relationship can incur, to protect the integrity of the learning and work environment and evaluation process, and to provide information and guidance to members of the University community. This Policy addresses consensual relations only. Non-consensual or coerced relationships are addressed in the University Policy on Sexual Harassment.
Definitions For purposes of this policy, the following terms are defined as follows:
Consensual Relationship - Any dating, romantic, sexual, or marriage relationship willingly undertaken by the parties. Direct Supervision - Includes but is not limited to the following activities: academic instruction, course teaching, formal mentoring, overseeing, directing, examining, grading, advising, supervising, evaluating, recommending, promoting, paraprofessional student staff member duty coverage areas, employing and other employment actions including directly setting of salary or wages, any disciplinary action, including suspension, expulsion and termination, and exercising responsibility for grades, honors or degrees. Student Paraprofessional - “A paraprofessional is defined as a student who is selected, trained, and supervised in assuming responsibilities and performing tasks that are intended to (1) directly promote the individual personal development of his or her peers, (2) foster the creation and maintenance of environments that stimulate and support residents’ personal and educational development, and/or (3) perform tasks that ensure the maintenance of secure, clean, healthy, psychologically safe, and esthetically pleasing living accommodations.” (Winston & Fitch, p. 317, 1993) . Students with educational responsibilities; i.e. undergraduate teaching assistants, graduate teaching assistants, and graduate assistants also fall into this category. Educational Responsibility – The power or authority to evaluate, influence, provide, or control aspects related to a student’s education or professional development. Covered activities include, but are not limited to, teaching, grading, mentoring, advising, evaluating research or other academic activity, serving on a student’s dissertation committee, participating in decisions or recommendations regarding funding or other resources, clinical supervision, and recommending for admissions, employment fellowships, or awards. Policy Regarding Faculty-Student, Staff-Student, and Paraprofessional Student Staff-Student Consensual Relationships Interactions between the faculty members, staff members, or paraprofessional student staff members and students at the University are guided by mutual trust, confidence and/or professional ethics. Professional faculty-student, staff-student, or paraprofessional student staff-student relationships have a power differential between faculty members, staff members, or paraprofessional student staff and students; personal faculty-student, staff-student, or paraprofessional student staff-student relationships carry risks of conflict of interest, breach of trust, abuse of power, and/or breach of professional ethics. Prohibited Relationships Faculty members and staff members shall not engage in, and are prohibited from, consensual relationships with students whenever a faculty member or staff member has direct supervision with respect to the student. Should a consensual relationship exist prior to the beginning of the professional relationship, or develop, or appear likely to develop, while the faculty member or staff member is, or would be, in a position of direct supervision over the student, the faculty member or staff member
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