Consensual Relationships Policy

This policy outlines the expectations of Mount Carmel College of Nursing (MCCN) with respect to consensual romantic or sexual relationships between individuals in unequal positions, where a power differential exists. This policy covers all MCCN employees and students. This policy is necessary, as there are inherent risks in any romantic or sexual relationship between individuals in unequal positions (such as faculty member and student, supervisor and employee). These relationships may be less consensual than perceived by the individual whose position confers power. The relationship also may be viewed in different ways by each of the parties, particularly in retrospect.

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that the learning, living, educational and working environment at MCCN is free from conflicts of interest and preferential treatment, as well as all forms of gender discrimination and harassment.

An MCCN employee shall not enter into a consensual relationship with a student or employee over whom that employee exercises or influences direct or otherwise significant academic, administrative, supervisory, evaluative, counseling/mentoring, or extracurricular authority. In the event such a relationship already exists, the employee is required to notify their supervisor immediately and appropriate protocols will be implemented.

The following types of consensual relationships are addressed in this policy:

1. Faculty-Student Relationships;

2. Staff Member/Administrator-Student Relationships; and

3. Supervising Employee-Employee Relationships

Faculty-Student Relationships

The relationship between faculty member and student must be protected from influences or activities that can interfere with learning and objective evaluation. Therefore, no faculty member shall enter into a romantic or sexual relationship with a student over whom that faculty member has academic responsibility or is likely to have academic responsibility in the future, regardless of whether the relationship would be consensual. In addition, no faculty member shall exercise academic responsibility over a student with whom the faculty member has or has had a romantic or sexual relationship, regardless of whether the relationship is or was consensual.

Staff/Administration-Student Relationships

Staff members or administrators working in areas that are often called upon to work closely with and advise or mentor students may not be able to perform their duties effectively if they become romantically or sexually involved with students who they are responsible for advising or mentoring. Accordingly, no staff member or administrator shall have a romantic or sexual relationship, regardless of whether the relationship is consensual, with a student for whom that staff member or administrator has direct advising, mentoring, evaluating, or has student organization management responsibility. In addition, no staff member or administrator shall exercise such responsibility with respect to a student with whom that staff member or administrator has or has had a romantic or sexual relationship, regardless of whether the relationship was consensual.

Supervising Employee-Employee Relationships

From the MCHS Employment of Relatives-Significant Others Policy:

No MCHS colleague shall occupy a position in which he/she will be:

• • • Supervising a colleague with whom he/she has a romantic, dating or sexual relationship.

    • Working in a position in which he/she could significantly influence the job assignment, working conditions, pay, performance, or accountability of a colleague with whom he/she has a romantic, dating or sexual relationship.

    • This policy applies not only to new colleagues, but also where one of the relationship situations described above would be created after employment begins by either a colleague’s change of position or a colleague’s entry into one of the relationships described above.

    • MCHS reserves the right to make employment, transfer and promotion decisions where one of the relationship situations described above may result. If MCHS determines that the relationship between colleagues causes an adverse impact in the department, MCHS will determine the disposition of the affected colleagues. In making that determination, MCHS will consider, but not be bound by, the preference of the colleagues involved. Decisions in such cases will be made by the MCHS CEO or designee, in conjunction with Human Resources and Organizational Integrity.

Please see full MCHS Employment of Relatives-Significant Others Policy for additional details.

Reporting

Any member of the College community (student, faculty, staff, and administrator) who is made aware of a faculty-student or staff member/administrator-student relationship must report this to the Director of Compliance and Community Affairs/Title IX Coordinator (at 614-234-2341 or compliance@mccn.edu).

Any member of the College community (student, faculty, staff, and administrator) who is made aware of a Supervising Employee-Employee Relationship (including those involved in the relationship) must report this to the college’s Colleague Relations partner, per the MCHS Employment of Relatives-Significant Others Policy.

Any supervisor who receives a report of a violation of this policy shall treat the information sensitively and shall promptly consult with the Director of Compliance and Community Affairs/Title IX Coordinator and Human Resources.

Retaliation against persons who report concerns about potential violations of this policy is prohibited.

Violations

Any violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action. If a member of the College community fails to meet the requirements for either disclosing a relationship in violation of this policy, or fails to cooperate in the required steps to resolve (if possible) a reported violation of this policy they may face disciplinary consequences.

Should a romantic or sexual relationship with a student lead to a charge of sexual harassment or sexual assault against a faculty member, staff member or administrator, the College is obligated to investigate and resolve the charge in accordance with MCCN’s Title IX Policy. The MCCN Director of Compliance and Community Affairs/Title IX Coordinator handles matters related to Title IX violations. The Director of Compliance/Title IX Coordinator may be reached at 614-234-2341 or compliance@mccn.edu.