To ensure that the teaching, evaluation and supervision of students remain unbiased and professional, no graduate/professional student or any student in a position of authority (teaching assistant, grader, University-designated mentors, etc.) over undergraduate students shall initiate or engage in a romantic or sexual relationship with, any student who is subject to that individual’s academic or non-academic supervision before the supervision has concluded and, if applicable, a final grade on the student’s supervised academic performance has been submitted to the Registrar.
Academic supervision includes, but is not limited to, serving as a teaching assistant, evaluating coursework or other performance, scheduling, coordinating assignments, or otherwise having grading or other authority over another student in their academic program, internship or practicum.
Non-academic supervision includes, but is not limited to, supervision through a designated role in which a more senior student is formally designated by the University to serve as a mentor to another student, including in housing, orientation, or other co-curricular program.
If such a relationship predates the supervision, the relationship must be disclosed to the appropriate academic or non-academic department to determine any adjustments to the supervision that may be appropriate, such as reassignment.
Abuse of an academic or non-academic supervisory position is grounds for dismissal and/or termination of the supervisory relationship. Abuse in this context includes, but is not limited to, using the supervisory position to 1) gain an advantage for a student with whom a relationship exists, 2) granting access to information or physical space that the student would not otherwise have absent the relationship, 3) initiating or continuing a relationship without the disclosure described above, and 4) engaging in quid pro quo exchanges.
Violation of this policy will be addressed by the appropriate academic or non-academic department and may result in reassignment or other appropriate action.