Faculty Handbook Revisions: Code of Ethics
Effective Date
Faculty Senate approved on May 5, 2025.
Provisions will become effective following adoption of the complete revised Faculty Handbook by the Senate and the Board of Trustees.
Background
At the April 21, 2025 Faculty Senate meeting, Brandon Dupont, Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Faculty Handbook Revisions, gave a presentation on the draft revised Faculty Code of Ethics developed by the Ad Hoc Committee on Handbook Revisions. During Senate discussion, there was a comment in support of paring down the intimate personal relationship language to simply: “Intimate personal relationships between faculty and students are prohibited.” Subsequent discussion clarified the history and rationale of this draft language and Senators were informed that the proposal would be an action item at the May 5, 2025 Senate meeting.
Senate Action
On May 5, 2025, a motion from Senate Executive Council to approve the Code of Ethics revisions to the Faculty Handbook as proposed by the Ad Hoc Committee on Faculty Handbook Revisions was brought forward. During Senate discussion, the following amendments were passed by the Faculty Senate:
- A motion to amend Section II.A regarding Intimate Personal Relationships by Steven Garfinkle (CBE) was approved by a vote of 20 yes, nine no, and one abstention
- A motion to amend Section III.B regarding Academic Freedom by Peter Pihos (UFWW) was approved by a vote of 29 yes, one no, and zero abstentions
- A motion to include a link in the "relevant university policies" section to POL-U1600.06, "Prohibiting Consensual Intimate Personal Relationships Between Supervisors and Supervisees" was approved by unanimous consent.
The Code of Faculty Ethics, as amended, passed by a vote of 30 yes, zero no, zero abstentions.