Reprimand for lecturer who gave note to student
AN EXPERIENCED college lecturer has had a formal reprimand for giving her a handwritten note and his phone number with a view to developing a relationship.
Julian Fuge admitted in an internal investigation by Gower College Swansea that he had given the mature student a note and his personal phone number in the college, a professional standards committee heard.
The second year student, who was not being taught by Fuge at the time but was due to be, said his actions were not the reason she left the course and had not affected her or her studies, the Education Workforce Council (EWC) panel was told.
But the committee found the lecturer’s actions were “sexually motivated” and giving the student the note did have the potential to affect her and her education even though she said it had not.
Hairdressing lecturer Fuge, who had worked at the college for 16 years before the “moment of madness” in autumn 2022, told the previous college investigation he regretted his actions and had been experiencing some personal difficulties at the time, the committee heard.
But he told senior staff he was not aware that lecturers could not form friendships with adult students and had not intended anything romantic by handing her the note saying: “We can meet up for a chat about what we feel about each other and where you and I want it to go.”
The EWC fitness to practise committee, sitting remotely yesterday, found three allegations against Fuge proven: that in or around October 2022 he gave a hand-written note to Learner One with a view to developing a personal relationship with them; that he wrote his personal phone number and/or the words: “We can meet up for a chat about what we feel about each other and where you and I want it to go”; and that the alleged conduct was sexually motivated.
They found the behaviour amounted to unacceptable professional conduct.
The committee agreed to amend the wording, originally stated incorrectly in allegations during the opening of the case yesterday in which the word “it” had been wrongly omitted from the note.
Fuge did not attend and was not represented at the hearing and gave no responses to the EWC allegations, which were therefore taken as denied.
Imposing a reprimand on Fuge’s professional registration with the EWC, committee chairman Steve Powell said although the lecturer had not engaged with the professional standards hearing he had told the college investigation he was sorry for his actions and accepted giving the student the note, which the EWC had a copy of, was “a mistake”.
Stamping the reprimand on the lecturer’s registration, Mr Powell said: “No doubt was cast upon his ability as an educator although no references were provided. Mr Fuge apologised and showed some insight into his conduct and we considered his apology genuine.
“This was an isolated incident and there was no evidence of repetition of the proven conduct. Mr Fuge has been a lecturer for 16 years and had no history before with the EWC. The behaviour was out of character.”
Fuge has 28 days to appeal the panel’s decision to the High Court.