Intimate Relationships Between Students and Teachers Prohibited: Here's What the New Cambridge Law Says

A new rule has been implemented by the Cambridge University. The rule is not based on any educational reforms, but rather prohibits intimate relations between students and teachers. The aim is to shield student welfare.

What exactly is the new law, and what prompted the authorities to bring about such a law? Let's understand.

Change in policies and procedures

Recently, there have been many reports of instances of many types of intimate relationships between the staff of the Cambridge University and the students. There have been many cases of sexual intercourse and casual flirting reported between students and teachers. As a response, there have been several updates in the website of the Cambridge University lately. These changes have been specifically made in the "policies and procedures" mentioned on the website. 

As per the new rules, the University prohibits the faculty of the University from pursuing or getting into an intimate relationship with any of the students of the University for whom the faculty has any form of academic responsibilities.

While this means that there is no such prohibition for an intimate relationship between teachers and the students that they do not teach, the Cambridge University advises the teachers to not engage in such a setting in order to foster student well-being.

The new regulations

The new changes in the regulations are as follows:

• An actual or apparent conflict of interest arises when a personal relation of an intimate nature between a student and a member of staff is formed. Such a relationship may be perceived to forma a risk of abuse of authority or favoritism.
• The University says that the members of staff are duty bound to act with integrity. A personal relationship of the intimate form between a staff and a student must be avoided at all costs.
• In case a member of staff has or has an intimate or personal relation with a student they share a professional relationship with, it is the duty of the staff member to disclose it to the Head of Department.
• A failure to comply with these policies may be deemed as a disciplinary matter.

Protecting both parties from unfairness

The new policy brought forward by the Cambridge University intends to discourage consensual relationships of intimate or sexual nature between the students and the staff pf the university, specifically in cases where the staff member actually holds a professional responsibility towards the student. The policy makes sure that in case any such relation have occurred, there are certain measures implemented to protect both the parties from any perception of unfairness. This preserves the interests of both the sides.

Acting with integrity

Staff members of the University are expected to act with integrity. The staff members are expected to refrain from any such situations of perceived or actual conflict. It is recommended to the staff members to avoid creating any personal relations with the students of the manner mentioned above. However, even if such an incident arises, it is the duty of the staff to abide by the disclosure requirements as mentioned in the policy.