UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH POLICY 02-04-03

CATEGORY:              ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

SECTION:                  Faculty Responsibilities

SUBJECT:                 Faculty-Student Relationships

EFFECTIVE DATE:   July 19, 1996

PAGE(S):                   1

I.    SCOPE

      This policy establishes guidelines on relationships between faculty members and their

      students.

II.   POLICY

      The University's educational mission is promoted by professional relationships between

      faculty members and students.  Relationships of an intimate nature compromise the

      integrity of a faculty-student relationship whenever the faculty member has a professional

      responsibility for the student.

      The University prohibits intimate relationships between a faculty member and a student

      whose academic work, teaching, or research is being supervised or evaluated by the

      faculty member.  If an intimate relationship should exist or develop between a faculty

      member and a student, the University requires the faculty member to remove himself/

      herself from all supervisory, evaluative, and/or formal advisory roles with respect to the

      student.  Failure to do so may subject the faculty member to disciplinary action.

      Transgressions of this policy may result in the forfeiture of the legal and monetary

      protections of the University's indemnification policy.  See Policy 07-06-06, Faculty and

      Staff Indemnification.

III.  DEFINITIONS

      Faculty Member:  refers to anyone appointed by the University as a teacher, researcher,

      or academic administrator, including graduate and undergraduate students so appointed.

      Intimate:  meaning sexual and/or romantic.

IV.  REFERENCE

      Policy 07-06-06, Faculty and Staff Indemnification