[Vision2020] Professor-Student Romance

Ron Force rforce2003 at yahoo.com
Wed Aug 24 19:04:30 PDT 2011


Here's the UI's official policy.  Some years ago the administration wanted an outright ban, but it couldn't pass Faculty Council.  It followed another messy incident that fortunately didn't lead to homicide.

Consensual Romantic or Sexual Relationships

Faculty-Student Relationships
Because the relationship between faculty members and students is central to the academic mission of the University of Idaho, it is essential to establish that the standard of expected conduct in a relationship between any faculty member and a student of that faculty member goes beyond the proscription of sexual harassment as defined in section 3220 of the “Faculty-Staff Handbook.” Consensual romantic or sexual relationships should not be allowed to interfere with the academic integrity of the faculty-student relationship.

In the university's view, the faculty-student relationship is comparable to that of other professionals and their clients. Codes of ethics for most professional associations forbid professional-client sexual relationships. On this basis, a consensual romantic or sexual relationship between any faculty member and his or her student, while not expressly forbidden, is generally deemed unwise.

Relationships that may appear to be consensual, even to the parties involved, are influenced by the position of authority held by the faculty member that is inherent to the faculty-student relationship. 

It is generally deemed equally unwise for a student to enter into a consensual romantic or sexual relationship with his or her professor.

Supervisor-Subordinate Relationships
Similarly, consensual romantic or sexual relationships between a supervisor and his or her subordinates in the work place are generally considered to be unwise. Supervisory relationships include, but are not limited to, those between an administrator, coach, adviser, program director, counselor, teaching assistant, or residential staff member and his or her subordinates.

If you have a question about this policy or feel you are a victim of sexual harassment, please call the Director of Human Rights, Access and Inclusion, 885-4212. 
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