国产传媒

国产传媒 Policy on Prohibited Romantic, Sexual and/or Dating Relationships Between Faculty-Staff and Students 

Policy on Relationships between Faculty-Staff and Students PDF

Introduction 

As a University dedicated to fostering the dignity of each person, Mount Saint Mary’s strives to encourage academic excellence, professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity, faith and service. The University seeks to create an environment that is free of exploitation and unlawful harassment or discrimination that undermines the integrity of the institution. 

There are special risks in any sexual, romantic or dating relationship between individuals in inherently unequal positions, and parties in such a relationship assume those risks. In the university context, such positions include (but are not limited to) teacher and student, supervisor and employee, senior faculty and junior faculty, mentor and trainee, adviser and advisee, teaching assistant and student and individuals who supervise the day-to-day student living environment and their students. 

Because of the potential for conflict of interest, exploitation, favoritism, harassment, discrimination and bias, such relationships may undermine the real or perceived integrity of the supervision and evaluation provided. Such relationships may also have unintended, adverse effects on the climate of an academic program or work unit, thereby impairing the learning or working environment for others – both during such a relationship and after any break-up. 

Statement of Policy

For all of the above-stated reasons, romantic, sexual or dating relationships-- whether officially recognized by marriage or civil registration or otherwise--between individuals in a Direct/Power relationship should in general be avoided and in many circumstances are strictly prohibited by this policy. Since these relationships can occur in multiple contexts on campus, this policy addresses certain contexts specifically. However, the policy covers all sexual and romantic relationships involving individuals in Direct/Power relationship, even if not addressed explicitly in what follows. Mount Saint Mary’s University prohibits consensual romantic, sexual or dating relationships between faculty or staff and any Student with whom the faculty or staff member is or will be in a Direct/Power relationship. This policy applies to all romantic, sexual relations

including those civilly recognized by marriage or civil registration when one member of the consensual relationship is in the role of student.

Reporting Procedures

When a sexual or romantic relationship between a university employee and a student is prohibited by this policy – or if a relationship not previously prohibited becomes prohibited due to a change in circumstances – the employee must both recuse himself or herself from any supervisory or academic responsibility over the student, and notify their supervisor, Provost, Academic Department Chair, or Program Director who must report the situation to the Title IX Office, Human Resources or the Office of Inclusive Excellence. In this instance, the resolution must support the progression of the student in their academic program. Failure to disclose the relationship in a timely fashion will itself be considered a violation of policy. Reporting of suspected violations of this policy may be made to Campus Safety, the Title IX Office, Human Resources, or through the Office of Inclusive Excellence.

Definitions Related to Policy

• Direct/Power Relationship—Faculty– or staff–Student relationships in which the faculty or staff member is in a position of actual or apparent authority in activities including without limitation, teaching, advising, mentoring, supervising, directing, evaluating, conducting research and/or providing financial advisement with the Student.
• Faculty—An employee of the University who has instructional, advisory, evaluative, supervisory, and/or other professional responsibilities. The category of Faculty includes: Full-Time, Instructor, Continuing Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor, Emeritus Faculty, Visiting Professor, Part-time, Lecturer, Adjunct Professor, Clinical Professor, Clinical Supervisor, Teaching Assistant, or Graduate Teaching Assistants.
• Staff—An employee of the University other than Faculty which includes 国产传媒 Administrators and Student employees. For purposes of this policy, this category includes Independent Consultants and Vendors who maintain a contract with the University.
• Student—An individual enrolled, or eligible to continue, in any full-time or part- time undergraduate, Weekend Evening Online, certificate or graduate program of Mount Saint Mary’s University.

The Policy Prohibiting Romantic, Sexual, and/or Dating Relationships Between Faculty-Staff and Students does not alter, but is in addition to all federal and state laws regulating sexual harassment and interpersonal misconduct.