Close personal relationships policy
Intent and objectives
The University expects staff members to maintain the highest professional standards when fulfilling the duties. This places an obligation on staff to act appropriately when a conflict arises (or could be seen to arise) between their duty to the University and their close personal relationship with a student or a staff member.
Objectives
This policy aims to
- support ethical and professional conduct of staff
- safeguard staff members’ work relationships as teachers, academics, supervisors or administrators
- secure the interests of students enrolled in University programs and staff of the University, in particular by providing an equal educational opportunity for all
Scope
All staff and students. This policy has particular relevance to academic staff and postgraduate students.
Exclusions
Nil.
Provisions
If a staff member has (or initiates) a close personal relationship with a student or another (potential) staff member, it is the staff member’s responsibility to remove themselves from any real or perceived conflict of interest. This policy applies regardless of who initiates the relationship.
Staff-student relationships
Where a staff member is currently involved or has recently been involved in a close personal relationship with a student, that staff member must not take any part in any academic or administrative decision making processes in respect of that student. Such processes can include:
- selection for entry to the University
- selection for any undergraduate or postgraduate program offered by the University
- assessment procedures
- classification for honours
- selection for any scholarship or prize
- honours or postgraduate supervision
Staff are responsible for removing themselves from the resulting potential conflict of interest with no disadvantage to the student concerned, in line with the Personal relationships between staff and students procedure.
Staff-staff relationships
Staff members must not take any active part in any formal employment or academic assessment processes in respect of another staff member (or potential staff member) with whom they have a close personal relationship. Such processes may include but not limited to the following:
- recruitment and appointment
- direct reporting relationship
- tenure
- promotion
- reclassification
- termination
- staff development opportunities
- conditions of service
- planning and development review
- performance appraisal
- research grant assessment
Breach of policy
Failure by a staff member to remove themselves from any conflict of interest can lead to disciplinary action on the ground of misconduct or serious misconduct.
Close personal relationships policy
Supporting documents and information
Supporting procedures and guidelines
- Personal relationships between staff and students procedure
- Declaration of potential or actual conflict of interest procedure
Related documents
Close personal relationships policy
Definitions
Close personal relationships - for the purpose of this policy, close personal relationships are defined as those which may lead to a real or perceived conflict of interest, specifically:
- family relationships (husband/wife, defacto partner, siblings, parent/child, relations by marriage such as brother or sister-in law)
- emotional relationships (which might include sexual relationships and close friendships)
Conflict of interest - means a situation where there is an actual, potential or perceived divergence between the individual interests of a staff member and their professional and work related obligations to RMIT, such that an independent observer might reasonably question that the staff member’s conduct may have been influenced by his or her own private interests or personal circumstances.
For the purpose of this policy a conflict of interest is defined as:
- Staff and students - when a staff member is involved in the admission, supervision, assessment or examination of a student with whom they have, or have had, a close personal relationship with.
- Staff and staff - when a staff member has management or financial decision making powers in relation to another staff member or potential staff member and is involved in a close personal relationship with that person.
Close personal relationships policy
Accountability
|
Revision number |
V 2.0 |
Accountability |
Vice President Resources |
|
Document ref |
POL/2008/00028 |
Operational responsibility |
Executive Director – Human Resources |
|
Date approved |
1 Nov 1997 |
Last reviewed |
10 June 2010 |
|
Approval authority |
Vice-Chancellor |
Next review |
30 June 2015 |
Commencement date
30 June 2010
Interpretation and advice
Human Resources
Implementation
Executive Director, Human Resources