Eastern Oregon University (EOU) is committed to a
campus environment based upon collegial respect and trust. The integrity of academic and work
relationships is the foundation of the University’s mission. The unequal institutional power inherent in
University academic and work relationships heightens the vulnerability of those
in subordinate positions. People in
positions of authority within the University community must be aware and sensitive
to the potential conflict of interest, and issues of sexual harassment that
often occur in consensual relationships with people over whom they have a
professional power/status advantage.
Collegial respect and trust is compromised when
members of the EOU community engage in consensual relationships that involve
persons of unequal power. Examples of
positions of unequal power include, administrator and faculty, faculty and
student, supervisor and employee, coach and athlete. The power differential inherent in any such relationship causes
apparent consent to be questionable.
Relationships that are mutual and consensual are often viewed by others
as exploitative, and will adversely affect the learning and/or work
environment. Specifically, the parties to
an consensual relationship must be aware that such relationships create in
co-workers and students perceived and real conflicts of interest and an
environment of fear of unfair treatment in terms of promotions, grades,
professional and/or educational opportunities, etc.
Power/Status Advantages:
a)
Academic
Relationship Advantage: A faculty member or other instructor always has a power/status
advantage when that faculty member or instructor has authority, for
example, to assign grades, serve on thesis or scholarship awards committees,
provide research and/or training opportunities.
b)
Staff
Relationship Advantage: A staff member always has a power/status advantage
when the staff member has the authority to evaluate, determine salary, and/or
make employment and/or professional development opportunity decisions.
c)
Other
Power Advantages: Power advantages also can occur between junior and senior
faculty, faculty and administrators, and faculty/administrators and staff.
Consensual relationships that may be appropriate in
other circumstances are imprudent when they occur between a member of the EOU
community and a person for whom he/she has a professional power/status
advantage at EOU. The individual
with the power/status advantage bears the primary responsibility for any
negative consequences resulting from a consensual relationship. It is the University’s goal to provide clear
direction to the University community about how to remove the power/status
advantage associated with consensual relationships between members of the
University community.
It is the policy of EOU,
where a power/status advantage exists, both parties involved in a
consensual relationship must promptly report the consensual relationship to his
or her supervisor, Dean, Vice President, Provost, or President of the
University. It is the responsibility of
the supervisor of the parties involved in the relationship to provide
counseling regarding University policy, and if necessary promptly make
arrangements to eliminate the power/status advantage of one person over
the other. This may involve such
actions as changing lines of authority or changing class registrations.
Should the individuals in a consensual relationship
fail to immediately report their relationship, these individuals will be
considered to have violated University policy and are subject to disciplinary
action. Failure to follow University
policy will result in the University not bearing liability in the event a
formal grievance or lawsuit is brought against the parties of the consensual
relationship.
Individuals in a
consensual relationship who fail to immediately report their relationship will
be violation of University policy and subject to disciplinary action. Further, failure to follow policy will
result in the University not bearing liability in the event a formal grievance
or lawsuit is brought against the parties of the consensual relationship.
Jackie Grant AAO Draft 10/14/02