It is challenging to be an advisor. Academic advising is obviously the main purpose and topic of my one-on-one conversations with my students. We talk about their academic progress (in my class, obviously, but also with other their other classes and how to balance the coursework, the schedules, etc.). But we also talk about other things. I don’t ask for that but I don’t believe it is necessary to turn aside students who are in need of mentoring. I have talked with students about family and roommate issues, abuse of alcohol or prescription drugs (this is, oddly enough, always other people than the one sitting across the desk from me), money issues, and on rare occasions misconduct of other kinds. I have always considered what was said to me the student’s business, not something that was mine to share with anyone else. That has changed. And I am not sure how I feel about that.
As of this fall, we (the faculty, at least) were informed that we were mandatory reporters of sexual misconduct. I know where this is coming from, as the university is very concerned about its/our compliance with Title IX. In theory this is a good thing, and I am really in favour of having the treatment of all people be equal in terms of their gender identity and relationships and their criminal activity. I have heard much too much anecdotal accounts of inappropriate relationships from my own undergraduate years, my graduate school companions (many involving relationships that became complicated in the field), and at my current university. Sometimes the stories are followed through in a way that makes sense, but sometimes you hear things that make you terribly upset, defensive of your friends, and in many ways very confused.
I know that setting up an absolute standard is a way for the university to figure out how to deal with these events. But I am feeling very awkward standing in front of a class and saying “please read this new section of the syllabus — I am now a mandatory reporter of sexual misconduct, so keep that in mind. There will not be complete confidentiality when you confide in me about such activities.” I will have to keep this in mind any time a conference leads in that potential direction. I hate to think in terms of absolutes, and this statement and emphasis on this policy means I cannot allow students to be open with me about what might be upsetting them without reminding them that this conversation will have to be reported. I don’t know when something like this will come up, but I worry that it might (I am sure it will), and I am sorry to lose that potential approach in conversing with students who need someone to talk with who appears to them as an authority figure in loco parentis. I know that I should not have this conflict, but I do, and I care about those students who sit in my office sobbing. I would like to be able to listen to them, offer assistance and suggestions if they want them, but not have to go report them to someone above me if they do not want me to do so. I will certainly support someone if reporting is his or her choice, but I am uncomfortable with the situation being settled for me.
I would be interested in hearing other people’s experiences and/or thoughts about this. Is this challenging for you? Or are you relieved that someone has made a decision about approaches to be taken for you?