Dual relationships between students and faculty/staff/administrator are potentially problematic because they may lead to favoritism, prejudicial evaluation, abuse of power, or the appearance of any of these. Dual relations include, but are not limited to business associations, cohabitation, and consensual sexual relationships. Dual relationships are particularly problematic when either party is in a position to evaluate the other's academic or professional performance, or to exercise judgment in the application of a university policy or procedure.
If an evaluative relationship exists between a student and a faculty/staff/administrator and if a dual relationship is entered into by a faculty/staff/administrator with a student during the period while they are both in the Ph.D. Program, the faculty/staff/administrator must inform the Program Director of the relationship so that work assignments may be made in such a way as to avoid compromising the learning environment. Failure to appropriately acknowledge dual relationships will be considered a serious breach of professional ethics and standards of appropriate conduct and will be subject to sanctions depending on the circumstances, from a verbal warning up to and including termination.
If a dual relationship exists prior to either party entering the learning environment, it is the responsibility of the faculty/staff/administrator to take steps to insure that neither party has an official evaluative relationship with regard to the other, and to inform the Program Director of the relationship so that work assignments may be made in such a way as to avoid compromising the learning environment. Failure to appropriately acknowledge dual relationships will be considered a serious breach of professional ethics and standards of appropriate conduct and will be subject to sanctions depending on the circumstances, from a verbal warning up to and including termination.
In cases of dual relationships, the Program Director or her designee will review the circumstances and will make a judgement regarding the matter. Based on the facts of the matter, appropriate sanctions will be determined. The Program Director's decision is final. In cases involving the Program Director, the review will go to the Chancellor whose decision will be final.
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