The Design Studies Institute is dedicated to professionalism in every aspect, including the nature of personal interactions as a community. Intimate relationships, including the forms of sexual, dating, or romantic relationships, compromise the faculty members’ judgment of students and thus are a threat to the fair basis of The Design Studies Institute’s academic mission. Intimate relationships in which there is a power imbalance can create a perception of preferential treatment and thus are prohibited. The asymmetric power differentials pertaining to intimate relationships between faculty and students are highly vulnerable to being experienced by a party as non-consensual or coercive. Faculty should be aware of the asymmetric power distribution and acknowledge the importance of protecting students from potential abuse, harassment, and exploitation.
No members of the Design Studies Institute faculty or staff, shall engage in an intimate relationship with or accept an advance from any Design Studies Institute student prior to the student’s completion of the program.
No member of the Design Studies Institute faculty or staff, shall hold academic or professional authority over any student with whom he or she has had a previous intimate relationship. Previous and current relationships with present and incoming students should be disclosed immediately.
No member of the Design Studies Institute faculty or other staff, shall hold academic or professional authority over another Design Studies Institute affiliate. Previous and current intimate relationships with present and incoming Design Studies Institute affiliates should be disclosed immediately.
Other situations in which one individual holds greater power or authority may also be a violation of DSI’s policy. Design Studies Institute community members who know of a violation in the Romantic and Kinship Policy must report what they know by emailing report@dsi.edu.ai. All reports of a violation in the Romantic and Kinship Policy will be investigated and appropriate action will be taken, including disciplinary action, as necessary.
