Blog

Can a Professor Date a Student

Posted by Joseph D. Lento | Jun 20, 2022 | 0 Comments

“Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediment,” Shakespeare writes in one of his most famous sonnets. In the same vein, the American poet Maya Angelou writes, “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination, full of hope.” Love knows no bounds. Or so we want to believe.

All of us, that is, except college and university administrators. For them, there are clear boundaries, specifically between faculty and students.

Schools differ, though, on exactly where to draw the lines of those boundaries and how to punish those who trespass. What are your school's rules, and what can happen if you choose to ignore them? You'll have to discover that for yourself, but we can offer some general guidance.

Drawing the Lines

The goal of university policies on faculty-student relationships is simple: Make sure those in power can't prey on those subject to that power. (Actually, it's simpler than that even: Protect ourselves from liability at all costs).

The question is, how to define who has the power and who doesn't. Schools disagree. Generally, though, policies fall into a few basic categories.

  • No Bans: This is becoming increasingly rare, but a handful of schools, such as the University of Baltimore, have no bans on consensual faculty-student relationships.
  • Disclosure: Some schools frown on faculty-student relationships but allow for exceptions as long as you disclose the relationship as soon as it begins.
  • Supervisory Roles: A number of colleges and universities have adopted these limited policies that prohibit dating between anyone in a supervisory role and a person they are supervising.
  • Potential for a Supervisory Role: A more restrictive version of policies on supervisory roles prohibits dating between anyone who could “potentially” be in a supervisory role and anyone they might supervise.
  • Total Ban: A few schools, such as Northwestern University, have outlawed faculty-student relationships altogether.

What penalties can you get for violating these policies? Again, it depends on the school and the facts of the situation. Most schools, though, dismiss faculty for relationship policy violations.

Finally, it's also worth noting that schools differ in how they define a “relationship.” Most mean “romantic relationships,” but whether that definition requires a “sexual relationship” or not isn't always clear. Can you take a student out for dinner or drinks, for instance? Obviously, it's always better to err on the side of caution. If you're forbidden to have a “relationship” with a student, you're better off avoiding any one-on-one contact with them under any circumstances.

What to Do if You're Accused

Maybe you have one of those loves that simply doesn't know any bounds. Maybe you work at a school where the rules just aren't clear. Allegations happen for all sorts of reasons. If you find yourself accused, make sure you find a qualified attorney to advocate on your behalf.

Joseph D. Lento is a defense attorney who built his career defending rights in the field of education across the United States. To find out how he can help you, contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.

About the Author

Joseph D. Lento

"I pride myself on having heart and driving hard to get results!" Attorney Joseph D. Lento passionately fights for the futures of his clients nationwide. Attorney Lento and his team represent students and others in disciplinary cases and various other proceedings at colleges and universities across the United States. Attorney Lento has helped countless students, professors, and others in academia at more than a thousand colleges and universities across the United States, and when necessary, he and his team have sought justice on behalf of clients in courts across the nation. He does not settle for the easiest outcome, and instead prioritizes his clients' needs and well-being. In various capacities, the Lento Law FIrm Team can help you or your student address any school-related issue or concern anywhere in the United States.

Comments

There are no comments for this post. Be the first and Add your Comment below.

Leave a Comment

Comments have been disabled.

Contact Us Today!

If you, or your student, are facing any kind of disciplinary action, or other negative academic sanction, and are having feelings of uncertainty and anxiety for what the future may hold, contact the Lento Law Firm today, and let us help secure your academic career.

This website was created only for general information purposes. It is not intended to be construed as legal advice for any situation. Only a direct consultation with a licensed Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York attorney can provide you with formal legal counsel based on the unique details surrounding your situation. The pages on this website may contain links and contact information for third party organizations - the Lento Law Firm does not necessarily endorse these organizations nor the materials contained on their website. In Pennsylvania, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout Pennsylvania's 67 counties, including, but not limited to Philadelphia, Allegheny, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Schuylkill, and York County. In New Jersey, attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New Jersey's 21 counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren County, In New York, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New York's 62 counties. Outside of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, unless attorney Joseph D. Lento is admitted pro hac vice if needed, his assistance may not constitute legal advice or the practice of law. The decision to hire an attorney in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania counties, New Jersey, New York, or nationwide should not be made solely on the strength of an advertisement. We invite you to contact the Lento Law Firm directly to inquire about our specific qualifications and experience. Communicating with the Lento Law Firm by email, phone, or fax does not create an attorney-client relationship. The Lento Law Firm will serve as your official legal counsel upon a formal agreement from both parties. Any information sent to the Lento Law Firm before an attorney-client relationship is made is done on a non-confidential basis.

Menu