At a glance
- You must give accurate information and submit only evidence you are entitled to share.
- SOME grades and credentials may only be used while they are current and in good standing.
- Direct professional membership fees, upgrades and renewals are non-refundable.
- Members agree to uphold the SOME Code of Conduct.
- These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Colorado, USA, without removing rights you have under local law.
Acceptance of these terms
These Terms of Service (“Terms”) form a binding agreement between you and the Society of Management Executives (“SOME”), a corporation incorporated in the State of Colorado, USA (Colorado identification number 20261511602), with its global secretariat in Lagos, Nigeria, co-located with the Chartered Institute of Public Administration and Governance (CIPAG). They apply to your use of our website and any related forms, assessments, peer circles, chapters, events and services (together, the “Services”).
By accessing the website, submitting an application, paying a fee or using any of our Services, you confirm that you have read and agree to these Terms, our Privacy Policy and our Refund Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Services.
Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years old to apply for membership or a credential. If you use the Services on behalf of an organisation, you confirm that you are authorised to accept these Terms for it.
Each membership grade, route and credential has its own eligibility criteria, which form part of these Terms.
Applications and accounts
- Accuracy. All information and documents you submit – including job titles, responsibilities, results, references and portfolio evidence – must be true, complete and your own. We may verify any information with third parties.
- Confidentiality obligations. You must not submit information you are not entitled to disclose, such as your employer’s trade secrets or other people’s personal data, without permission.
- Misrepresentation. Submitting false, exaggerated or plagiarised material is a serious breach. We may refuse, suspend or revoke membership or credentials, and fees will not be refunded.
- Keeping details current. Please keep your contact and employment details up to date so we can reach you about renewals, decisions and important notices.
Membership
SOME membership grades – Associate (ASOME), Fellow (FSOME), Executive Fellow (EFSOME), Distinguished Fellow (DFSOME), Platinum (PSOME) and Eminent Fellow (ESOME) – are reached through the membership routes described on our website. Membership is granted at SOME’s discretion following assessment against the published criteria.
- Membership fees are non-refundable. Fees for new membership, upgrades and renewals are not refunded, in whole or in part, except as set out in our Refund Policy.
- Membership is personal to you and cannot be transferred.
- Membership runs for the period stated when you join (normally 12 months) and must be renewed to remain active.
- Some grades, including Distinguished Fellow, Platinum and Eminent Fellow, are by nomination or invitation only.
- Members must meet any continuing professional development (CPD) expectations that apply to their grade.
- We may update membership benefits from time to time and will tell you in advance about any material change.
Credentials and use of designations
When you are awarded a SOME grade or credential – such as ASOME, FSOME, EFSOME or the CME®, CEL®, CGE®, Digital Executive and Strategic Leadership credentials – you may use the designation on your CV, email signature, board biographies and professional profiles, provided that:
- your membership or credential remains current and in good standing;
- you use the designation exactly as awarded and do not imply a higher grade than you hold;
- you do not present a SOME credential as a university degree or government licence;
- you stop using it immediately if it expires, is suspended or is revoked.
Certificates and designations remain the property of SOME. We may publicly confirm whether a person holds a valid grade or credential.
Assessments and interviews
- Portfolio review. Applications are assessed on your evidence of management experience, impact and ethical leadership.
- Peer interviews. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to a peer interview, held in person or by video. You must attend at the agreed time and may be asked to verify your identity.
- Integrity. Impersonation, using another person’s achievements as your own or attempting to influence assessors improperly is strictly prohibited. No payment can shorten or influence an assessment.
- Decisions and appeals. Decisions are made against published criteria. You may appeal a decision through the Standards Council.
- Accommodations. Candidates who need reasonable adjustments should tell us when they apply. See our Accessibility Policy.
Professional and ethical conduct
All members and credential holders agree to uphold the SOME Code of Conduct and our beliefs and convictions, including integrity, accountability, transparency, fair treatment of people and avoidance of conflicts of interest.
Complaints about a member’s professional conduct are investigated fairly by the Standards Council. Sanctions may include a warning, conditions on membership, suspension or removal from membership, and you will have the opportunity to respond and to appeal.
Fees and payment
Fees for membership, applications, assessments and other services are shown on our website or provided in writing before you pay. Regional fees, including fees for members in Nigeria, are confirmed in writing by the relevant SOME office.
- Fees are payable in advance unless agreed otherwise.
- Direct professional membership fees, upgrades and renewals are non-refundable.
- Pay only through the payment instructions SOME gives you in writing. Do not pay an individual or unofficial agent.
- You are responsible for any bank charges, currency conversion costs or taxes that apply.
- We may change fees for future periods; changes do not affect fees you have already paid.
- Refunds are handled under our Refund Policy.
Acceptable use of the website
When using our website you must not:
- break any law, or infringe anyone’s rights, including intellectual property and privacy rights;
- upload viruses, malicious code or anything that could damage or disrupt the website;
- try to gain unauthorised access to our systems, other users’ accounts or restricted areas;
- scrape, copy or harvest content or personal data using automated tools without our written permission;
- submit content that is defamatory, abusive, discriminatory or misleading;
- impersonate SOME, our staff or another person, falsely claim to act for SOME, or falsely claim to hold a SOME grade or credential.
Intellectual property
All content on the website and in our Services – including text, the SOME name and logo, grade and credential names, the SOME Framework, assessment materials, prospectus, graphics and software – is owned by or licensed to SOME and protected by copyright, trademark and other laws.
You may view and print pages for your personal, non-commercial use. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, sell or create derivative works from our content without our prior written permission.
Content you submit
You keep ownership of the materials you submit, such as portfolios and case studies. You grant SOME a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use them to assess your application, maintain your record and administer our Services. We will ask for your separate permission before publishing your work or using it in promotional materials.
Third-party links and services
Our website may link to third-party websites and social media. We do not control these sites and are not responsible for their content, availability or privacy practices. Your use of them is at your own risk and subject to their terms.
Disclaimers
We work hard to keep our content accurate and up to date, but the website and its resources are provided “as is” and “as available” for general information and professional development. They are not legal, financial or other professional advice. We do not guarantee that the website will be uninterrupted or error-free, or that a SOME grade or credential will lead to any particular appointment, promotion or salary.
Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, SOME, its officers, council members, staff, assessors and chapter officers will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special or consequential loss, or for loss of profits, revenue, data or opportunity, arising from your use of the Services.
Our total liability to you for any claim relating to the Services is limited to the amount of fees you paid to SOME in the 12 months before the claim arose. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be limited by law, such as liability for fraud, or for death or personal injury caused by negligence.
Indemnity
You agree to compensate SOME for any claims, losses or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your breach of these Terms, your misuse of the Services, or your violation of anyone else’s rights, including the confidentiality rights of your employer.
Suspension and termination
You may end your membership at any time by writing to us. Ending your membership early does not entitle you to a refund of fees already paid. We may suspend or end your access to the Services, or suspend or revoke membership or credentials, if you seriously or repeatedly breach these Terms or the SOME Code of Conduct, fail to pay fees, or if we are required to do so by law. Where appropriate, we will give you notice and an opportunity to respond, and you may appeal through the Standards Council.
Governing law and disputes
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Colorado, United States, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules. If a dispute arises, please contact us first – most concerns can be resolved quickly and informally. If it cannot be resolved within 60 days, either party may bring proceedings in the state or federal courts located in Colorado.
If you live in Nigeria or another country whose consumer laws give you the right to bring a claim in your local courts, or to rely on mandatory local protections (such as the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 in Nigeria), nothing in these Terms takes that right away.
General
- Changes. We may update these Terms. The latest version will always be on this page with its “Last updated” date. Continuing to use the Services after a change means you accept the updated Terms.
- Severability. If any part of these Terms is found unenforceable, the rest remains in effect.
- No waiver. If we do not enforce a right immediately, we do not give it up.
- Entire agreement. These Terms, together with the policies referred to in them, are the entire agreement between you and SOME about the Services.
Contact us
Questions about these Terms? We are happy to help.
Global secretariat: Lagos, Nigeria