6.17 Policy on Consensual Romantic Relationships
6.17.1 General Rationale
Part of the three-fold purpose of Calvin College is “to perform all our tasks as a caring and diverse educational community.” As a Christian academic community, the members of Calvin College strive to live by a biblical sexual ethic; our sexuality is not to be expressed in a manipulative way. Consensual romantic relationships can give rise to conflicts of interest and become potentially exploitative when they involve colleagues in the workplace or people in teaching or mentoring relationships. In addition, such relationships can create an uncomfortable work or educational environment for other students, faculty, and staff. Employees of Calvin are expected to be aware of their professional responsibilities and avoid apparent or actual conflicts of interest, favoritism, or bias in their relationships.
6.17.2 Definition of Romantic Relationships
The term “romantic relationships,” as used in this document, is difficult to define in its entirety. However, evidence of a romantic relationship may include but not be limited to the following behaviors: a pattern of exclusivity between the couple; time spent together as a couple after work hours; physical touching that implies a romantic intention or desire; the sharing of personal information appropriate for a romantic relationship but beyond the boundaries of a professional workplace relationship; actual physical intimacy; written communications or other actions that imply or directly indicate romantic interest.
6.17.3 Types of Relationships
6.17.3.1 Mentoring Relationships
Faculty, and staff who have mentoring roles with students, have a special relationship with students. As with clergy or counselors, a mentoring relationship is particularly vulnerable to abuse, due to the elements of differential power. Romantic relationships are not allowed where a mentoring relationship exists.
6.17.3.1.1 Relationships between Faculty and Students
Romantic relationships are not allowed between faculty members and students. The mentoring relationship exists between all faculty and all students, not merely in the many cases of direct professional responsibility, such as teaching, assigning grades, advising, writing recommendations, directing performances, coaching, supervising research, making decisions about awards, disciplining, and any other action which may affect a student’s current or future study or employment. The decision to become a faculty member or a student at the college assumes this mentoring relationship and precludes engaging in such a romantic relationship.
6.17.3.1.2 Relationships between Staff in Mentoring Positions and Students
Romantic relationships are not allowed between students and staff members in mentoring positions with students (e.g., administrative staff who work with students in Student Life, Admissions, and Financial Aid). The mentoring relationship exists between any such staff member and students, not merely in the many cases of direct professional responsibility, such as Prelude courses, admissions counseling, financial aid planning, writing recommendations for jobs, disciplining, and any other action which may affect a student’s current or future study or employment. The decision to become a student at the college or a member of staff in a position that is defined by a mentoring role with students assumes this mentoring relationship and precludes engaging in such a romantic relationship.
6.17.3.2 Supervisory Relationships
Romantic relationships are not allowed between employees of Calvin College when a supervisory relationship is involved. This applies to all employees (faculty, staff, or student) and their supervisors. The power differential makes such relationships open to abuse and to charges of sexual harassment or unprofessional conduct. Such relationships can also create a hostile work environment for others.
Note that Calvin’s Policy on Employment of Relatives (Handbook for Teaching Faculty Section 6.7 and Employee Handbook) forbids spouses and other immediate family members from supervising one another, and requires approval of the president for spouses to be co-workers in the same department.
6.17.3.3 Relationships between Students
Where students have supervisory employment roles with other students (e.g., in Food Services), a mentoring role (e.g., resident assistants in the dorms), or otherwise have authority that affects the work or educational environment of other students, they are discouraged from having a romantic relationship with a student under their authority.
6.17.4 Exceptions
Exceptions to the above prohibitions (e.g. in the circumstances of a pre-existing relationship) will be considered by the provost or the director of human resources on a limited, case-by-case basis. Faculty or staff with questions about the application or effect of this policy should consult with the provost or the director of human resources.
6.17.5 Complaints
Complaints may be filed by the student or subordinate in the relationship, by a supervisor, or by third parties who are affected by the relationship. The complaint could be of sexual harassment, unprofessional conduct, or hostile educational or work environment. Procedures for filing and handling of such complaints are addressed in the Student Handbook (Appendix C), Handbook for Teaching Faculty (Section 6.5), and Employee Handbook (Rules of Conduct & Policy).
Third parties who feel that their learning, campus life, or work environment has been negatively affected by a specific romantic relationship between faculty, staff, or students should report their complaint to the appropriate supervisor or department chair and to Human Resources.
