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class="nolink">About COPE</span> <a href="/about/our-organisation" title="">Our organisation</a></p> </div> <div class="hero__title"> <a id="main-content"></a> <h1 id="page-title">COPE Governance</h1> </div> <div class="hero__bottom"> <div class="hero-subnav hero-subnav--hide-title"> <input class="hero-subnav__toggle" id="hero-subnav__toggle6741b996d1a33" type="checkbox" /> <label class="hero-subnav__toggle-btn" for="hero-subnav__toggle6741b996d1a33">Pages in this section</label> <ul class="hero-subnav__items"> <li class="hero-subnav__item"><a href="/about/governance" class="active">Governance</a></li> <li class="hero-subnav__item"><a href="/about/cope-strategic-plan">Strategy</a></li> <li class="hero-subnav__item"><a href="/about/trustees" title="">Trustees</a></li> <li class="hero-subnav__item"><a href="/about/council" title="">Council</a></li> <li class="hero-subnav__item"><a href="/about/cope-team">COPE team</a></li> <li class="hero-subnav__item"><a href="/about/history">History</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="page-main"> <div class="page-main__row"> <div class="page-main__col"> <main> <section id="content" class="region region-content"> <div id="block-system-main" class="block block-system clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div id="node-8498" class="node node-page "> <div class="sidebar sidebar--offset"> <div class="sidebar__body"> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><a id="top" name="top"></a><a href="https://publicationethics.org/about/history">COPE was established</a> to provide advice and guidance on best practice for dealing with ethical issues in journal publishing.</p> <p>Originally aimed primarily at editors and publishers of scholarly journals, membership now includes universities and research institutes, and organisations and individuals involved in publication ethics.</p> <h3>Page contents</h3> <p>–– <a href="#constitution">Constitution</a></p> <p>–– <a href="#code">Code of Ethics</a></p> <p>–– <a href="#trustee">Trustee Board</a></p> <p>–– <a href="#officers">Officers</a></p> <p>–– <a href="#council">Council</a></p> <p>–– <a href="#advisors">Advisors</a></p> <p>–– <a href="#sub">Subcommittees</a></p> <h2><a id="constitution" name="constitution"></a>Constitution</h2> <p>COPE is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee in the UK and was set up by a Memorandum of Association on 3 October 2007. COPE is also a registered charity (1123023). COPE’s principal Objects are "<em>to educate and advance knowledge in methods of safeguarding the integrity of the scholarly record for the benefit of the public</em>". COPE’s income is derived mainly from membership subscription fees from its members – journal editors, publishers, universities and research institutes, and organisations and individuals involved in publication ethics. The <a href="https://publicationethics.org/about/trustees-reports-and-financial-statements">Trustees reports and financial statements</a> are publicly available.</p> <div id="file-984721" class="file file-document file-application-pdf"> <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/984721">Articles of Association</a></h2> <div class="content"> <div class="resource-download-inline"> <div class="resource-download-inline__container"> <div class="resource-download-inline__type"> </div> <div class="resource-download-inline__description"> <a href="https://publicationethics.org/sites/default/files/articles_of_association_12_december_2019.pdf" target="_blank">Articles of Association</a> <span class="resource-download-inline__meta">PDF 141 KB</span> </div> </div> <div class="resource-download-inline__shadow"> <div class="resource-download-inline__shadow__inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="file-19711" class="file file-document file-application-pdf"> <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/19711">COPE Regulations</a></h2> <div class="content"> <div class="resource-download-inline"> <div class="resource-download-inline__container"> <div class="resource-download-inline__type"> </div> <div class="resource-download-inline__description"> <a href="https://publicationethics.org/sites/default/files/cope-regulations-document-aw_0.pdf" target="_blank">COPE Regulations</a> <span class="resource-download-inline__meta">PDF 1 MB</span> </div> </div> <div class="resource-download-inline__shadow"> <div class="resource-download-inline__shadow__inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2><a id="code" name="code"></a>Code of Ethics</h2> <p>COPE's code of Ethics for the Trustee Board and Council members are based on eight principles:</p> <ul> <li>organisational purpose</li> <li>leadership</li> <li>integrity</li> <li>decision making, risk and control</li> <li>board effectiveness</li> <li>diversity</li> <li>openness and accountability</li> <li>COPE's mission</li> </ul> <div id="file-1003263" class="file file-document file-application-pdf"> <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/1003263">Code of ethics for Trustee Board and Council Members</a></h2> <div class="content"> <div class="resource-download-inline"> <div class="resource-download-inline__container"> <div class="resource-download-inline__type"> Document </div> <div class="resource-download-inline__description"> <a href="https://publicationethics.org/sites/default/files/cope-trustees-council-code-of-ethics.pdf" target="_blank">Code of ethics for Trustee Board and Council Members</a> <span class="resource-download-inline__meta">PDF 376 KB</span> </div> </div> <div class="resource-download-inline__shadow"> <div class="resource-download-inline__shadow__inner"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2><a id="trustee" name="trustee"></a>Trustee Board</h2> <p>COPE is governed by the <a href="https://publicationethics.org/about/trustees">Trustee Board</a> (maximum of 12) which is responsible for the financial, legal and business operations of COPE as a charitable business, and gives authority to <a href="https://publicationethics.org/about/council">Council</a> and the <a href="https://publicationethics.org/cope-staff">Executive Office</a> to manage the operational activities of the organisation. </p> <p>It meets at least four times a year and is led by the Chair. </p> <p>The Trustee Board consists of the Officers (Chair, Chair-elect, Vice-chair, Secretary, and Treasurer), the immediate Past Chair, elected members, and co-opted members. Members of the Trustee Board are Trustees under charity legislation and Directors of the limited company under company law. Trustees, along with Council Members, are also Constitutional Members under company law. The Officers are elected by the Constitutional Members. Trustees are elected by the general membership of COPE.</p> <p>The biographies and conflict of interest declarations of the Trustees are posted on the COPE website. Conflicts of interest statements are required to be declared on a yearly basis. In addition, potential or actual conflicts of interests are required to be declared at the beginning of each Trustee Board and Council meeting. These declarations are minuted and the member must remove themselves from discussions on items where they have a competing interest. </p> <p>Trustees are volunteers, without remuneration, except for travel, accommodation and other necessary expenses incurred in carrying out COPE business, according to <a href="https://publicationethics.org/about/expenses-policy" target="_blank">COPE’s expenses policy</a>.</p> <h2><a id="officers" name="officers"></a>Officers</h2> <p>The Chair is <a href="https://publicationethics.org/about/council/daniel-kulp">Daniel Kulp</a>, whose term is May 2021 to May 2024. The Chair leads meetings of Council and is Chair of the Trustee Board.</p> <p>The Chair is supported by three other Officer positions: Vice-chair <a href="https://publicationethics.org/about/council/nancy-chescheir">Nancy Chescheir</a>, Secretary <a href="https://publicationethics.org/about/council/tara-hoke">Tara Hoke</a>, and Treasurer <a href="https://publicationethics.org/about/council/michael-wise">Michael Wise</a>.</p> <p>Officers serve a term of three years with the possibility of a further term of three years if re-elected.</p> <h2><a id="council" name="council"></a>Council</h2> <p>COPE <a href="https://publicationethics.org/about/council">Council</a> is elected by the COPE membership. Elections for vacancies on Council are held annually if positions are available. Council is responsible for the operational activities of COPE, and Council Members are Constitutional Members of COPE under company law. Council is divided into <a href="https://publicationethics.org/about/subcommittees">subcommittees</a> that have been authorised by the Trustee Board to undertake COPE activities. Council meets up to three times a year.</p> <p>The biographies and conflict of interest declarations of the Council Members are posted on the COPE website. Potential or actual conflicts of interest statements are required to be declared on a yearly basis. In addition, potential or actual conflicts of interests are required to be declared at the beginning of each Trustee Board and Council meeting. These declarations are minuted and the member must remove themselves from discussions on items where they have a competing interest.</p> <p>Council members are volunteers, without remuneration, except for travel, accommodation and other expenses incurred in carrying out COPE business, according to COPE's <a href="https://publicationethics.org/about/expenses-policy" target="_blank">expenses policy</a>.</p> <h2><a id="advisors" name="advisors"></a>Advisors</h2> <p>COPE <a href="https://publicationethics.org/about/advisors">Advisors</a> have knowledge or expertise in publication ethics and a willingness to support COPE’s mission. Advisors are volunteers who are appointed in recognition of their knowledge or experience in particular areas and may be past Trustees or Council Members. Being an Advisor is a way to participate in COPE’s work without the specific expectations that go with being a Trustee or Council member. </p> <p>Advisors are eligible to serve on <a href="https://publicationethics.org/about/subcommittees">COPE subcommittees or working groups</a> and are part of the Board of Advisors. They may, exceptionally, Co-Chair one of these groups, and they can be fully involved in the drafting of guidance in that area. At times we may approach Advisors to comment on nominations to <a href="https://publicationethics.org/about/council">Council</a> or the <a href="https://publicationethics.org/about/trustees">Trustee Board</a>, on membership applications, and on integrity cases. Advisors are not Constitutional Members of COPE as defined by company law and may not vote on Council matters. Advisors meet annually online to discuss current priorities and issues, and to network across their broad range of experiences. Advisors also have access to an online space where they can share expertise, comment on queries and COPE resources, and receive updates on other aspects of COPE’s work.</p> <p>Advisors’ conflict of interest declarations are posted on the COPE website and are reviewed every year. Advisors, like members of Council and the Trustee Board, must declare any relevant conflicts of interest at the start of all meetings, and must remove themselves from discussions on items where they have a competing interest.</p> <p>This is a voluntary role and Advisors are not compensated for their services.</p> <h2><a id="sub" name="sub"></a>Subcommittees</h2> <p>Council is divided into <a href="https://publicationethics.org/about/subcommittees">subcommittees</a> that have been authorised by the Trustee Board to undertake COPE activities.</p> <h3>Related content</h3> <ul> <li><a href="https://publicationethics.org/cope-policies">All COPE policies</a></li> </ul> <h4>Page history</h4> <p>Last updated 4 May 2021</p> <p style="float:right"><a class="button" href="#top">Back to top</a></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-upload field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div> <aside class="sidebar__aside"> <div class="sidebar__aside__col"> <div class="sidebar__aside__inner"> <div class="cope-file-link"> <div class="cope-file-link__description"> COPE Regulations (revised November 2021) </div> 1 MB <div class="cope-file-link__cta"> <a href="https://publicationethics.org/sites/default/files/cope-regulations-document-aw.pdf" type="application/pdf; 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