Is it ok for a student to date his/her professor?

Answer 1

I think it's best to wait until after the semester is over and grades are turned in to avoid any conflict of interest. (That's what I did when I was in college!)

Answer 2

I have been a college professor for 35 years. You are asking a fine question. I will give you my take.

Stay away. I have never seen one of these scenarios that has worked well. They always end up in emotions ranging from rage to heartbreak and lots in between.

Where I teach now, we actually have an anti-fraternization policy. We are not allowed to date any students at the institution. It is considered an act of sexual harassment and thereby immediately terminable.

Ever hear the song, "Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places?" This is one of those wrong places.

Students are far more vulnerable because professors have all of the power. It is easy to become enamored with your professors. It is a powerful position and makes those in those positions even more attractive. Put up your defenses and stay away.

By the way, the professor should be the one to deflect any advances. It should be learned and maybe even a natural reaction.

I guess you see where I strand on this. Hope I have been clear and kind.

Tom

PS I have been married to the same woman for 40 years. We met in high school. I was not one of her students.

Answer 3

No it isn't.

Most students don't realize how much trouble a professor can get into, and how often professors are warned never to date students. If a professor does that anyway, there is usually something pretty wrong with him or her. Trust me, after years in academia...you guys have no idea how crazy most professors are. I don't mean wear a funny necktie, but *crazy*.

You also don't realize how far out of your league professors are. They are always much smarter than you are. Always. As students, you can't understand this fully. In turn, this means that there is no equality in the relationship, despite what you may think. You are being kept around because you flatter the professor; you are also probably more attractive, being young, than his or her spouse. That's all. You're not the first, either. Since the professor is so much smarter, it is very easy for him or her to convince you otherwise. Let me guess: you understand the professor in a way his/her spouse doesn't. You make him/her feel vital, alive, or recommitted to living. You show him/her the joy he/she had forgotten. You're different from everyone your age; you're committed to intellectual discovery and a full existence. Stop me if this sounds familiar.

It's wrong because it's not fair. Many people, especially young people, are very attracted to older, smarter people who seem to know a lot about life and to have it together. Being taught is profoundly sexy to lots of people (it's why so many people find Dr. House sexy). I've had students who were attracted to me in every class I've ever taught; when I taught at a women's school, sometimes most of the class was. But to act on that would have been grotesque. They weren't attracted to me, but to my role in their lives. I knew that, even if they didn't. As a teacher and as a person, I couldn't and wouldn't take advantage of them.

Answer 4

Not while taking the class. It's a conflict of interest and if you get caught both end up on probation and you'll probably have to re-take the class with another teacher.

Answer 5

FALLING for a PROFESSOR is so much INEVITABLE and we cant be waiting for our semesters to get over, the EXCITEMENT gets over, and we dont believe in ABSTINENCE, so we must be dating our professors whenever we feel like. the LAWS that we know are so damn IRRELEVANT (bt they are still PREVALENT so dont get caught)

Answer 6

No...but if you going to do it...date a prof. that is not currently teaching anything you are taking...IF he or she is teach a current class DONT do it....it looks like a conflict of interest on both your parts....it could get sticky in and out of bed.

Answer 7

depends on gpa