Conference Policies
Below are the main policies which govern SWCHSMUN's conference each year. We implement the following policies in order to provide a fun, accessible, and equitable learning environment in which every delegate has a chance to showcase his or her skills.
Below you will find details on our awards policy, plagiarism policy, pre-written resolution policy, electronics policy, dress code, and harassment policy.
Below you will find details on our awards policy, plagiarism policy, pre-written resolution policy, electronics policy, dress code, and harassment policy.
AWARDS POLICY
The SWCHSMUN conference is first and foremost designed as an educational experience for high school students. The conference is meant to provide a platform for delegates to realize their potential in public speaking and policy debate, and to spread awareness of critical international issues. With these considerations in mind, we recognize delegates, schools, and clubs alike that have significantly contributed to the conference and have demonstrated skill and expertise in exercising their diplomacy.
There are several types of individual awards that delegates may be eligible for: Best Delegate, Most Outstanding, and Verbal Commendation. A Best Delegate award is worth 3 points, Most Outstanding award is 2 points, and Verbal Commendation awards are worth 1 point. Additionally, the Dais may award a Most Improved award (1 point), a Most Diplomatic award (1 point), and a Most Potential award (1 point). Each committee dais, led by the Head Chair, will distribute the individual awards to delegates based on their committee performance. Exemplary delegates are distinguished by:
The SWCHSMUN conference is first and foremost designed as an educational experience for high school students. The conference is meant to provide a platform for delegates to realize their potential in public speaking and policy debate, and to spread awareness of critical international issues. With these considerations in mind, we recognize delegates, schools, and clubs alike that have significantly contributed to the conference and have demonstrated skill and expertise in exercising their diplomacy.
There are several types of individual awards that delegates may be eligible for: Best Delegate, Most Outstanding, and Verbal Commendation. A Best Delegate award is worth 3 points, Most Outstanding award is 2 points, and Verbal Commendation awards are worth 1 point. Additionally, the Dais may award a Most Improved award (1 point), a Most Diplomatic award (1 point), and a Most Potential award (1 point). Each committee dais, led by the Head Chair, will distribute the individual awards to delegates based on their committee performance. Exemplary delegates are distinguished by:
- Quality of research, as reflected in their performance during debate;
- Quality of amendments, resolutions, and proposed solutions;
- Ability to accurately represent their nation’s interests and policies;
- Diplomacy skills in building consensus and compromising with others;
- Effectiveness in working in caucus and resolution groups;
- Persuasive skill in communicating with other delegates; and,
- Responding effectively to situations of crisis (crisis committees only).
PLAGIARISM POLICY
Pre-written resolutions are not allowed at SWCHSMUN. Students should not plagiarize clauses for their resolutions from pre-existing resolutions. Any school that has multiple cases of plagiarism may be reconsidered for a School Delegation Award. It is the responsibility of the delegate and the advisor to ensure this does not happen.
Pre-written resolutions are not allowed at SWCHSMUN. Students should not plagiarize clauses for their resolutions from pre-existing resolutions. Any school that has multiple cases of plagiarism may be reconsidered for a School Delegation Award. It is the responsibility of the delegate and the advisor to ensure this does not happen.
PRE-WRITTEN RESOLUTION POLICY
One of the fundamental pillars of the SWCHSMUN experience is delegates engaging with each other at the conference and crafting resolutions that are uniquely tailored not only to the topic but also to each other’s positions and suggestions. Thus our chairs will not except any documents written prior to the conference, all resolutions and supporting materials submitted are to be written during committee sessions. If it does not seem that the contents of a document could have been feasibly written during the time allocated in conference, chairs reserve the right to question its authenticity and may be duly penalized.
One of the fundamental pillars of the SWCHSMUN experience is delegates engaging with each other at the conference and crafting resolutions that are uniquely tailored not only to the topic but also to each other’s positions and suggestions. Thus our chairs will not except any documents written prior to the conference, all resolutions and supporting materials submitted are to be written during committee sessions. If it does not seem that the contents of a document could have been feasibly written during the time allocated in conference, chairs reserve the right to question its authenticity and may be duly penalized.
ELECTRONICS POLICY
While traditionally SWCHSMUN has been a relatively tech-free conference, recent innovations have required us to adapt to the demands of a modern conference. Because of this, we encourage our students to bring their technological devices (these can be laptops or tablets; we discourage the use of cellphones in committee) for the purpose of resolution drafting, not for additional research in committee. Delegates found doing additional research in committee will be disqualified from awards.
While traditionally SWCHSMUN has been a relatively tech-free conference, recent innovations have required us to adapt to the demands of a modern conference. Because of this, we encourage our students to bring their technological devices (these can be laptops or tablets; we discourage the use of cellphones in committee) for the purpose of resolution drafting, not for additional research in committee. Delegates found doing additional research in committee will be disqualified from awards.
DRESS CODE
SWCHSMUN requires Western Business Attire for all committee sessions and conference events. For men this entails wearing, at minimum, a dress shirt and tie, dress pants, and dress shoes. For women this entails wearing business style dresses or suits and dress shoes. Skirts should not fall higher than two inches above the knee.
Please use your common sense when deciding what to wear to the conference; treat your experience here with the utmost professionalism and taste, clothing must be of appropriate length and formality. Unacceptable attire includes tennis shoes, t-shirts, jeans, tank tops, hats or caps.
The head chair of each committee will have the final say on the interpretation and the enforcement of the dress code. If a delegate is inappropriately dressed, they may be reported to their advisor and asked to change into more appropriate attire before being able to participate in committee.
SWCHSMUN requires Western Business Attire for all committee sessions and conference events. For men this entails wearing, at minimum, a dress shirt and tie, dress pants, and dress shoes. For women this entails wearing business style dresses or suits and dress shoes. Skirts should not fall higher than two inches above the knee.
Please use your common sense when deciding what to wear to the conference; treat your experience here with the utmost professionalism and taste, clothing must be of appropriate length and formality. Unacceptable attire includes tennis shoes, t-shirts, jeans, tank tops, hats or caps.
The head chair of each committee will have the final say on the interpretation and the enforcement of the dress code. If a delegate is inappropriately dressed, they may be reported to their advisor and asked to change into more appropriate attire before being able to participate in committee.
HARASSMENT POLICY
SWCHSMUN is committed in all areas to providing a learning environment that is free from harassment. Harassment based upon an individual's sex, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, gender or any other legally protected characteristics is not and will not be tolerated. All participants in SWCHSMUN conferences and partner conferences, including students and advisors, are expected and required to abide by this policy.
We are dedicated to providing a space free of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is behavior of a sexual nature that is unwelcome and offensive to the person or persons it is targeted toward. Examples of harassing behavior may include unwanted physical contact, foul language of an offensive sexual nature, sexual propositions, sexual jokes or remarks, obscene gestures, and displays of pornographic or sexually explicit pictures, drawings, or caricatures. Use of a computer system at SWCHSMUN conferences or affiliated events for the purpose of viewing, displaying, or disseminating material that is sexual in nature may also constitute harassing behavior.
In order to prevent incidents of harassment, SWCHSMUN leverages a number of policies and systems both in committee and in our related conference events. First, we use pages in all committees. These dais members will be responsible for reviewing notes before transferring them between delegations.
SWCHSMUN has a zero tolerance policy for harassment of any nature. We reserve the right to contact advisors should delegates be found in suspicion of violating the harassment policy as outlined above. Delegates found in violation of this policy will NOT be welcomed back to committee in the following session and will NOT be considered for awards. Additionally, their school or club will be ineligible for delegation awards.
Violations include, but are not limited to:
SWCHSMUN is committed in all areas to providing a learning environment that is free from harassment. Harassment based upon an individual's sex, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, gender or any other legally protected characteristics is not and will not be tolerated. All participants in SWCHSMUN conferences and partner conferences, including students and advisors, are expected and required to abide by this policy.
We are dedicated to providing a space free of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is behavior of a sexual nature that is unwelcome and offensive to the person or persons it is targeted toward. Examples of harassing behavior may include unwanted physical contact, foul language of an offensive sexual nature, sexual propositions, sexual jokes or remarks, obscene gestures, and displays of pornographic or sexually explicit pictures, drawings, or caricatures. Use of a computer system at SWCHSMUN conferences or affiliated events for the purpose of viewing, displaying, or disseminating material that is sexual in nature may also constitute harassing behavior.
In order to prevent incidents of harassment, SWCHSMUN leverages a number of policies and systems both in committee and in our related conference events. First, we use pages in all committees. These dais members will be responsible for reviewing notes before transferring them between delegations.
SWCHSMUN has a zero tolerance policy for harassment of any nature. We reserve the right to contact advisors should delegates be found in suspicion of violating the harassment policy as outlined above. Delegates found in violation of this policy will NOT be welcomed back to committee in the following session and will NOT be considered for awards. Additionally, their school or club will be ineligible for delegation awards.
Violations include, but are not limited to:
- Passing of inappropriate notes of a sexual or discriminatory nature as outlined above
- Inappropriate, unwanted touching of other delegates in committee
- Verbal attacks of a sexual or discriminatory nature against other delegates in committee and at SWCHSMUN affiliated events