Relationships with Students Procedure

1. The purpose of our procedure

This procedure sets out the expectations and processes for staff and titleholders to appropriately manage relationships with students.

Please read this procedure in conjunction with the Conflict of Interest Policy, the Code of Conduct and University Values.

2. Who our procedure applies to

2.1 Inclusions

This procedure applies to Adelaide University staff and titleholders, including graduate research students who are employed in a teaching capacity, and staff who are also students.

2.2 Exclusions

This procedure does not apply to the following situations:

• intimate relations with students under the age of 18 years or with vulnerable adults, see the [Safety of Children and Vulnerable People Policy]
• interactions with students that involve gender-based violence or sexual harm, see the [Gender-based Violence and Sexual Harm Response Procedure] for information about reporting and responding to allegations of this nature.

3. Our relationships with students procedure

Staff members and titleholders must act professionally and respectfully in their interactions with students and must avoid close personal relationships with students for whom they have or have had a professional responsibility.

3.1 Maintaining professional boundaries

Adelaide University recognises the significant power imbalance between staff and students. Staff and titleholders are required to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with all students.

It is not appropriate, except in limited circumstances, for staff or titleholders to:

• engage students in a private capacity to perform work, whether paid or unpaid, except where the work is directly related to the student's area of study
• enter into an intimate or romantic relationship with current students of Adelaide University
• conduct personal communications with students via non-professional social media platforms or non-university email accounts
• meet or socialise with students in intimate settings away from Adelaide University campuses such as in their home.

Staff or titleholders who fail to maintain professional boundaries with students may face disciplinary action under the relevant Enterprise Agreement or the [Titleholder Procedure].

Where a relationship between a staff member or titleholder and a student already exists, such as family members or current or previous partners, the relationship must be disclosed and managed appropriately.

3.2 Disclosing a relationship

Staff and titleholders must promptly notify their line manager, Executive Director, Dean of School, or Pro Vice Chancellor in writing if they have, or have had, a relationship with a student for whom they hold, previously held, or may in future hold a professional responsibility. Information disclosed under this procedure will be managed in accordance with our [Confidentiality Policy].

The line manager, Executive Director, Dean of School or Pro Vice Chancellor must review the disclosed relationship and identify, manage, and mitigate any conflict of interest in compliance with the Conflict of Interest Policy. This includes ensuring staff and titleholders do not take part in activities involving the student, such as:

• selection for entry into undergraduate, postgraduate or graduate research programs
• assessment or moderation processes
• selection for scholarships or prizes
• honours, postgraduate or graduate research supervision
• preclusion or disciplinary matters
• determining access to resources.

Advice of managing a disclosed relationships may be obtained from the [Integrity team] ifrequired.

Staff and titleholders who fail to promptly disclose a relationship with a student may face disciplinary action under the relevant Enterprise Agreement or the [Titleholder Procedure].

3.3 Responding to allegations of inappropriate behaviour

If staff or titleholders become aware that a student has been subjected to unwanted attention or inappropriate behaviour by a staff member or titleholder, they must respond in accordance with the [Gender-based Violence and Sexual Harm Response Procedure].

Staff and titleholders must report any suspected abuse of children, including sexual assault, in accordance with the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017(SA).

4. Who holds a responsibility within this procedure

This procedure does not assign or confer decision-making authority. Refer to the Delegation Policy for all delegations of authority at Adelaide University.

4.1 The line manager, Executive Director, Dean of School or Pro Vice Chancellor is required to:

• consider disclosures of personal relationships with students and manage or mitigate any associated conflict of interest

4.2 The staff member or titleholder is required to:

• maintain appropriate professional boundaries with all students
• promptly disclose any personal relationships with students to the relevant line manager, Executive Director, Dean of School or Pro Vice Chancellor.

5. Definitions used in our procedure

Please refer to our Adelaide University glossary for a full list of our definitions.

Inappropriate behaviour refers to unprofessional, inappropriate and/or unwanted conduct which may amount to misconduct or serious misconduct by the staff member and may involve:

• a breach of an Adelaide University policy, procedure or Code of Conduct
• inappropriate conduct for the student/teacher and/or student/supervisor relationship
• conduct inconsistent with the duty of care required of staff towards students
• bullying, harassment or discrimination
• a criminal offence, including but not limited to sexual assault or sexual harassment.

Intimate or romantic relationship means having or being likely to create a very close friendship or a physical or sexual relationship or a relationship that is conducive to or characterised by the expression oflove, whether conducted in person, by correspondence or by electronic means.

Professional responsibility occurs when the staff member is deemed to have professional responsibility for any student they have contact with in the work that they perform. This may include teaching, tutoring, mentoring, supervising, assessing the work of, and in the provision of services to and/ or for the student.

A student is a person enrolled in an Enabling Program, award or non-award coursework study, a research program, or a short course or microcredential at Adelaide University.

Titleholder refers to any individual who has been conferred an honorary academic title by Adelaide University or its foundation universities.

6. How our procedure is governed

This procedure is categorised, approved and owned in line with the governance structure of Adelaide University and the offices and officers listed below.

7. Legislation and other documents related to our procedure

This procedure does not assign or confer decision-making authority. Refer to the Delegation Policy for all delegations of authority at Adelaide University.

8. History of changes

At the time of writing, Adelaide University's organisational structure, position titles, and committee names have not been confirmed. Square brackets [ ] indicate placeholders for these details. Brackets are also used to identify policy elements that are subject to further decision-making or confirmation. These will be updated once final decisions are made.