New Personal Relationship Policy
19 Jun 2025
Understanding our new position on employee-student relationships
At our University, we are committed to fostering a safe, fair and supportive environment for both our employees and students.
To support this commitment, we’re introducing a new Personal Relationship Policy, which replaces the previous Consensual Relationship Policy. This updated policy clearly defines our stance on personal relationships between employees and students, including what is deemed unacceptable.
We understand that positive relationships, whether between employees or employees and students, are built on trust, respect, and integrity. These connections can often grow into meaningful academic and professional partnerships, and this policy is not intended to limit the many respectful and constructive ways students and employees engage with one another. Instead, the new policy is designed to safeguard both employees and students by addressing potential power imbalances and mitigating risks such as abuse, impropriety, bias, or harassment which can occur within intimate and close personal relationships.
What is the University’s position on personal relationships?
The new policy prohibits employees from engaging in Intimate and Close Personal Relationships with:
- Fellow colleagues or employees, or students who are under the age of 18, or an adult who is considered or suspected to be at risk (vulnerable adult);
- Students for whom they have responsibility; involvement in their academic studies and/or pastoral care;
- It also strongly discourages relationships between students and employees where there is no element of responsibility.
While relationships between employees are not prohibited, they must be declared if there is an element of responsibility, or potential conflict of interest.
Executive Director of People Ele Morrissey and Executive Director for the Student Experience Simon Merrywest said: 'We welcome this new Personal Relationship Policy, which reinforces the University’s commitment to safeguarding our community and maintaining a respectful, inclusive and professional environment. The policy outlines the university’s position on employee-student relationships and provides clear, consistent guidance on appropriate boundaries and responsibilities. In doing so, it supports our ongoing efforts to uphold the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and professional conduct across the institution.'
Which personal relationships need to be declared and by whom?
The responsibility is on the employee to declare the following relationships:
- Any pre-existing intimate or close personal relationships with a student, irrespective of whether the employee has any element of responsibility for the student or not,
- Any new intimate relationship with a student, for whom the employee has no responsibility,
- Any new close personal relationship with a student, irrespective of whether the employee has responsibility for them or not.
- Any pre-existing or new relationship with another employee where there is an element of responsibility
How do I declare a personal relationship?
- Log into MyView to complete the online Personal Relationship Declaration Form.
Further information about this process can be found in the Personal Relationships FAQs.
When?
As part of the policy rollout, employees must declare any pre-existing relationships by Tuesday, 30 September 2025, if the relationship involves:
- An intimate or close personal relationship with a student, regardless of responsibility.
- Another employee, where there is an element of responsibility.
Any new close personal or intimate relationships, which are permitted, must be declared within one month of the relationship starting.
More Information