Consensual Relationship Policy - Northern Michigan University

Purpose:
Relationship interactions between faculty, staff and students at Northern Michigan University are guided by professional ethics, trust, and mutual respect. Some professional relationships have a power differential that may carry risks of conflict of interest, breach of trust and professional ethics, and potential abuse of power.

Employees who are in a position of power or authority in such matters as supervising, evaluating, teaching a course and/or advising shall not engage in a consensual relationship with a student or subordinate. Employees are prohibited from entering a new relationship with a student or an individual whom the employee supervises, is in a position of influence, or has an evaluative relationship.

If a pre-existing consensual relationship exists, the employee in the position of authority must report the relationship to the Equal Opportunity Office. The Equal Opportunity Office will work with the employee and the appropriate administrator/supervisor to remedy any potential conflicts of interest.

Definitions

For the purpose of this policy the following definitions apply:

1. Employee: All university employees, including graduate assistants and student employees.

2. Consensual relationship: Any dating, romantic, sexual, or marriage relationship.

3. Position of authority or influence:

• Includes situations in which an individual is responsible for the instruction, supervision, or evaluation of a student for coursework, grades, grants, research funding, academic work, professional development or coaching.

• Includes situations in which an individual is responsible for the supervision or evaluation of an employee with respect to hiring, performance, compensation, promotion, assignment of duties, professional development, discipline, or termination.

4. Evaluative relationship: The faculty member or supervisor exercises judgement in assessing a student’s or employee’s skills, qualifications, or abilities for the purpose of making such formal determinations as grades, scholarship determinations, award designations, formal advisory recommendations, re-training, promotion or recommendation for continued employment.

The university welcomes and encourages you to report all complaints of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and sexual misconduct. The university strives to clearly indicate through written policies how to report complaints. Questions may always be directed to the Title IX Coordinator. If there is a concern that a complaint must be escalated to a higher university level, for instance, if there is a complaint against an executive level administrator or a member of the Board of Trustees, reports may be made either to the Title IX Coordinator, who reports to the President of the University, or to the University’s General Counsel, who reports to the Board of Trustees. Alternatively, complaints may be made directly to the Chair or Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees. All will execute their fiduciary duty to ensure that the complaint is thoroughly investigated and that appropriate action will be taken based on the investigation findings, facts, and circumstances.

Report complaints to:  

Janet Koski, Executive Director of Equal Opportunity and Title IX
Equal Opportunity Officer and Section 504 Coordinator - Employees
Equal Opportunity and Title IX Office
105 Cohodas Hall
(906) 227-2420 or jakoski@nmu.edu

To escalate a complaint under this policy, contact:
(906) 227-2272 or crcomplaint@nmu.edu
and indicate whether you want to speak to
NMU's General Counsel; Board Chair; or Board Vice-Chair