Professionalism is fostered by an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect.
Actions of supervisors regarding their subordinates that harm this atmosphere can undermine professionalism and hinder fulfillment of the University's mission. Trust and respect are diminished when those in positions of authority abuse or appear to abuse their power or appear to favor a subordinate based on a personal relationship with that subordinate. Such relationships increase the chances that the supervisor may abuse, or be perceived as abusing, her or his power to exploit the subordinate sexually. Consent by the subordinate in such a relationship is regarded as questionable, due to the fundamentally unequal nature of the relationship. Moreover, other employees may be affected by such behavior because it places the supervisor in a position to favor or advance one employee's interest at the expense of others.