Statement on Consensual Relationships

The English Department has approved the following statement on consensual relations and advises that it serve as a guideline to such relations between its faculty and its students. The statement is the same as that adopted by the Women Faculty Caucus on April 29, 1992.

It is unethical for a teacher to engage in sexual activity with a student who is enrolled in the class taught by the teacher or who is supervised by the teacher (e.g., as a research assistant, student worker, teaching assistant, or other work or study positions). Sexual activity in these contexts is unethical regardless of whether the student consents to or welcomes such activity.

When there is a pre-existing sexual relationship (or other personal or financial relationship that may cause a professional conflict) between a teacher and a student who wishes to enroll in a course taught by the teacher or to commence work that will be supervised by the teacher, the University and the faculty have an obligation to make some alternative arrangement (e.g., a substituted course, a directed reading with a different teacher, a waiver of the requirement) that will allow the student to meet her or his degree requirements.

NOTE: Even full compliance with this professional obligation will not ensure a safe and productive educational environment for all students. Mentoring or other close working relationships between teacher and student are part of the most positive aspects of education. However, these relationships risk the reality or appearance of favoritism and coercion. Teachers must continue to struggle to provide students the educational benefits of such relationships while meeting their obligations of fair treatment for all students. To do so requires self-examination and sensitive judgment by both teacher and student. This code simply points out that one type of activity--sexual activity--is never appropriate in an instructional or supervisory context.