Purpose

The non-fraternization policy affirms Lindenwood University’s commitment to its core values by promoting fair and safe University operations. All employees must exercise professional judgment and engage in ethical conduct to avoid actual or perceived conflicts, exploitation, or inequitable treatment.

Scope

This policy applies to all individuals employed by or seeking employment with the University.

Policy

Romantic or sexual relationships between supervisors and subordinators or employees and students can hinder success in the classroom, create discord in the workplace, and substantially interfere with the administration of University programs and activities.. Such relationships may lead to complaints, including claims of sexual harassment, which can pose legal and/or reputational harm.

Relationships with Students

To protect employees and students and to ensure fair and equitable supervision, evaluation, grading, instruction, coaching, and mentoring, the University prohibits employees from entering into romantic, sexual, or other relationships with students when such relationships might create an appearance of impropriety. In practical terms, this prohibition means employees may not have romantic relationships with students they supervise, with students enrolled in their courses, whom they oversee research or dissertations, or with students who are members of athletic teams coached by the employee.

Relationships with Subordinates

Administrators shall not encourage nor engage in a romantic relationship with a subordinate. A subordinate can be an employee who reports directly to the administrator or is within the reporting structure of that administrator’s department/division.

Relationships between Employees

Relationships between employees are permitted so long as the relationship is not within the same immediate reporting structure. Additionally, these relationships are not to create or cause discord within the University or with any standard business process.

Reporting

In the event that a relationship exists and there is uncertainty about whether or not that relationship is in conflict with this policy, the impacted parties should report it to Human Resources.