Prohibiting Faculty from Teaching or Serving as an Assigned Advisor to Immediate Family Members


Scope: Who is Covered by this Policy?

Instructional Staff and Students


Policy

In order to ensure the most objective evaluation of degree-seeking students, faculty members are prohibited from teaching members of their immediate family in credit-bearing courses offered by the University. Similarly, faculty members are prohibited from serving as a formal advisor for an immediate family members, especially those seeking advanced degrees (Masters or Ph.D.). Under extraordinary circumstances, a student may seek an exception to this policy by making a written request to the dean of the respective college, indicating why an exception is warranted. In the event that the dean is teaching the course in question or has a potential conflict of interest, the written request should be submitted to the Provost. In those instances in which an exception must be made (e.g. the course is not taught by anyone other than the faculty family member) every effort must be undertaken to have the student’s course work evaluated by another faculty member.

For the purpose of this policy, “immediate family” includes the following relatives, regardless of where they reside:

  1. spouse;
  2. children [whether dependent or not];
  3. siblings;
  4. parents;
  5. grandparents; and
  6. grandchildren.

It also includes any other person related by blood or by marriage and living in the same household.


Related Form(s)

Not applicable.


Additional Resources and Procedures

Not Applicable.



FAQ

Not applicable.


Policy Administration

Next Review Date

7/1/2024

Responsible Officers

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Legal Authority

Ohio Ethics Law

Compliance Policy

Yes

Recent Revision History

 Amended July 2019

Reference ID(s)

MUPIM 10.7

Reviewing Bodies

  • Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
  • Miami University Senate