Board
Policies & Administrative Procedures
500 |
Human Resources - Faculty & Staff |
534.1 |
Romantic or Sexual Relationships |
| S. 534.1 |
In general, there are special risks in romantic or sexual relationships
between individuals in inherently unequal positions, and parties
in such a relationship assume those risks. Because of the potential
for conflict of interest, exploitation, favoritism, and bias,
such relationships may undermine or be perceived to undermine
integrity of the supervision and evaluation provided. Such
relationships may be less consensual than the individual whose
position confers power or authority believes. The relationship
may be perceived in different ways by each of the parties,
especially in retrospect. Within the College, such positions
include, but are not limited to, supervisor and employee.
Moreover, such relationships may negatively affect others
in the academic or work environment. Relationships in which
one party is in a position to review the work or influence
the career of the other may provide grounds for complaints
by third parties when that relationship gives undue access
or advantage, restricts opportunities, or creates a perception
of these problems. Furthermore, circumstances may change,
and conduct that was previously welcome may become unwelcome.
Even when both parties have consented at the outset to a
romantic involvement, this past consent does not remove grounds
for a charge based upon subsequent unwelcome conduct. |
| P. 534.1 |
Where romantic or sexual relationships exist
between employees of the College, the person in the position
of greater authority or power will bear the primary burden
of accountability, and must ensure that he or she does not
exercise any supervisory or evaluation function over the other
person in the relationship. |
| Pr. 534.1.1 |
Where a transfer of supervisory responsibility
may be required, the party with the greater accountability
as noted in P.434.1/534.1 must also notify his or her supervisor,
department head, or dean, so that such head, dean or supervisor
can exercise his or her responsibility to evaluate the adequacy
of the alternative supervisory evaluation arrangements to be
put in place. As an option, employees may notify the Human
Resources department. While an effort will be made to transfer
supervisory responsibility, there is no guarantee that this
can be accomplished. In this situation, a transfer or separation
of employment of one of the involved individuals may be necessary. To reiterate, the responsibility for notification rests
with the person in the position of greater authority or power.
Failure to comply with these notification requirements is
a violation of this policy, and therefore grounds for disciplinary
action, up to and including termination of employment.
|
| P. 534.1.1 |
The College will view it as unethical and a
violation of this policy if College employees establish a romantic
or sexual relationship with a student enrolled in his or her
class or who is subject to that employee’s supervision.
The ethics of such behavior is questionable even when the relationship
is consensual, because the voluntary consent of the student
is in doubt, given the power imbalance in the student-employee
relationship. Even if consent were to be shown, a clear conflict
of interest would still exist which might create the appearance
of discrimination or favoritism in grading or access to educational
opportunities. Such employee-student relationships may include,
but are not limited to, faculty and student, adviser and advisee,
employee and student, and coach and athlete. Where a romantic or sexual relationship already exists
and it is the employee-student relationship that is newly-established,
the employee must notify the supervisor, department head,
or dean, so that such head, dean, or supervisor can exercise
his or her responsibility to evaluate the feasibility of
a transfer of authority or whether an approved exception
to policy is appropriate. |
Color
Key |
P =
Policy
Pr = Procedure
|
D = Definition
S = Supplement |
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Content
Owner: Donna Davis—ddavis@stchas.edu
Page Created by: Chris Scherer
Page Updated by: Jessica James
Date Issued: 03/01/06
Date Revised:
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