Duke Sociology Policy on Romantic and Sexual Relationships for Teaching Assistants
Teaching Undergraduates: Graduate students who have any supervisory, evaluative, or official mentoring role over undergraduates are prohibited from all sexual or sexually suggestive behavior with them. This includes acts that are physical, verbal, online, and over text. Students who violate these policies will face consequences, potentially including termination of the current TA position without pay, being prohibited from taking future TA positions, and referral to the student misconduct office.
TA Positions for Graduate Students: Graduate students are not prohibited from engaging in romantic or sexual relationships with other graduate students. However, TA’s may not evaluate other graduate students for whom they are in such relationships. If past or ongoing relationships exist prior to the course, they must be disclosed to the DGS, who will assign the TA to an appropriate course. If relationships arise during the course, they must be disclosed to the instructor, DGS, and chair, who will then prohibit the TA from grading the student. Failure to disclose in a timely manner will result in consequences, potentially including removal from the current position without pay and being prohibited from taking future TA positions.
The Department of Sociology also follows the Duke University Policy on romantic and sexual ethics and TA responsibilities.