601.22

Prohibitions Regarding Sexual, Romantic, Amorous, and/or Dating Relationships Between Teachers and Learners

Applies to: Regular Instructional Faculty, Supplemental Instructional Faculty, Research Faculty, Graduate Student Instructors, and Undergraduate Students Responsible for the Delivery of Course Content
  1. Policy Background

    This policy applies to “Covered Relationships.” A Covered Relationship includes any relationship which may reasonably be described as sexual, romantic, amorous, and/or dating. Physical contact is not a required element of such relationships. A Covered Relationship may exist on the basis of a single interaction.

    The University of Michigan strives to create and maintain a community that enables each person to reach their full potential. To do so requires an environment of trust, openness, civility, and respect. The University is firmly committed to a policy of prohibiting behaviors that adversely impact a person’s ability to fully participate in the scholarly, research, educational, patient care, and service missions of the University.

    The teacher-student relationship lies at the foundation of the educational process. As a matter of sound judgment and professional ethics, faculty members have a responsibility to avoid any apparent or actual conflict between their professional responsibilities and personal relationships with students.

    Faculty have a collective responsibility to the student experience as members and representatives of the University community, and with each class of incoming students who are bound together in space and time.

    The faculty at the University fulfill their essential role with students in learning, research, and service environments, and do so with a commitment to honoring the highest professional and ethical standards. An overarching goal for the context of the faculty-student relationship is to create a professional, productive, and equitable environment for independent learning and academic growth. Student well-being and the pursuit of academic excellence are central to any faculty-student relationship. At its best, the faculty-student relationship nurtures the advancement and pursuit of knowledge and can lead to life-long professional mentorships and connections. At its worst, the inherent imbalance in the power dynamic between faculty and students can lead to real or perceived exploitation of the power differential.

    The University is committed to putting students’ interests first in addressing the challenges and competing interests that arise when defining limitations on certain types of teacher-student relationships. The limitations set forth in this SPG are based on roles and responsibilities, group affiliations, and community norms, as well as the University’s diversity, scope, scale, and geographic and virtual reach. The University similarly recognizes the importance of its members’ interests in academic freedom, freedom of expression, and intellectual inquiry, and believes these are best protected by common understandings and avoidance of unprofessional relationships.

    In all cases, a Covered Teacher (defined below) is prohibited from having a Covered Relationship (defined below) with any Learner (defined below) in a class, lab, field, or other setting in which the Covered Teacher has Academic or Supervisory Authority (defined below) over the Learner. If a Covered Teacher has such authority, and has in the past had a Covered Relationship with any Learner who subsequently is in the Covered Teacher’s class, lab, field, or other such setting, the Covered Teacher must disclose the prior relationship immediately to the Dean or designee in the Dean’s Office, so that the situation may be promptly and properly managed (e.g., re-assigning grading responsibilities).1

    As defined more specifically below, Faculty Members are subject to broader prohibitions than other Covered Teachers.  Among other things, Faculty Members are prohibited from having Covered Relationships with undergraduate students.

  2. Policy Definitions

    For purposes of this SPG, the following definitions apply:2.

    1. Covered Relationship:

      Covered Relationship” includes any relationship which may reasonably be described as sexual, romantic, amorous, and/or dating. Physical contact is not a required element of such relationships. A Covered Relationship may exist on the basis of a single interaction.

    2. Covered Teacher:

      Covered Teacher” means any Faculty Member, Graduate Student Instructor, and Undergraduate Student Responsible for the Delivery of Course Content.3

    3. Faculty or Faculty Member:

      Faculty” or “Faculty Member” means all regular instructional Faculty4 and all supplemental instructional Faculty5 as defined by SPG 201.34-1. It also includes research track Faculty Regents’ Bylaw 5.246

    4. Graduate Student Instructor:

      Graduate Student Instructor” (“GSI”) means any graduate student appointed as a Graduate Student Instructor as defined in the UM/Graduate Employees’ Organization collective bargaining agreement.7

    5. Postdoctoral Research Fellow:

      Postdoctoral Research Fellow” means any individual appointed or employed under SPG 201.198.

    6. Undergraduate Student Responsible for the Delivery of Course Content:

      Undergraduate Student Responsible for the Delivery of Course Content” means any undergraduate student who is assigned by an academic unit to provide course content including instruction, grading, formal mentoring, tutoring, or similar activities.

    7. Academic or Supervisory Authority:

      Academic or Supervisory Authority” includes, but is not limited to, teaching, research, academic advising, coaching, service on evaluation or thesis committees, grading, evaluation, and/or recommending in an institutional capacity for employment, fellowships, and awards.

    8. Learner:

      Learner” means all undergraduate, graduate, professional, non-degree, and visiting students, as well as Postdoctoral Research Fellows.

  3. Policy Regulations

    1. Faculty Members and Learners

      1. Prohibited Faculty and Student Relationships

        The provisions apply regardless of delivery mechanism for the instructional content, or the form of communication (e.g., in person, online, mobile, and hybrid methods).

        1. Faculty and Undergraduate StudentsCovered Relationships between a Faculty Member and an undergraduate student at any of the three U-M campuses (Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint) are prohibited.
        2. Faculty and Graduate and Professional Students
          1. Covered Relationships between a Faculty Member and a graduate or professional student over whom the Faculty Member currently has, has had, or might reasonably be expected to have direct or indirect Academic or Supervisory Authority are prohibited.
          2. Additionally, Covered Relationships between a Faculty Member and a graduate or professional student who is in the same discipline or academic program in which the Faculty Member is appointed or teaches, regardless of Academic or Supervisory Authority, are prohibited.
        3. Faculty and Non-Degree Students — The prohibitions described above apply in accordance with a non-degree student’s status as undergraduate, graduate, or professional.
        4. Faculty and Visiting Students — The prohibitions described above apply in accordance with a visiting student’s status as undergraduate, graduate, or professional.
    2. Prohibited Faculty and Postdoctoral Research Fellows Relationships

      1. Covered Relationships between a Faculty Member and a Postdoctoral Research Fellow over whom the Faculty Member currently has, has had, or might reasonably be expected to have Academic or Supervisory Authority are prohibited
    3. Faculty Requests for Exceptions from Prohibitions

      1. Exceptions from the prohibitions outlined in this SPG will be granted only in rare circumstances. A Faculty Member’s may request an exception, and each will be considered on a case-by-case basis. As a starting premise, and as the broadest prohibition in this SPG applies to undergraduate students, an exception permitting a Covered Relationship with an undergraduate student would require an extraordinary set of circumstances.
      2. Examples of situations in which an exception might be appropriate include:
        1. The Faculty Member’s Covered Relationship with a Learner precedes the individual’s status as a Learner subject to these prohibitions (e.g., a Faculty Member and Learner have been in an established relationship [e.g., marriage], and the Learner subsequently enrolls as an undergraduate student at the University);
        2. A Faculty Member and a Learner had a Covered Relationship under the prior version of this SPG that either did not require disclosure or was appropriately disclosed and managed, but upon the effective date of the revised SPG, the Covered Relationship is prohibited.9
      3. A Faculty Member’s request for an exception must be made in writing to the Faculty Member’s Dean10 or designee in the Dean’s Office. The Dean or designee in the Dean’s Office, after consultation with Academic Human Resources,11 will determine whether an exception is appropriate. If an exception is appropriate, a management plan will be implemented as described below.
      4. If an exception is denied, the Covered Relationship must be discontinued. The Faculty Member may request an exception if the circumstances leading to the denial change.
      5. The affected Faculty Member may file a grievance challenging the denial of an exception request under the applicable Faculty grievance procedure.
    4. Managing Approved Faculty Exceptions

      1. In the event an exception is granted, a written management plan will be created. At minimum, the plan will document the rationale for the exception and outline any steps necessary to resolve actual and potential conflicts of interest and commitment.
      2. The management plan will be developed by the Dean or designee in the Dean’s Office, which may include consultation with the Faculty Member and Learner.
      3. To ensure consistent administration of this policy, the Dean or designee in the Dean’s Office will consult with Academic Human Resources12 in managing the rare cases in which an exception is granted.
      4. The approved management plan must be placed in the Faculty Member’s personnel file in the Faculty Member’s home administrative unit.
    5. Prohibited Relationships Between Other Covered Teachers and Learners

      1. Graduate Student Instructors and Learners
        1. Covered Relationships between a GSI and any Learner over whom the GSI has Academic or Supervisory Authority are prohibited.
        2. Immediately upon learning that a student with whom the GSI currently has or previously had a Covered Relationship is or will be in the GSI’s class or otherwise under the GSI’s Academic or Supervisory Authority, the GSI will disclose the situation to the Dean or designee in the Dean’s Office of the department in which the GSI is appointed. The Dean or designee in the Dean’s Office will establish appropriate supervision of the Learner.
      2. Undergraduate Students Responsible for the Delivery of Course Content and Learners
        1. Covered Relationships between an Undergraduate Student Responsible for the Delivery of Course content and any Learner over whom they have Academic or Supervisory Authority are prohibited.
        2. Immediately upon learning that a Learner with whom the Undergraduate Student Responsible for the Delivery of Course Content currently has or previously had a Covered Relationship is or will be under their Academic or Supervisory Authority, the Undergraduate Student Responsible for the Delivery of Course Content will disclose the situation to the Dean or designee in the Dean’s Office. The Dean or designee in the Dean’s Office will establish appropriate supervision of the Learner.
    6. Reporting

      1. Any student, faculty member, staff member or other affiliate (e.g., individuals in a position to observe or have knowledge of such a relationship) who reasonably believes a Covered Teacher is engaged in a prohibited Covered Relationship, or is otherwise in violation of this policy, is encouraged to report the concern to the Covered Teacher’s Dean and/or the Office of Academic Human Resources.13.
      2. In addition, anonymous reporting can be made through the University’s Compliance Hotline (1-866-990-0111) and/or the Equity, Civil Rights and Title XI Office (ECRT).
      3. A person who knowingly and intentionally makes a false report under this policy is subject to University discipline.
  4. Discipline

    Violations of this policy will be considered misconduct on the part of a Covered Teacher and will be subject to discipline up to and including separation from the University. Any such discipline will follow the applicable due process requirements, and will be subject to the applicable grievance procedure.

    Prompt self-disclosure may mitigate potential violations of this policy. Covered Relationships that are not self-disclosed will be considered more severe violations of this policy.

  5. Related Policies

    This SPG does not preempt existing codes of student conduct.

    This SPG will be implemented in coordination with related policies, including the University’s Policies on Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct, SPG 601.89, Supervisor-Employee Relationships, SPG 201.97, Conflicts of Interest and Conflicts of Commitment, SPG 201.65-1, , and Appointment of Relatives or Others with Close Personal or External Business Relationships, SPG 201.23, which remain in full force and effect.

1  A Covered Teacher may have separate disclosure obligations for certain personal relationships under other University policies (see, e.g., SPG 201.65-1 – Conflicts of Interest and Conflicts of Commitment).

2  These defined terms are identified by the use of italics.

3  The University engages people who are not University employees to assume educational responsibility for our Learners through internships, affiliation and cooperation agreements, and other arrangements. The University encourages units to incorporate the provisions of this SPG into formal agreements with these types of educators, their employers, etc.

4  SPG 201.34-1 defines “regular instructional faculty” to include tenure track faculty, clinical track faculty, lecturers, and bargained-for lecturers. For bargained-for lecturers, the UM/LEO agreement provides additional information.

5  SPG 201.34-1 defines “supplemental instructional faculty” to include adjunct instructional faculty (bargained-for; see UM/LEO agreement), adjunct clinical instructional faculty, and visiting instructional faculty.

6  Regents’ Bylaw 5.24 defines the research track faculty as including the Research Scientist and Research Professor tracks.

7  The UM/GEO agreement provides additional information.

8  SPG 201.19 provides additional information for Postdoctoral Research Fellows.

9  Upon the 2019 effective date of this revised SPG, relationships that were not prohibited by prior versions of this SPG may become prohibited. In such cases, an affected Faculty Member must immediately disclose such relationship to the Faculty Member’s Dean or designee in the Dean’s Office. In the event the Faculty Member wishes to request an exception to the prohibitions in the revised SPG, the Faculty Member must submit a request in writing to the Dean or designee in the Dean’s Office, as set forth in the SPG.

10  In the limited number of cases in which the Dean or designee in the Dean’s Office has a conflict of interest which directly bears on the evaluation of an exception request, alternative reporting may be appropriate through Academic Human Resources.

11  On the Flint and Dearborn campuses, consultation with the campus Human Resources Office is also required.

12  On the Flint and Dearborn campuses, consultation with the campus Human Resources Office is also required.

13  On the Flint and Dearborn campuses, reports may also be made to the respective campus Human Resources Office.

Notes

This SPG was revised February 18, 2019. The revised policy is broader in scope and more restrictive than the previous policy.

This SPG was updated March 3, 2022. The updated policy includes reference to the University’s ECRT Office and references the University’s Policy on Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct and SPG 601.89 and the University’s Supervisor-Employee Relationships policy, SPG 201.97.

SPG Number
601.22
Date Issued
Last Updated
Next Review Date
Applies To
Regular Instructional Faculty, Supplemental Instructional Faculty, Research Faculty, Graduate Student Instructors, and Undergraduate Students Responsible for the Delivery of Course Content
Owner
Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Primary Contact
Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs