Practical Tips for Teaching Assistants Maintaining Professional Relationships Practical Tips for Teaching Assistants Maintain a professional relationship with your students. When meeting with students in your office, leave the door open or arrange to be interrupted after a short time. If the behaviour persists, seek advice from someone you trust, who will take the problem seriously and can help you deal with the problem, preferably your supervisor. You, or your supervisor, can also call the Human Rights Office for confidential information and assistance.
Mutual attractions do occur between students and teaching assistants.
If you wish to have a personal relationship with a student you must wait until the student has completed any course work and is no longer under your direct assessment or control. If this is not possible and a relationship develops, you must declare a potential conflict of interest, normally to the Department Head or Dean who will assist in arranging evaluation by alternative means. When carrying on conversations with students, both in and outside the class, avoid commenting on student dress and appearance. Discriminatory jokes and slurs have no place in the classroom. Because many students will be offended by such remarks, put a stop to them immediately.