Harvard Bans Professors from Having Sexual Relations with Students

Harvard University banned professors from having “sexual or romantic relationships” with undergraduates, Bloomberg reported Thursday.

A formal process to review Harvard University’s Title IX policy was carried out by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Committee on Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedures, which is led by Professor Alison Johnson. Members of that division teach most of the school’s undergraduates. The change was mentioned in a recent document revising the division’s sexual harassment policy.

The change also prohibits Arts and Sciences faculty from having romantic or sexual relations with graduate students they are supervising. The restrictions apply to lab workers and dissertation advisees, according to the Boston Globe.

Graduate students who supervise, grade or evaluate undergrads are also prohibited from engaging in relationships with students. Bloomberg noted there is no specific punishment outlined in the policy.

A statement from Harvard College indicated that the change was made because “the existing language on relationships of unequal status did not explicitly reflect the faculty’s expectations of what constituted an appropriate relationship between undergraduate students and faculty members.” The policy was revised by the Committee to include a clear prohibition to better accord with the expectations, the statement says.

Read the Bloomberg story here.

Image via Shutterstock.