Romantic or sexual relationships between students and faculty members remain embedded in academic and popular culture, despite the fact that they are not particularly common. Whether it is in movies or novels, these relationships have always possessed a certain mystique.
That being said, consensual relationships between faculty and students suddenly have become a hot topic on many college campuses this fall, with several prominent universities examining their policies that govern such controversial interactions.
The University of California system adopted a policy over the summer that bans professors from engaging in any type of romantic or sexual relationship with a student, leading to a large uproar from students and some faculty members at the University of California at Berkley. The University of Michigan is also evaluating the merits of a similar policy.
After reading about the policies at other universities and the recent drive to make these policies more stringent, the natural question follows: what is Washington University’s policy on faculty-student relationships?
The current policy, adopted by the Faculty Senate in 1996, states that “faculty members are not to engage in consensual relationships with students whenever a faculty member has a professional ‘position of authority’ over the student.” The mysterious term, “position of authority” is defined as any faculty member who is teaching a course, supervising, evaluating, or advising a student as a part of a university program.
The policy further states that if such relationships develop, the faculty member must remove him or herself from the position of authority; if not, sanctions will be levied.
According to Vice Chancellor of Human Resources Ann Prenatt, the current policy does not directly prohibit such relationships, but gives strict parameters as to how they should be handled to protect the interests of both faculty members and students especially.
The University’s policy on student-faculty consensual relationships seems to clearly address the concerns of faculty and students, recognizing the fact that perception is often the most damaging result of such relationships. By stressing that faculty must remove themselves from a supervisory position if such a relationship develops, it ensures that others in the campus community do not assume preferential treatment towards the student engaged in the relationship. Although there have not been any such consensual relationships publicized in the past few years here at the University, it is important to have guidelines in place in case a relationship of this type develops. Then the rights of all parties involved are clearly defined.
That being said, there is no policy at Washington University that addresses student-staff consensual relationships. If the University is willing to develop a policy on one level, it should be willing to have specific guidelines that address a consensual relationship between a student and a staff member who could also be in a “position of authority.”
Granted, we are all adults; we should be able to engage in any type of relationship we choose and suffer the consequences and benefits of such an affair. Still, it seems that the University is neglecting to realize the fact that staff members who advise student group activities can also be in a position of authority and have influence over students. The staff member might not be teaching a course or grading the student on an assignment, but he or she could still have broad influence in the campus community. In all cases, the power balance is skewed in favor of the faculty or staff member; therefore it is essential to have a specific policy relating to student-staff consensual relationships in the event that such a relationship develops.
The University should not go as far as schools like the University of California at Berkley in outlawing consensual relationships outright. Nevertheless, if it is willing to regulate student-faculty relationships, it should also take the step to make such a policy comprehensive and cover romantic relationships with students and staff members as well.