Integrity and Compliance Office

VCU Blogs

Keeping the Love (and Learning) Conflict-Free this Valentine’s Day

by Catherine Kiesel

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. While the chocolate and flowers fly off the shelves and dinner reservations are being made, it’s also a great time to talk about how we keep our campus a fair, supportive and professional place for everyone to thrive.

We celebrate the connections made on campus, yet we also have a responsibility to maintain professional boundaries. VCU’s Consensual Relationships Policy isn’t just a set of rules, it’s a commitment to protecting the integrity of our academic mission.

We all know that relationships can be complicated, but at VCU we want to make sure they never get in the way of your success. Keep scrolling down for a quick, no-stress guide to our Consensual Relationships Policy.

Why do we have this policy?

VCU is committed to a learning environment free from favoritism or conflicts of interest. When there are power discrepancies — for example between a professor and their student — it can get tricky to stay objective. Our goal is to protect the integrity of the student-teacher  relationship, which is the heart of what we do here.

What you need to know:

  • The Golden Rule: Employees (faculty, staff, postdocs and TAs) should not engage in romantic or sexual relationships with students if they are in a position of authority over that student.
    • What counts as “Authority”? This includes teaching, grading, advising, or supervising a student’s work.
  • It’s a Shared Responsibility: Both employees and students have a role in keeping things professional.

What if a relationship happens?

Life is unpredictable! If a consensual relationship does develop between someone in authority and a student, the most important step is disclosure.

  • Employees should report the relationship to their supervisor or department chair immediately.
  • Students should report it to the Dean of Student Advocacy’s Office.

Why report it? 

Reporting is necessary so that we can create a plan to resolve any conflict of interest.This usually involves making new arrangements for grading or supervision to ensure the student is evaluated fairly and objectively.

Keeping it Confidential

We know these are personal matters. To the extent possible, all reports and resolution plans are kept confidential to protect everyone involved.

Need Advice?

If you have questions or just want to chat about how this applies to you, there are plenty of friendly faces ready to help:

Read the full policy here. Let’s keep our focus on what makes VCU great: mutual respect, fair opportunities and a community that looks out for one another!

Happy Valentine’s Day, Rams! 🐑❤️