Concordia releases guidelines on student-instructor relationships amid sexual misconduct allegations

Concordia University has issued guidelines governing relationships between staff and students.

READ MORE: ‘And then a man said it’: Concordia grad says read between the lines of sexual misconduct allegations

The university said Friday it will require instructors to disclose in writing any relationship with a student and withdraw completely from all professional duties relating to the student.

READ MORE: Concordia student-run association says classes reassigned following sexual misconduct allegations

Failure to reveal a conflict of interest could result in disciplinary measures for violation of the university’s code of ethics.

The Concordia rules come amid allegations of sexual misconduct involving members of its English department’s creative writing program.

WATCH BELOW: Concordia reacts to sexual misconduct allegations

1:32 Concordia responds to sexual misconduct allegations

The guidelines were already planned because the Quebec government had previously tabled a bill requiring universities to develop policies for intimate relationships between students and faculty.

The bill spurred the province’s universities to revisit their sexual-violence policies.

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READ MORE: Concordia University president ‘disturbed’ by sexual misconduct allegations

“Because of the power imbalance that exists in the academy, the university discourages, in the strongest possible terms, any consensual romantic or sexual relationships between instructors and their students,” Graham Carr, provost and vice-president of academic affairs, wrote in a note to the university community.

“At the very least, such relationships constitute a real or perceived conflict of interest and should be avoided.”

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Some had called for an outright ban of relationships, something Carr acknowledged was discussed.

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But for legal reasons, Carr said it’s not possible to ban consensual instructor-and-student relationships — something the province also realized while drafting its Bill 151.

Two current creative writing professors were reportedly reassigned following allegations levelled at instructors — some dating back 20 years.

READ MORE: Concordia University reacts to sexual misconduct allegations

In response to the allegations, Concordia president Alan Shepard announced three measures: an investigation into the allegations; a meeting with students, faculty and staff in the creative writing program; and the launch of a university-wide assessment “of our current environment.”