PESHAWAR – Khyber Medical University (KMU) has implemented a new policy banning “intimate relationships” between faculty, staff, and students. This move aligns with the Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) efforts to combat harassment on university campuses.
The policy, championed by Dr. Brekhna Jamil, chair of KMU’s harassment inquiry committee, outlines strict penalties for violations. These range from verbal warnings to dismissal, suspension, expulsion, and even license revocation. Dr. Jamil emphasized that such relationships create conflicts of interest, hinder objective judgement, and damage the university’s reputation.
KMU has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment, and recent actions include expelling a staff member and issuing reprimands and demotions for others. Several senior staff members have received final warnings and are under monitoring.
Preventive Measures
The policy aims to prevent future harassment cases. Dr. Jamil urged faculty to disseminate the policy throughout their departments, ensuring everyone is informed and compliant. The policy, titled “Prohibition of Intimate Relationships,” is based on the HEC’s 2020 policy on preventing sexual harassment.
Policy Scope
The policy applies to all KMU’s affiliated institutions and colleges. It covers faculty, staff, students, interns, residents, and even third parties like service providers and visitors. The policy applies to misconduct occurring:
- On campus or its immediate vicinity
- Off-campus if related to a university program or activity, creates a hostile environment, or poses a safety risk on campus
- Using university computing resources from off-campus locations
Focus on Power Dynamics
Section 14 of the policy specifically addresses faculty-student relationships. While consenting relationships between adults are generally considered private matters, subsection 14.2 highlights the inappropriateness of faculty or staff having intimate relationships with students or subordinates whose academic or work performance they evaluate. The policy emphasizes the potential conflict of interest and its detrimental impact on professional judgement and institutional credibility.
Faculty-Student Relationships Banned
The policy explicitly bans intimate relationships between faculty/staff and students, regardless of their academic level (undergraduate or graduate).
