Student-Employee Contact Policy

EMPLOYEE – STUDENT INTERACTIONS
Strong and caring connections between students and faculty/staff form the foundation of a transformational education. Trusting, respectful relationships foster learning and growth, both inside and outside the classroom. Given the critical role that the student-teacher relationship plays at UHS, we must ensure that it is not compromised by actions that, intentionally or unintentionally, cross professional boundaries. Therefore, the following guidelines are in place for employees and volunteers:

• An adult must not be alone with a student in a space that cannot be observed by
• others (e.g., an office with no windows, an automobile).
• An adult must not have unnecessary physical contact with a student in either a public or
• private situation.
• An adult must not socialize or have other contact with a student or group of students
• off campus, outside of school-sponsored activities.
• An adult must not conduct communication of any kind with a current student on any
• social media platform (e.g. “friending” a student on Facebook, following a student on
• Twitter).
• An adult must not interact with current students by text or e-mail, unless the
• communication is exclusively related to the adult’s professional work for the school
• (e.g., a class, a sports team, etc.). Employees should use the school's email system for
• all communications with students, and they should only send emails to students
• during business hours. Texting with students is permitted only for urgent
• communications, such as changes in schedules or locations for sports practices.
• When texting a student, employees should send group texts or either include another
• employee on the texts or notify a supervisor about the texting.
• An adult must not offer preferential treatment or disproportionate/excessive personal attention to any student.
• An adult must not discuss their personal problems with students or share intimate information about their lives with students. They also should not ask students for such information unless it is part of their job responsibilities (e.g., school counselors).
• An adult must not engage in conduct that would violate the Policy Against Harassment, Bullying and Hazing involving students in UHS's student handbook.
• An adult must notify their supervisor of any deviations from the above guidelines and they must keep parents/guardians and appropriate administrators aware of any significant issues relating to students.

The above guidelines apply not just to interactions with current students, but any interactions with minors with whom an adult interacts as part of his/her employment with UHS, (e.g., 8th grade applicants, siblings of students, former students who are minors, students visiting from other schools, etc.)

If faculty or staff members encounter a situation which requires an exception to any of these guidelines, they must inform their Department Chair or immediate supervisor in advance. If it is not possible to provide the information in advance, the faculty or staff member must inform the Department Chair or immediate supervisor as soon as possible after the exceptional event occurs. Because we all have ownership in creating a safe learning environment, we expect any member of our community, and require all faculty and staff, to report a concern about a potential violation of these guidelines to the Head of School, the Chief Financial Officer, the Dean of Faculty, or the Dean of Students. If an employee is uncomfortable reporting to any of these administrators, they may contact the Chair of the
Board of Trustees. Retaliation for reporting concerns under this policy is prohibited and will lead to discipline up to and including discharge.

Inappropriate Behavior Toward Students

The School expects all of its faculty and staff to demonstrate the highest level of professional and institutional responsibility in their interactions with students. Any personal involvement between a staff member and a student beyond the professional educator-student relationship is prohibited. Dating currently enrolled students or recent alumni is prohibited. Similarly, all sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, expressions of "romantic" interest, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature are prohibited with respect to students, even if a student initiates, invites, or is apparently accepting of them. Faculty and staff behavior with respect to students must be above reproach. School employees have an obligation to be familiar with the School's Policy Against Harassment, Bullying and Hazing involving students in UHS's student handbook, and must report to the Head of School any behavior between an adult employee and a
student that they suspect to be inappropriate.

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REPORTING MISCONDUCT

Reports of misconduct can be made to the Anonymous Hotline or to the UHS administrators below:

Anonymous Hotline: 

• Toll-Free Telephone:
  • English: (833) 640-0004
  • Spanish: (800) 216-1288
• UHS Administrators:
  • Nasif Iskander, Interim Head of School
    • Nasif.Iskander@sfuhs.org
    • (415) 447-3100
  • Alexandra Simmons, Dean of Students
    • Alexandra.Simmons@sfuhs.org
    • (415) 447-3109