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Community Conduct

Northwestern community members are expected to treat each other with respect and consideration.  The policies here coven conflicts arising from unequal power relationships and from all forms of sexual misconduct.

Employment or Evaluation of Relatives

This policy is intended to protect the integrity of Northwestern University’s academic and work environment and ensure that it remains free from real or apparent conflicts of interest when individuals in positions of unequal power at the university are family members.  

View the Employment or Evaluation of Relatives policy.

Consensual Relations and Sexual Misconduct

In order to protect all of our community members from conflicts arising from unequal power relationships and from all forms of sexual misconduct, the following two Policies have been developed.

Consensual Romantic or Sexual Relationships

This policy helps ensure that Northwestern’s academic, research and all other University environments remain free from real or apparent conflicts when individuals in positions of unequal power at the University are involved in consensual romantic or sexual relationships. With this policy, Northwestern joins a growing number of peer institutions in prohibiting faculty and coaches from engaging in romantic, dating, or sexual relationships with Northwestern undergraduate students, regardless of whether there is a supervisory or evaluative relationship between them. View the Consensual Romantic or Sexual Relationships between Faculty, Staff and Students policy. 

Sexual Misconduct

Northwestern is committed to fostering an environment in which all members of our community are safe, secure, and free from sexual misconduct of any form, including, but not limited to, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, stalking, and dating and domestic violence. This policy, which incorporates Northwestern's Policy on Sexual Harassment, exemplifies best practices under Title IX and the new Violence Against Women Act Amendments and is applicable to students, faculty, staff, and others in the Northwestern community. Information on available counseling, medical, and advocacy services for all Northwestern community members is also contained in this policy, which can be viewed on the Office  of Equity website.

Civility and Campus Safety

All members of the Northwestern community are expected to deal with each other with respect and consideration.

Listed here are policies and resources relating to campus civility, safety and non-retaliation, peaceful demonstrations, and use of University space for political activities. Northwestern is committed to providing a working, learning, and living environment free from harassment or discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, marital status, age, disability, citizenship, veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by law. All members of the Northwestern community – faculty, staff, students, and contracted vendors – share a collective responsibility for creating a harassment-free environment.

Campus Safety Resources