FACULTY SENATE RESOLUTION 2005-2006: 12

CONSENSUAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FACULTY AND STUDENTS

Whereas romantic and/or sexual relationships between faculty or staff and students, especially in situations where one member has supervisory or evaluative responsibility over the other, is potentially fraught with negative consequences for the student, faculty/staff member and other members of the University community, and

Whereas the Southeastern Faculty Handbook provides little guidance on faculty-student relationships other than general statements about “Professional Ethics” and “Moral Behavior”, and

Whereas the AAUP recommends the following policy: “In their relationships with students, members of the faculty are expected to be aware of their professional responsibilities and to avoid apparent or actual conflict of interest, favoritism, or bias. When a sexual relationship exists, effective steps should be taken to ensure unbiased evaluation or supervision of the student”, and

Whereas, there are a variety of policies at other institutions which fall into three basic categories: absolute prohibitions, limited bans on faculty-student supervisory relationships, and strong discouragement,

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT the Faculty Senate encourage the Provost to appoint a committee to study this issue and to recommend a more specific policy and revisions in the Faculty Handbook.