IX. Relationships

Within this section, the following terms and definitions apply:

  • Affiliated Individuals. Employees, trustees, vendors and volunteers. 
  • Employee. Faculty member, exempt-staff member, or non-exempt staff member
  • Trustees. Active or Emeritus members of the Board of Trustees of Kenyon College 
  • Vendors. Organizations engaged in a contractual relationship with the College to execute a specific function. Such functional areas include, but may not be limited to: food service, contractors, etc.
  • Volunteers. Alumni, parents and friends of the College who volunteer to assist the College with certain events, functions, and committees.
  • Student-staff. Undergraduate students enrolled at the College who are employed by the College, e.g., Community Advisor, library assistant, KAC worker, AT, etc.

For the purposes of this section of the Policy, a “relationship” is defined as  a single date or sexual encounter.

Relationships Between Affiliated Individuals and Students

All affiliated individuals are prohibited from initiating, engaging in, or attempting to engage in, sexual or dating relationships with any student. An affiliated individual involved in a sexual or dating relationship with a student which began prior to their engagement with the College is exempt from this prohibition, as is an employee whose spouse or domestic partner is a student. If, however, the relationship is with someone the affiliated individual supervises, directly evaluates or officially mentors, the relationship must be disclosed as outlined in the paragraph below (“Disclosures”) so that appropriate action — such as changing the reporting or grading structure — can be taken.

Relationships Between Individuals in a Supervisory Relationship

All affiliated individuals and student-staff are prohibited from engaging in sexual or dating relationships with anyone under their direct supervision or whom they officially evaluate or mentor. They are further prohibited from officially supervising, evaluating or mentoring anyone with whom they had a relationship in the past, regardless of the consensual nature of the relationship. If such a situation exists or develops, the relationship must be disclosed as outlined in the paragraph below (“Disclosures”) so that appropriate action — such as changing the reporting structure — can be taken.

Other Relationships

Sexual and dating relationships in which there is a power differential, even when the differential does not fall into one of the above categories, may raise questions of sexual harassment or suspicions of unprofessional conduct (e.g., conflict of interest, abuse of authority, favoritism, and unfair treatment). For this reason, even relationships that are not officially supervisory or mentoring in nature may require extra sensitivity where such a power differential occurs. Anyone concerned that issues described in this paragraph have developed (or may develop) in a relationship they are aware of or a part of is encouraged to seek guidance from the Civil Rights and Title IX Coordinator.

Disclosures

All disclosures of existing relationships and reports of concerns should be made to the Civil Rights and Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX Coordinator, at their discretion, may inform the appropriate supervisor and/or the Director of Human Resources (for matters involving staff and/or student staff) or the Provost (for matters involving faculty) about a disclosed relationship.

These matters will be addressed outside of the Civil Rights Policy unless the report contains information which would support a violation of one or more sections of Prohibited Conduct detailed in Section VII.