The University is reviewing its policy on staff-student relations and are running a survey for staff and students, open until the 4th April, to share their views anonymously. The proposed changes include a ban on these relations only for staff members who ‘have academic or pastoral responsibility for a student’.
By Harry Mayes, Research Technician, Neuroscience
Currently, the University of Bristol Sexual Misconduct and Personal Relationships Guidance strongly discourages intimate relations between staff and students, owing to the ‘relationship of trust and confidence’ between the two, stating that such ‘may negatively impact the student’s educational development and pastoral care, and may constitute an abuse of power’.
Furthermore, if such relations do occur, the staff member is required to disclose this to the Head of the School they work in, and the student is encouraged to inform their academic advisor. Reporting channels are also in place if staff or students experience sexual misconduct.
Any student wishing to report another student can formally report this to the University. Or if you wish to report a staff member, students can report to the Student Complaints Team. Equally, staff may report other staff and students who exert any sexual pressure or misconduct. Students doing so are subject to the student disciplinary procedure, which can result in expulsion depending on the case.
The University is now reviewing the policies, proposing a ban on any ‘intimate personal relationships’ between students and staff, where the staff member has ‘academic or pastoral responsibility for a student’. The ban is limited to students the staff member is directly teaching, including mentor or tutor roles, pastoral support, and security among others.
The University defines ‘intimate personal relations’ as a relationship involving ‘physical intimacy included isolated or repeated sexual activity; or romantic or emotional intimacy’.
The policy change would exclude those involved in relationships that formed before the changes, but are encouraged to inform their head of school about the relationship to minimise any future conflict of interest or ‘abuse of power’.
With protection of students in mind, the university aims to shelter students from any abuse of power that could affect students mentally, physically and educationally. The university is now asking for your opinion!
An anonymous survey is now open until Friday 4 April.
What do you think: is an outright ban justified, or could it undermine student autonomy?
