Boston University is committed to providing a safe, positive environment where students can securely devote their time and energy to learning, research, and other University activities. The University recognizes that relationships may develop between individuals teaching or working at the University and students, and this Policy addresses the propriety of those relationships. A consensual romantic or sexual relationship between an affiliate and a student over whom the affiliate has supervision may undermine the integrity of the educational process and adversely affect the learning and living environment for the student in the relationship and for other students.
The risks associated with relationships between an affiliate and a student include conflicts of interest, perceptions of undue advantage, and the potential for abuse of the inherent power differential. Affiliates should avoid supervising any student with whom the affiliate has had a romantic or sexual relationship in the past.
Affiliates also should avoid entering into a romantic or sexual relationship with any student over whom the affiliate reasonably expects to exercise supervisory authority in the future. All affiliates who are not students should avoid entering into romantic or sexual relationships with undergraduate students, regardless of whether or not they exercise supervision over a particular student.
Any affiliate who has questions about this policy or a relationship with a particular student must promptly contact his or her supervisor, dean, or department chair, who will implement a management plan, as appropriate. Supervisors, deans and department chairs are encouraged to consult with the Executive Director of the Equal Opportunity Office about these issues.
A management plan may involve, for example, identifying a different faculty advisor for a particular student. A student or any other member of the community may report any suspected violation of this policy to his or her dean or department head, or to the Dean of Students or the Executive Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity.
