NDEC Code of Conduct

Participation in our programs is confidential. Employee/Volunteers must at no time contact participants for reasons other than NDEC programs and services, sell products or services to them, or give access to participants’ contact information to a third party for the purposes of selling or giving them information outside of NDEC programs and services.

Our classes, devices, and programs are free or low-cost because we are grant-funded and these grants require data. Every first interaction with a program participant includes the completion of the Enrollment Registration Form.  Employees/Volunteers should let each participant know that while this information is required by our funders, it is completely confidential and only used in summary format.  If an individual will not complete the form, they cannot participate in NDEC programs.

Participation in our classes and Individual Learning Plan programs are open to the public. Classes and Individual Learning Plan sessions are only offered online and at Partner Onsite Classes Program locations.  Requests for private classes and or in-person tutoring must be referred to the NDEC Chief Operating Officer.

NDEC Employees/Volunteers teach, but they do not attempt to fix problems and/or devices. The NDEC is staffed by helpful people.  It is in our nature.  However, we ask that our Employees/Volunteers do not put their hands on participants’ personal computers and devices.  Employees/Volunteers are prohibited from arranging to help fix a device “on their own time” for free or for compensation.   If a participant is having problems with an NDEC device, Employees/Volunteers must contact devices@digitalequitycenter.org or ask the participant to do so.

 NDEC Employees/Volunteers are required to teach/tutor only the NDEC curriculum and Individual Learning Plan (ILP) tasks assigned. To provide a consistent experience and expectations, we ask that our Employees/Volunteers only teach what they have been assigned in the approved NDEC curriculum.  While we are open to suggestions from our Employees/Volunteers on additions and/or modifications to the NDEC courses, requests for digital skills topics not assigned should be referred to classes within our curriculum. If in doubt, please refer the request to curriculum@digitalequitycenter.org. Employees/Volunteers may not create their own course material and/or tutor in a topic area not yet included in one of our classes or ILPs.

 NDEC Employees/Volunteers create and maintain a positive and welcoming approach to learning technology. Many of our program participants are fearful around technology.  Participants and Employees/Volunteers may have strong opinions around technology and other topics that are not represented in the curriculum and/or which are not relevant to the curriculum being taught.  We request that Employees/Volunteers keep the focus always on the specific topic being taught and keep as their primary objective, maintaining a positive and inclusive learning environment.

 NDEC Employees/Volunteers are team players. There is a lot of scheduling, online paperwork, and data collection that goes into our programs.  All employee and volunteer tutors have time tracking. All partner onsite class locations must manage the classes they have claimed. Multiple grant reporting requirements are dependent on our Employees/Volunteers completing paperwork in a timely manner. By completing assigned tasks in a timely manner, Employees/Volunteers also support the overall mission of this program.

 If you have any questions about this Code of Conduct, please contact us at info@digitalequitycenter.org or (207) 259-5010.