Dear Colleagues,
Some of you have property—for example, apartments or rooms—that you may want to rent to students. We greatly appreciate such efforts to expand the supply of housing available to our students.
In the past, however, a few problems have arisen, and to avoid similar problems in the future, we want to offer you this simple guideline: avoid renting directly to students if you have or could reasonably expect to have academic responsibility for them, whether instructional, evaluative, or supervisory.
While current University policy does not bar you from renting to students for whom you have academic responsibility, a commercial relationship with a student for whom you have academic responsibility could create a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict. In particular, if owner-tenant disputes were to arise, allegations could be made against you under the Faculty Code of Conduct (APM 015), specifically APM 015 Part II.A.1(d), which pertains to evaluation of student work, or APM 015 Part II.A.5, which pertains to the use of the position or powers of a faculty member.
Please note that by sharing the above, we intend only to offer you advice about plans that you may be considering. We are not advocating that you end any ongoing rentals, nor do we wish to interfere with any existing agreements or contracts.
Regards,
Lisa Garcia Bedolla
Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Dean of the Graduate Division
Janet Broughton
Interim Vice Provost for the Faculty
Oliver M. O’Reilly
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
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