Concordia wants the teachers to avoid having any relationship with the students

photo le journal de montréal, MARTIN KNIGHT

QMI agency

Friday, 26 January, 2018 18:31

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Friday, 26 January, 2018 18:42

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Concordia University announced on Friday a series of directives designed to ensure that its teachers to avoid engaging in any relationship – romantic or sexual – with students.

Graham Carr, vice-president, executive, academic affairs of the university in montreal, wrote in a press release that”it is imperative to establish limits that eliminate any confusion of the personal and professional relationship between teachers and students”.

The guidelines of the Concordia are in response to allegations of sexual misconduct involving some teachers from the university who would have had romantic relationships with students.

Concordia, which was based on the recommendations of the study group and working on policies dealing with sexual assault, states that a relationship between a teacher and a student “is likely to involve unacceptable risks, including those of favouritism and bias – real or apparent – and so undermine the integrity of the professional relationship and the trust on which it depends”.

The university believes that “any relationship, romantic or sexual between [a teacher and a student] should be avoided”, and in the case where there is a relationship, “the obligation of disclosure rests solely with the teacher, not the student or student” wrote Graham Carr.

The establishment of teacher also stipulates that, under its code of ethics, any teacher must immediately disclose the relationship “that started in the procedure established in the code of ethics and that to be taken all appropriate measures to manage the conflict of interests”.

It is indicated that these measures may include “the appointment of another qualified teacher for the position in authority, the transfer of the student in a course, a section, or a seminar given by another teacher, and the assignment or transfer of the student to another academic advisor, as well as a variety of similar measures”.

Finally, ” Carr says, “any violations of the code of ethics, including the present guidelines is considered as a professional misconduct and may constitute a disciplinary offence under the provision of the contract, collective agreement or contract of employment to which the employee is subject”.