Policy for Honors Conferred by ACM

This document describes the application of ACM’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (hereinafter called the Code) and its associated enforcement procedures to several forms of recognition conferred by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).

ACM formally recognizes individuals for significant contributions to the field, ACM, or its interests. This recognition includes ACM Awards, Advanced Member Grades, and SIG Awards, collectively termed Honors. All Honors are determined in ACM’s judgment and at its discretion.

ACM retains the right to grant or decline to grant an Honor to any person. ACM also retains the right to revoke an Honor previously granted if ACM determines that it is in the best interests of the field to do so.

Revocation of an Honor means the recipient may no longer exercise the privileges and rights associated with the Honor unless the Honor is subsequently reinstated.

Considerations for Honors

The Code embodies ACM’s ethics and values. ACM will not confer an Honor on any individual whose prior conduct has been determined to be in violation of the Code.

ACM will defer conferring a proposed Honor on any individual whose conduct is the subject of a credible question known to ACM until the question has been finally and favorably determined to ACM’s satisfaction.

As a condition of receiving an Honor, the recipient agrees to abide by the Code. (Note: this provision is redundant if the recipient is an ACM Member.)

When a formal complaint regarding a violation of the Code by a holder of an Honor is raised, it is investigated by the Committee on Professional Ethics (COPE), engaging when relevant the ACM Awards Committee (or its representatives) as outlined in the ACM Code of Ethics Enforcement Policy to provide expertise and discussion of recommended remediation and sanctions.

Revocation of an award will require the approval of the ACM Council.