The University of Otago does not propose to ban intimate
relationships between staff and students.
The university decided last year to review its ethical
behaviour policy following Clayton Weatherston's conviction
for murdering Sophie Elliott (22) in her home in 2008.
Miss Elliott was an economics student at Otago when she met
Weatherston, who tutored her in the subject.
They had a relationship for about eight months.
About 16 groups or individuals made submissions on possible
amendments to the ethical behaviour policy, particularly to
the "abuse of supervisory authority" section which outlines
what staff should do when a they enter staff-staff or
staff-student personal relationships, or when they work with
or teach family members.
The revised policy, which university human resources director
Kevin Seales said yesterday was now in final draft form, more
clearly defined relationships which might result in a
conflict of interest, and what should happen once those
relationships were disclosed.
The university "strongly discourages" personal relationships
between staff and students for whom they have responsibility,
the revised policy says, advising staff to avoid entering
into them.
"Such a relationship risks taking advantage of the intrinsic
trust, power and status differential implicit in the staff to
student relationship," it says.
The revised policy does not go as far as saying such
relationships should be banned, or that staff in
relationships should resign.
Staff in relationships will still have to disclose the
relationship to their head of department or manager, but the
revised policy clarifies the person being told of the
relationship has a responsibility to "manage or remove the
conflict of interest", and to document the processes put in
place to achieve that.
It also makes it clear a staff member in a personal
relationship with a student, or teaching a family member,
should not be involved with the supervision of or assessment
of the work of that student or family member.
The revised policy would be discussed by the Senate, before
going to the university council.
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