UW Investigation Finds Professor Engaged In Inappropriate Conduct

SEATTLE, WA — The University of Washington has barred a professor from campus after two allegations of inappropriate conduct. UW says both incidents took place several years ago and were reported to the university in February. The school immediately barred Professor John Sahr from campus while an internal investigation was launched. Sahr is a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and previously was an interim director for the Robinson Center for Young Scholars.

The investigation determined two instances of inappropriate conduct had occurred. One was an inappropriate sexual contact involving a 17-year-old undergraduate student who studied at the Robinson Center while Sahr was the head of the program. The other was a relationship with a graduate student. UW says the professor violated university policies regarding sexual misconduct and harassment in addition to the school's conflict of interest rules.

In light of the investigation's findings, Sahr remains barred from campus and contacting students. Investigators will prepare a report for the university's provost, who could start the process of removing tenure status and firing the professor. He has been employed at UW since 1991.

"The safety of our community is the UW's highest priority and this type of conduct cannot be tolerated," said UW spokesman Victor Balta.

Balta said the university has no evidence suggesting more students or staff were involved, but the school will provide a safe way for anyone to report anything else that they should know. A report was forwarded to the King County Prosecutor's Office, which declined to file charges.