AACE International Appoints McDonald as First Ethics Chair, Approves Ethics Committee Charter
February 17, 2012
AACE International has created a new Ethics Committee and Appeals Panel to address alleged violations of the Canons of Ethics that all AACE International members and certificate holders must abide by. The Board of Directors appointed Donald McDonald, PE CCE PSP as the first Ethics Committee chair. According to AACE President Michael Nosbisch, CCC, PSP, “we are delighted that Donald has agreed to apply his experience and knowledge of the association to this important new initiative. The respect he has earned from his service and contributions throughout his distinguished career will quickly establish the prestige and integrity of the Ethics Committee and the processes they have created to maintain the integrity of the Canons of Ethics while safeguarding individual member’s rights.”
The Board of Directors recently approved a new ethics complaint process that will be administered by the Ethics Committee. The complaint process provides a comprehensive system designed to preserve the integrity of the Canons of Ethics while protecting the rights of a member or certification holder by assuring proper due process to the alleged violator. The revised Canons of Ethics were approved in July 2011 and became effective January 1, 2012 after being widely publicized within the total cost management community over the last six months.
While creating the Ethics Committee, the Board of Directors approved an Ethics Committee charter that includes the following provisions:
AACE International’s (“AACE”) Ethics Committee is charged with investigating and delivering a resolution of all formal allegations of violations (a “Complaint”) of AACE’s Canons of Ethics. The Ethics Committee is also charged with the responsibility of promoting adherence and enforcement of AACE’s Canons of Ethics.
The span of authority for the Ethics Committee begins once a formal complaint is properly filed with AACE and ends with a Final Determination issued. While the Ethics Committee may assist by providing factual information in any subsequent Appeal of its Final Determination, all subsequent action becomes a matter for the Ethics Appeal Panel.
AACE’s Ethics Appeal Panel is charged with investigating and making a determination for resolution of all appeals (an “Appeal”) which may arise from a Final Determination issued by the Ethics Committee. The span of authority for the Appeals Panel begins only upon filing with AACE of a formal Notice of Appeal and ends with an Appeal Decision issued by the Appeals Panel.
While the Ethics Committee and Appeals Panel Chairs are standing members designated by the Association, the members who comprise each Committee and Panel established to investigate and deliberate on a particular ethics complaint are sourced from a common standing Pool. The Ethics Pool is comprised of AACE members who have been approved by the Board of Directors and have agreed to serve on an as needed basis to support the work of the Committee and Panel.
To review the entire Ethics Committee Charter, click here.
The critical first step in the ethics complaint process is the completion of the AACE International Ethics Complaint Form. The complaint process specifies that no complaint will be considered unless all required information regarding the alleged ethics violation has been provided and a written summary of the alleged violation and appropriate supporting evidence has been provided to the Ethics Committee in writing for review. The official ethics complaint form may be reviewed here.
Once the ethics complaint form has been received by the Ethics Committee, the formal ethics process and procedure system begins. This process, described in detail in 12-pages, outlines the reporting time frames, expectations and safeguards for the alleged violator. This document delineates exactly how a complaint may be filed, what must be included in the complaint and specifically prohibits action on anonymous complaints. The document also outlines the process for preliminary investigations into the allegations, the procedure for formal investigation and the parameters for ethics hearings and committee deliberations. It also establishes reasonable notification requirements and outlines the various public and private sanctions available to the Ethics Committee. These private and public sanctions range from finding no action is warranted to permanent revoking of membership status or use of the certification.
The process and procedures also delineate an appeals process that an alleged violator may request. The process outlines the process and procedures for selecting an impartial Appeals Panel and the timetable for moving through the appeals process. To review the Ethics Complaint Procedure, click here.
As part of creating the process, the Board of Directors approved an initial “pool” of individuals who can be called upon to sit on the Ethics Committee as needed. Individuals currently serving on the Board of Directors may not participate on the Ethics Committee or Ethics Panel during their active term of office. To see a roster of current Ethics Committee members, click here.
“We believe that this new ethics committee and its charter and will provide a higher profile for the significance of our Canons of Ethics and the importance we place on it as a professional association,” commented Mike Nosbisch. “We believe we have a system in place that protects our members from frivolous allegations while giving us the tools to protect the intent of the Canons of Ethics.”
