Faculty Code of Conduct for The Royal Conservatory of Music

The Faculty Code of Conduct for The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM), which includes but is not limited to Instructors and Administrators to the Glenn Gould School (GGS), The Taylor Academy, and The Oscar Peterson School of Music (OPS), is designed to ensure a professional, respectful, and safe environment that upholds the highest standards of teaching, learning, and artistic excellence. This code establishes clear expectations and responsibilities for faculty members, particularly in the context of interactions with students, parents, guardians, and members of the RCM community (both adult and minors), to promote safety, integrity, and ethical practices.

1. General Professionalism

Faculty members shall:

• Conduct themselves with integrity, fairness, and respect toward all students, staff, colleagues, and the community.
• Demonstrate professionalism in behaviour, attire, and communication within the RCM and in public settings where they represent the institution.
• Avoid engaging in any activity or behaviour that could damage the RCM's or its members' reputation.

 
2. Respectful and Inclusive Teaching Environment

Faculty members shall:

• Create a supportive and inclusive classroom or studio environment that fosters mutual respect and artistic growth.
• Interact in an environment that is free from favouritism, discrimination, or exclusion based on race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, record of offences, marital status, family status, or disability.
• Respect all students' needs and learning styles including accommodations as deemed necessary by Administration at the RCM to support their development.

 
3. Boundaries and Physical Contact

Faculty members shall:

• Not engage in personal relationships, intimate relationships, or friendships with students outside the academic setting.
• Disclose any such relationships to Administration immediately to determine the next steps.
• Maintain clear professional boundaries in interactions with students and be aware of personal space boundaries.
• Avoid one-on-one meetings with students, particularly those who are underage, in private, unmonitored spaces outside of assigned teaching.
• Contact Administration for assistance in setting up necessary meetings.
• Ensure that for meetings with minor students outside of assigned teaching, a guardian or school administrator is present.
• Obtain explicit consent for physical contact and inform students in every interaction that they can refuse or withdraw consent at any time without repercussion.

• Ensure that physical contact occurs only when necessary for a clear pedagogical purpose.
• Remain sensitive to students’ comfort and offer alternative demonstration methods if needed.

 
4. Teaching Commitments

• Faculty members are required to fulfill their teaching responsibilities on-site at the RCM or at an RCM-arranged off-site location, except when classes or studio teaching, which are normally held in person, are temporarily required by the employer to be held online.

 
5. Use of RCM Space

Faculty members shall:

• Ensure proper and responsible use of all RCM facilities (including use of all RCM music property i.e. instruments) to only be used for RCM-approved teaching activities related to their employment.
• Ensure that all teaching activities conducted within RCM spaces align with the institution's curriculum and policies.

 
6. Communication and Privacy

Faculty members shall:

• Contact students or their parents/guardians (in the case of students who are minors), only through RCM-approved communication channels (e.g., RCM email, and official messaging platforms such as Microsoft Teams) and/or via their designated administrative contact.
• Avoid sharing personal contact information or engaging in social media interactions with students. This includes engaging in all online interactions (i.e. social media posts).
• Protect students' privacy by responsibly managing personal and academic information in compliance with privacy laws and RCM Privacy policies.

 
7. Harassment and Misconduct

Faculty members shall:

• Refrain from harassment, bullying, or misconduct, including verbal, physical, or emotional abuse.
• Avoid actions or behaviour such as but not limited to making inappropriate jokes, comments and gestures that could create a hostile environment.
• Follow the RCM’s zero-tolerance policy for harassment, reporting incidents immediately, including online interactions.

 
8. Safeguarding and Mandatory Reporting

Faculty members shall:

• Promptly report concerns about abuse, neglect, or inappropriate behaviour to the appropriate dean(s) or directors of administration.
• Follow the RCM’s safeguarding policies and complete required training sessions on safeguarding and professional ethics.
• Avoid behaviour that could be perceived as excessive attention, including gift-giving or personal communication with students outside academic and professional settings.

 
9. Artistic Freedom and Ethical Responsibilities

Faculty members shall:

• Uphold academic and artistic freedom while remaining sensitive to the diverse values and beliefs of the student body without creating fear of reprisal.
• Provide constructive, fair, and unbiased evaluations of student work.
• Avoid using their position to exploit students for personal, professional, or financial gain.

 
10. Conflict of Interest

Faculty members shall:

• Disclose any personal, familial, or financial relationships with students or other RCM stakeholders that could lead to conflicts of interest or perceptions of bias.
• Avoid engaging in private lessons, performances, or other activities with students or other RCM stakeholders that conflict with their obligations to the RCM.

 
11. Disciplinary Actions

Violations of this code may result in but are not explicitly limited to:

• Verbal or written warnings.
• Suspension or termination of employment.
• Reporting to legal authorities for criminal behaviour.

 
12. Resolution of Concerns and Disputes

Faculty members shall:

• Direct any concerns, disputes, or grievances to the appropriate dean(s) or directors for formal resolution.
• Maintain professionalism and confidentiality by refraining from discussion of such matters with other faculty members and/or students.
• Follow institutional protocols for conflict resolution to ensure fairness and transparency.

 
For members of the CBA, anything in this document that contravenes CBA regulations should be overruled.