Ethics replaces the prior 1991 version of the PCPG Code of Ethics, while maintaining the primary ethical principles discussed therein.