The Program’s Code of Conduct (“Code of Conduct”) details mentors’ and mentee’s obligations while participating in the Program, attending an event, visiting our website, and communicating with each other in order to facilitate healthy, effective, and beneficial relationships between the mentor and mentee that embody the Program’s mission, values, and goals.  Undefined capitalized terms used herein shall have the definitions as set forth in the Program’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. All Program Members are required to adhere to the following guidelines:

GUIDELINES

Confidentiality 

Each Member of the Program serving as a mentor or mentee shall ensure that all written or oral communications during the mentoring relationship shall be kept confidential and shall not be disclosed unless otherwise agreed to by the mentor and mentee, or as may be required by law, including after the mentoring relationship has ended.

Respect For Each Other

Each Member of the Program serving as a mentor or mentee shall strive to ensure a consistent experience for all Members involved regardless of gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disabilities, neurodiversity, physical appearance, body size, ethnicity, nationality, race, age, religion, or other protected categories. Each Member must agree to treat all Members with respect.  Members are encouraged to participate while acknowledging inclusivity and each Member has the right to enjoy their experience without fear of harassment, discrimination, or condescension, of any form or kind.  Neither the mentor nor mentee may seek to exploit the other or the mentoring relationship, and both parties must show mutual respect at all times and must be considerate of each other’s religion, culture, and beliefs.  Members must agree to be respectful of other Member’s availability and obligations so as to not unduly burden one another. 

Communication & Honesty 

Each Member of the Program serving as a mentor or mentee shall be open and honest in all communications and listen to what each other is saying, keeping in mind the goal to build bridges of understanding and create cultural exchange. Be open to sharing your stories and your own journey. This will help you find your point of connection.  Honesty truly is the best policy and can aid in bettering one’s life and help with career trajectory, as well as for the mentor to truly understand the needs of the mentee.  Moreover, we expect that no offensive language be used.

Relationship Building

Communication is the key to all relationships. The ideals set forth in this Code of Conduct should be upheld in tandem with one another and not in isolation. Each Member of the Program serving as a mentor or mentee shall undertake all efforts to make themselves available for questions or inquiries, and be accountable in order to obtain a true and blossoming relationship that benefits both parties. And each mentor shall always strive to act in the best interest of the mentee and each mentee shall be receptive to new ideas, networks, knowledge, skills, resources, feedback, and advice.

Professionalism & Integrity

Each Member of the Program serving as a mentor or mentee shall maintain the utmost professionalism and require the same of each other.  Each member shall commit to growing the Program and Member relationships, so that personal and professional growth may occur. Members shall conduct themselves with integrity and in accordance with the Program’s values, missions, and goals, and the ideals set forth in this Code of Conduct, the Privacy Policy, and Terms of Use.   

Education and Empowerment

IMSTL is here to empower other women and to make sure all women have the resources necessary to succeed.  IMSTL seeks to ensure that the Program’s mission is met and all Members promote values of honesty, integrity, respect, civility, self-discipline, personal and professional responsibility, and fairness.  The education provided during the Program is meant to prepare the mentee to succeed in the St. Louis community, as well as in their personal and professional lives. Each Member of the Program serving as a mentor or mentee shall strive to educate and support each other personally and professionally.  

Safety

Each Member of the Program serving as a mentor or mentee shall undertake all efforts to keep relationships safe and secure with no risk or threat of verbal or physical violence, and the presence of firearms or other weapons are strictly prohibited. Each Member shall also make sure this applies to all other Members of the Program as well. The Program has zero tolerance for violence in any capacity and any such acts shall be subject to disciplinary actions.  Any violence, threatened, perceived, or otherwise, shall be reported to the Program immediately by using the contact information in the “General Guidelines and Prohibitions” section below, and IMSTL will ensure that the appropriate actions are taken, including contacting local law enforcement when necessary.

Programming and Opportunities

Program events are open to all Members of the Program serving as a mentor or mentee.  Each Member shall be respectful and courteous to each other at an event and shall treat any facilities hosting such events with the same respect.  This ideal shall also apply to any individual meetup between a mentor and mentee.  Being part of the Program is beneficial to all parties involved and IMSTL expects you to maintain all Program values when interacting in public and with each other.

GENERAL GUIDELINES AND PROHIBITIONS

• Finances: Requests for money or the exchange of monies in relation to the Program are strictly prohibited.  

• Website and Email: The Program website (the “Site”) provides members with updated information on events and news about the Program.  The Program may also allow members to communicate with each other, through email or otherwise.  Each member of the Program acting as a mentor or mentee shall not use the Site, and any communication feature, in violation of the law or to harass or demean another member.  The Program’s privacy practices can be found here. The Program’s Website Terms of Use can be found here. 

• Images and Photos: IMSTL, its employees, and representatives have the right to take and use photographs, video, digital images, or otherwise recorded images of Members who are in public spaces, sponsored events, or other locations, activities, and events that are part of IMSTL and its Program. IMSTL can publish such images or depictions for promotion, marketing, newsletters, website, or educational purposes in any form, including but not limited to print, electronic, video, or internet. IMSTL has the right to edit, crop, retouch, or otherwise alter such images or depictions and Members waive the privilege of inspecting such images or depictions prior to publication. All images or recordings, in whatever medium, are the property of IMSTL and can be used indefinitely without compensation to the Member. Members who use the Program and its website release IMSTL and those acting pursuant to its authority from liability for any violation of any personal or proprietary right you may have in connection with such use. Members who wish to opt-out of this release or withdraw consent must submit a written request to contact@imstl.org.

• No Employment Relationship: As a mentor, you are a volunteer—not an employee. Nothing in this Code of Conduct or any other policy provided to a Member related to service as a mentor creates an employment relationship between a Member and the Program or any other Member. Under no circumstances shall a Member be entitled to any wages, benefits, or other remuneration for providing services as a mentor.

• Discipline & Complaints: All members of the Program are expected to adhere to this Code of Conduct. In the event an activity of a member is undertaken in potential violation of the Code of Conduct, please contact us through this email address contact@imstl.org. Confirmed instances of violation are subject to disciplinary action up to and including removal from the Program.

• Contact Information: For any questions, concerns, or issues related to this Code of Conduct or any of the information contained herein, please contact us through this email address contact@imstl.org.

Last Update: 6/04/25