The university strives to protect the integrity of students’ and postgraduates’ university experience, with the freedom to pursue academic, training, research, and professional interests in an environment without preferential or unfair treatment, discrimination, harassment, bias, or coercion. In addition, the university expects faculty, staff, and others in positions of authority to manage their responsibilities appropriately and with sound professional judgment and impartiality. Finally, the university supports an overall educational environment that is free from conflicts of interest.

As a result, pursuant to Policy 6.3, romantic or sexual relationships between students or postgraduates (as defined by the policy) and faculty members, staff members, or others in positions of authority over them are prohibited whenever those relationships have the potential to interfere with an individual’s right or ability to pursue academic, training, research, or professional interests.

For the current governing Cornell policy, please see Cornell University Policy 6.3, “Consensual Relationships.”