Tufts' Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) is not taking any chances when it comes to personal relationships between students and members of the faculty and administration.
Earlier this month, the OEO revised the consensual relations policy to emphasize the inappropriateness of a relationship between a student and any person that has the ability to evaluate or influence his or her academic performance, regardless of consent.
According to University policy, amorous, dating, or sexual relationships between faculty and students are "inconsistent with the University's educational mission" and are forbidden between individuals within the same school or college.
The policy was also modified to incorporate an additional section that explicitly forbids University staff, such as administrators, from entering into personal relationships with undergraduates.
"This is about defining appropriate standards for an institution," Dean of Students Bruce Reitman said. "What happens if a relationship goes bad? The faculty member is still in a position to influence the academic records of somebody with whom they now have an awkward relationship."
Reitman added that "there is the potential for [such a relationship] to be coercive. 'I can get you a better grade if you'll have dinner with me.' That is totally wrong and unallowable."
While romantic involvement with professors was discouraged in the original policy, the personal and academic power of the teacher was not made clear.
The previous policy was instated over ten years ago by then-Provost Sol Gittleman. The policy was a response to inappropriate behavior by an anonymous faculty member.
"Whenever there's any authority, personal relationships aren't allowed," Gittleman said. "We're not going to tolerate it. Even if it's consensual, it gives the appearance of inappropriateness."
The policy received criticism from certain members of the Tufts and Harvard University communities, including Harvard faculty that had married -- and subsequently directed the dissertations of -- their graduate students.
Then-Tufts President Jean Mayer also spoke out against Tufts' policy. "You cannot legislate against love," he said.
Gittleman said the ban is appropriate. "Undergraduates and grad students need protection," he said. "Faculty are supposed to know better."
Concerns about professor-faculty relationships are typically handled by the OEO and the Dean of Students Office.
If the violation concerns a professor, the issue is turned over to the supervising dean of that particular college. If the issue regards an administrator or staff member, it is forwarded to the Vice President of Human Resources.
The consequences of violating the policy depend on the case. This includes details such as the duration of the relationship, the tenure of the faculty member, and the level of their authority.
"People don't like universities having cookie-cutter processes and responses," OEO Specialist Christy Galatis said. "These cases can be so involved and so messy that we need to spend time investigating and processing them individually."
According to Galatis, an investigation into a formal complaint ideally takes thirty days, but is frequently extended due to circumstances such as breaks and sabbaticals.
Disciplinary action for the implicated faculty member can be as severe as dismissal from the University.
"Students look to faculty as mentors, confidants, and reference providers," Galatis said. "That relationship itself is difficult for both parties to manage, especially when a personal dynamic comes into play. [This policy is in place] to ensure that the student is provided with the best education Tufts can offer."
Tufts remains one of the few schools that have a formal policy in place. Other universities, however, are beginning to follow suit.
Last year, the University of California banned any romantic relationship between professors and students. This was prompted by a student accusation of sexual harassment against the Dean of the Law School at Berkley, who in turn claimed the encounter had been consensual.
Other schools such as Stanford, Yale, Ohio Wesleyan, the University of Virginia, and the College of William and Mary have employed similar policies in the past decade. Some policies remain more lenient than others. Duke, for example, allows for consensual relationships, but requires that the faculty member must first notify a dean and relinquish his authority over the chosen individual.
Tufts' stance on the controversy may be a strict one, but the administration deems it necessary. "I've seen how wrong some of these situations can go," Reitman said.
"Both the reality and perception of fairness, and the interpretations of right and wrong, are very important," he said. "We're talking about professional ethics. I think it's an important issue for an institution of higher education to have a standard. I'm glad we do."
