Policies and Code of Conduct

UConn Model UN seeks to create an environment where students can explore and understand the value of cooperation, diversity, diplomacy, and compromise through simulating the United Nations. In order to maintain the integrity of the conference students attending the conference must adhere to the following code of conduct. UCMUN does not tolerate reckless, irresponsible, rude, or immature behavior. Students, their legal parents or guardians, as well as Faculty Advisors, ought to review the conference rules in the Delegate Standards of Conduct before students arrive at conference facilities.

Faculty Advisors

  1. Faculty Advisors are in loco parentis and will accept full legal and financial responsibility for the conduct of their delegates throughout the Conference. This responsibility includes damage to either hotel or UConn property committed actively or negligently by conference participants. Faculty advisors will also assume full legal and financial responsibility for the health and safety of their delegates through the duration of the conference.

Appearance and Attire

  1. Delegates are required to wear Western Business Attire (business professional) to all conference events (excluding the Delegate Dance on Saturday evening).

  2. Acceptable attire includes a suit or a jacket and dress pants, with a dress shirt and tie. Other acceptable attire includes a dress, or skirt with a blouse or sweater. Skirts must remain a professional length, which means it must not be shorter than 3 inches above the knee. Stomachs and shoulders must remain covered through the duration of the conference.

  3. Jeans, t-shirts, tank tops, sweatshirts, baseball caps, sneakers, “UGGs”, leggings, boat shoes and sandals are prohibited. 

  4. Delegates deemed inappropriately dressed by UCMUN staff members will be asked to change attire before being allowed to return to committee.

Conference Badges and Placards

  1. Delegates must wear their official conference badges throughout the duration of the conference.

  2. Badges may not be altered, defaced, decorated, forged, or tampered with in any way.

  3. Trading, borrowing, or lending badges amongst delegates is prohibited.

  4. Delegates will be charged for the replacement of lost or damaged badges. All badges must be replaced through UCMUN.

  5. Delegates will be charged for the replacement of lost placards.

Photography and Videography Policy

  1. Photographs and video may be taken throughout the conference for promotional use on the UCMUN website, social media, including but not limited to, Instagram and Facebook, or in the UConn newspaper, The Daily Campus.

  2. If a student does not wish to be photographed or wants to revoke their photo release at any time, they can do so by contacting Social Media Coordinator, James Shiang at exec@ucmun.com

Conference Behavior

  1. Delegates are expected to behave in a civil and dignified manner at all times during the conference.

  2. Delegates are expected to attend all conference events, unless they have received excusal from their respective Faculty Advisor or a member of the UCMUN Secretariat.

  3. Delegates are required to silence their electronic devices when attending conference events.

  4. Delegates are expected to respect all UCMUN staff members, speakers, and their fellow delegates.

Alcohol and Illegal Possession

  1. Delegates are prohibited from consuming alcohol or any illegal substances. This includes recreational or medial marijuana. Although Connecticut has legalized recreational marijuana, UConn receives federal funds and hence the federal ban on substances is in effect.

  2. Any delegate found or suspected of being under the influence or in possession of any alcohol or illegal substance at any time during the conference will be immediately expelled from the conference.

  3. Responsible Faculty Advisors will be notified of such behavior immediately, as will the administration of the respective schools of such delegates.

  4. Violators will also be subject to the full penalties of applicable federal, state, and/or local laws and ordinances.

The UCMUN staff, at the discretion of the Secretary-General, reserves the right to dismiss any
delegate or school from the conference for inappropriate or illegal conduct.

Technology Policy

NOTE: This year’s technology policy is different from that of years past. With the constant development of technology in research, collaboration, and online resources, our Secretariat has decided to permit the use of technology under certain circumstances during UCMUN XXVI. Outlined below are the specific policies related to the use of technology during the conference.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to ensure a productive and respectful environment over the duration of the conference while leveraging technology to enhance participation, collaboration, and creativity among delegates.

PRINTED RESOURCES

Delegates are required to have all of their research printed prior to the start of the conference. This includes position papers, notes, and any supplementary documents relevant to the committee’s discussions. Having printed copies ensures that delegates can fully engage in debate without relying on electronic devices, fostering a focused and collaborative environment. Please plan accordingly to ensure your delegates are well-prepared for the conference and can contribute effectively to your committee’s proceedings. We will not be printing anything for delegates.

ACCEPTABLE USE OF TECHNOLOGY

Unmoderated Caucuses: Technology such as laptops, tablets, or smartphones are permitted during unmoderated caucuses to be used for the following purposes:

  1. Drafting working papers

  2. Topic-related research

  3. Note-taking

PROHIBITED USE OF TECHNOLOGY

Formal Debate, Moderated Caucuses, & Voting Procedure: The use of technology during moderated caucuses, formal debate, and voting procedure is strictly prohibited. This is to maintain decorum and ensure active engagement. 

Non-Conference Activities: Delegates should refrain from using technology for non-conference activities including but not limited to:

  1. Use of social media

  2. Collaboration between delegates not related to conference proceedings

  3. Personal communication

  4. Entertainment, including videos and games

  5. Non-conference research

Disruptive Behavior: Any use of technology that interrupts the committee (i.e. loud notifications, excessive noise, or inappropriate content) is strictly prohibited.

Photography: Our media staff and press corps committee will be taking pictures throughout the conference that will be posted on the website following the conference. The use of technology by other delegates to take photos during the conference is unnecessary.

Cheating and Plagiarism: All delegates are expected to adhere to academic integrity standards. Any form of cheating, including unauthorized sharing of materials or plagiarism, will not be tolerated. 

USE OF TECHNOLOGY OUTSIDE COMMITTEE SESSIONS

Technology outside committee sessions can be used for research, note-taking, or accessing supplemental materials. The use of technology to draft or edit working papers and/or draft resolutions outside committee sessions is strictly prohibited.

USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Acceptable Use of Artificial Intelligence: The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) during the conference is permitted for the following activities:

  1. Research assistance

  2. Brainstorming and refining ideas

  3. Checking grammar and spelling

  4. Language support

Prohibited Use of Artificial Intelligence: The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not permitted at UCMUN for the following activities:

  1. Writing entire sentences, paragraphs or pages in position papers, working papers and/or draft resolutions, including clauses and directives

  2. Writing sentences or paragraphs of a delegate’s speech

  3. Misrepresentation: Delegates may not use AI to create false or misleading information

  4. Violation of conference rules

  5. Plagiarism: Delegates may not use AI in a way that constitutes plagiarism

DISCLAIMERS

  1. Any documents shared among delegates during the conference must be shared with the dais.

  2. If technology is required for your delegate as related to accessibility, please inform our secretariat. We will provide the necessary accommodations and inform that student’s dias.

CONCLUSION

We recognize that technology is a powerful tool that can enhance research, provide insight, and facilitate collaboration during the conference. However, technology also has the capability of heavily disrupting a committee session. It is essential to remember that delegates are responsible for their own work and ideas. While technology can assist in generating solutions or ideas, all speeches and position papers must reflect one's own thought and understanding. 

Our UCMUN staff reserve the right to remind delegates of the technology policy at any time, including asking delegates to put away technology at inappropriate times.  Failure to adhere to the technology policy may result in dismissal of a school or delegate from the conference at the discretion of the Secretary-General.