Queen's University has released its Interim Policy on Employee Sexual Misconduct Towards Students. The interim policy was posted to the University Wide Policy Library on June 29, ahead of the July 1, 2023, deadline set by the Government of Ontario for all publicly assisted universities and colleges to have a policy in place regarding employee sexual misconduct towards students. 

The policy takes steps to promote a positive learning, living, and working environment in which sexual violence and sexual misconduct are not tolerated. It addresses and prohibits sexual misconduct by all faculty members and staff, and places significant restrictions on sexual or romantic relationships between employees and students, particularly undergraduate students.

While this latter provision is not a requirement of the Strengthening Post-secondary Institutions and Students Act, 2022 [Bill 26], it was considered by all those consulted to be sound, having regard for the fact that undergraduate students can be “...particularly vulnerable to the unequal institutional power inherent in the teacher-student relationship and the potential for coercion, because of their age and relative lack of maturity.” (Yale University Policy on Teacher-Student Consensual Relations).

In circumstances in which an employee has authority over a non-undergraduate student, and the employee is involved in a relationship with that student, the employee must disclose a conflict of interest to their supervisor so it can be managed appropriately. Similarly, in circumstances in which an employee has had a previous relationship with a student and they do, or may reasonably be expected to, have authority over that student, the employee must disclose a conflict of interest to their supervisor so it can be managed appropriately.

The provisions of the Interim Policy on Employee Sexual Misconduct Towards Students will be incorporated into the revised Policy on Sexual Violence Involving Queen’s Students when the latter is updated in response to the external review recommendations received in February 2023. 

Queen’s continues to work to advance the university’s shared commitment to promoting a community of consent, preventing violence, and providing the most effective and trauma-informed responses and processes for students impacted by sexual violence.