Staff/Student Sexual Harassment/Sexual Involvement

As employees of the State of Nebraska and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, all personnel under the auspices of the Division of Student Affairs, including student employees, are in a position of "public trust." It is expected that conduct while on the job (and while off the job, if such conduct can be construed to be carried back to the workplace as part of one's job) will be such that all staff will be above reproach with respect to sexual harassment and sexual involvement.

Staff should recognize that those working in the Student Affairs Division are often placed in positions of unique affiliation with students - as advisors to individuals and groups, as traveling companions to professional and student events, as supervisors of residential living units, and as employees who are called upon to exercise their best professional judgements with students who may be vulnerable, confused, and/or acting out. Staff conduct should, therefore, be guided by the following principles:

• The central guiding principle in all student-staff relationships must be to avoid the abuse of power and/or trust.
• All staff must ensure that students are provided access to services on a fair and equitable basis. This is difficult, at best, to accomplish if a sexual encounter, real or perceived, has occurred or is in process, simultaneous with evaluative or supervisory responsibilities.
• All staff must avoid any personal conflict of interest so that they can deal objectively and impartially with persons within and outside the institution. Staff must be aware that, in many instances, the appearance of a conflict of interest can be as damaging as an actual conflict.
• Staff must recognize that they exercise considerable influence over students and that sexual encounters with students can be considered suspect given the asymmetric and often dependent nature of the student/staff relationship.

It is the policy of the Division of Student Affairs at UNL that sexual harassment by an employee of a student or another employee, including members of the same or opposite gender, is prohibited. It is also the policy of the Division of Student Affairs at UNL that staff in any supervisory, evaluative, advisory, mentoring, or other role must avoid any romantic or sexual involvement which may be construed as having the capacity to inappropriately influence the student to enter into or maintain such a romantic relationship. By adhering to the above principles and policies, Student Affairs staff can be instrumental in the creation and maintenance of a positive campus environment. In an atmosphere of fair and equitable treatment, all members of the UNL community benefit.