Section:             Employee/Labor Relations                                                                    Section Number:  4.8.15

Subject:             Consensual Relationships                                                                                          Page: 1 of 1

                                                                                                                                                     Date of Present Issue:

                                                                                                                                                                          02/01/2008

POLICY:

Employees and students of Lake Superior State University are expected to make responsible choices.  Consensual relationships of an amorous or sexual nature, that might be appropriate in other circumstances, are inappropriate when they occur between an employee of the University and a student for whom he or she has a supervisory relationship or between an employee of the University and another employee for whom he or she may have a supervisory relationship.  For example, such a relationship would be inappropriate between a faculty member, administrator, supervisor, advisor, coach or residential staff member and a student for whom he or she has a supervisory relationship.  Another example is a relationship between a supervisor, manager, or administrator and an employee for whom he or she has professional responsibility.  Even when both parties have consented to the development of such a relationship, the relationship can raise serious concerns about the validity of consent, conflicts of interest, and unfair treatment for others and may result in serious consequences.

I.            Employee/Student Relationship: 

              Any University employee who has a supervisory relationship for students shall

              not assume or maintain a supervisory relationship for any student with whom the

              University employee has engaged in an amorous or sexual relationship.  Whether

              the relationship predated the assumption of the supervisory relationship or arose

              out of the professional association, the University employee shall immediately

              disclose the relationship to the relevant supervisor.  The supervisor shall

              immediately arrange a meeting of the parties to the relationship to discuss

              alternative oversight of the student, and to attempt to cooperatively reach

              agreement on changes that will move supervisory responsibility for the student to

              another University employee.  If no agreement is reached, the supervisor shall

              determine and direct the best method to deal with the situation.  Failure by the

              employee to disclose the relationship could result in corrective action and/or

              termination of employment.

II.            Employee/Employee Relationship:

              Any University employee who has a supervisory relationship for other employees

              shall not assume or maintain a supervisory relationship for any employee with

              whom he or she has engaged in an amorous or sexual relationship.  Whether the     

              relationship predated the assumption of supervision or arose out of the

              professional association, the University employee who holds the supervisory role

              shall immediately disclose the relationship to the relevant supervisor.  The super-

              visor shall immediately arrange a meeting of the parties to the relationship to

              discuss alternative oversight of the employee, and to attempt to cooperatively

              reach agreement on changes that will move supervisory responsibility for the

              employee to another University employee.  If no agreement is reached, the

              supervisor shall determine and direct the best method to deal with the situation.

              Failure by the employee who holds the responsibility to disclose the relationship

              could result in corrective action and/or termination of employment.