New Faculty-Student Relationships Policy

Greetings,

The University has been considering and has now adopted a new policy regarding
faculty-student relationships. This policy has been developed following
substantive discussion among faculty, students, administrators, and the
Regents.

The new policy strongly discourages romantic and/or sexual relationships
between faculty members and students. The policy states, "If a romantic
and/or sexual relationship occurs or has occurred between a faculty member
and a student for whom the faculty member has supervisory responsibility,
an inherent conflict of interest arises. When a conflict of this nature
occurs, the faculty member must disclose the relationship so that a resolution
to the conflict can be sought."

Faculty members have the responsibility for many professional roles with
students—instructor, mentor, research advisor, supervisor, scholarly colleague,
and collaborator. These relationships are the heart of education and learning
in a university environment.

The new policy is intended to protect the educational relationships of
faculty members and students, and applies to anyone who has supervisory
responsibility for students in an educational setting, including Graduate
Student Instructors. We urge all faculty members, students, and everyone
in the University community who interacts with students to become familiar
with the policy.

The policy is available on the Standard Practice Guide website under 601.22,
Faculty-Student Relationships (PDF format, 120 KB). A list of frequently asked questions and answers about the policy and contact information are available on the Office of the Provost website.

Sincerely,

Mary Sue Coleman
President

Paul N. Courant
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs