A Note About Faculty and Student Relationships

The faculty-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.

Romantic and/or sexual relationships between a faculty member and a student have the potential to pose risks to the faculty member, the student, or third parties.  In such relationships, voluntary consent by the student is suspect because of the inherently unequal nature of the relationship.  A romantic and/or sexual relationship between a faculty member and student can lead to a Title IX complaint of sexual harassment when the student feels that he or she has been exploited.  In addition, other faculty members, staff members, or students may express concerns about undue access or advantage, favoritism, restricted opportunities, or unfavorable treatment as a result of the relationship.  These concerns are damaging whether the favoritism is real or perceived.  They also arise in cases where the relationship between the faculty member and the student remains amicable, as well as in cases that lead to accusations of exploitation.  For all these reasons, Renton Techical College strongly discourages romantic and/or sexual relationships between faculty members and students.