Author's Note: I actually finished this chapter for the most part on the 9th but I had some issues with my laptop and ended up having to get a new one. There is a change of how this chapter is written, mostly because of the in-story time, Astrid's been speaking for a couple of hours and the HR agent has other appointments.
Chapter 6 Hiccup's interview, the University's policy review and HR findings
"So is that everything?" the HR agent asked. He just wanted to be clear.
"Yes that's everything. So what's going to happen?" Astrid was finally showing fear.
"First I just need to interview Dr. Haddock and then I need to check the school's policy and then I'll call you both back in and we will go from there. Thank you so much for your time, Ms. Hofferson, could you send in Dr. Haddock." The HR agent said escorting Astrid out and holding the door for her. Hiccup then came in, the no one spoke until Astrid left the room, Hiccup was in the seat Astrid was in and the HR agent was behind his deck.
"Hey Bill, how's it going?" Hiccup said to the agent a little too cheerfully.
"Well Heck, how do you think it is going?" Bill said a little cross. "Sorry. Well I have heard Ms. Hofferson's story. I don't have the time to hear all from your perspective, so is it okay that I just ask you to verify what I have been told by Ms. Hofferson and go from there?" Bill asked.
"Sure."
"Alright, did you substitute for Gobber Belch for his shop classes when Ms. Hofferson was in high school? And did you grade any shop class projects during that time?"
"Yes. And Astrid was one Gobber's shop class students." Hiccup answered.
"Did you know of Ms. Hofferson by the term 'Finn's Niece' during that time?"
"Yes and she knew of me as 'Stoick's Son." Hiccup answered.
"But it was not until your panther, Toothless, tackled Ms. Hofferson in June that you two actually developed a romantic relationship?"
"Yes and during that month, we dated, during our first weekend together we met each others 'parents' and our parents met each other in the context of Astrid and I as a couple." Hiccup answered.
"Alright, so by end of July Ms. Hofferson moved into your place?"
"Yes, we had our first fight before the move in was official." Hiccup answered.
"And did you recommend that Ms. Hofferson take one of the Physic 101 classes that you were not teaching before the change of schedule?"
"I did and I recommended that she ask Mr. Ingerman, my assistant, for tutoring."
"And my last question, was it your idea to have a meeting with the university's HR over a possible conflict of interest concern?" Bill asked.
"Yes it was my idea. Honestly it was the first time Astrid and I had different opinions and she agreed with me." Hiccup answered.
"Thank you Heck, would you mind waiting outside with Ms. Hofferson as I review the university's policy? I'll ask you two back in once I am done." Bill said.
"Sure we can wait. Thanks for making time for this Bill." Hiccup said as he got up.
"No problem, Heck, at least you brought the whole affair to my attention before some else did." Bill said. Hiccup left the office. Bill took out the most recent copies of the university's student code of conduct and employee's code of conduct. It took longer than he wanted to, but Bill found what he was looking for. To summarize the entry in the Student's code of conduct, students cannot consent to a relationship with a professor beyond 'student-teacher' until the student was 21, as per the student's acceptance agreement, if it happened the student would be expelled because of violating the terms of the acceptance agreement. If 21 and over, the student and the professor cannot during the student's time at the university share more than five classes in any three-year period and cannot have had two classes together in one term. These conditions applied to undergraduate, graduate and doctorate students. Also the student needs to inform his or her adviser, the head of the field of the student's focus and the HR department. Guest lectures did not count towards either the five classes in any three-year period or towards number of classes a term, and if no classes were ever shared only the HR department needed to be informed.
To summarize the entry in the employee code of conduct, professors cannot have a relationship beyond 'teacher-student' with students under 21, and because the student could not consent as per the student acceptance agreement the professor would be fired, even if the professor had tenure, and would be charged with rape. If the student was 21, the professor cannot have instructed more than five classes in any three-year period of the student's career, be it undergraduate, graduate or doctorate, nor can the professor instruct more than one class a term. If a relationship developed, the professor had to inform the head of his or her department and HR. The professor also had to appoint someone else to grade the student's work. Guest lectures did not count toward the five classes with in a three-year period, nor did they count towards the number of classes a term. Also if no classes were shared only the HR needed to be informed of the relationship.
There was a clause in the HR department's bylaws, Bill could waiver the inform the adviser and department heads requirements if it was reasonable for him to conclude that neither professor nor student intended to share the same class but were made to do so due to circumstances unforeseen by both professor and student. Bill knew Hiccup did not foresee Dr. Xavier or Dr. Sridhar not teaching this term; it was Bill that had to inform Hiccup of the change in schedule. As for Astrid, he concluded that if Hiccup could have foreseen it he would have told Astrid. Bill decided to give Astrid the benefit of the doubt, just let be that Ms. Hofferson only needed to inform HR, and Dr. Haddock only needed to inform HR and ask someone else to grade Ms. Hofferson's work. But he knew Hiccup did that already, Bill had a notarized and apostatized copy of the agreement between Hiccup and Fisher that Fisher would grade all the classes originally scheduled for Dr. Havier. Bill called the two back in.
"Alright, according two you both, you have a romantic relationship that started before the term and you two only share the one class. Dr. Haddock, you have already set it up that you would not be grading Ms. Hofferson's class. You have both informed me of the relationship. I cannot see this relationship being detrimental to Ms. Hofferson's education. All in all everything is fine. There is only one remaining concern, because you two share a class, normally you two would have to inform the head of your departments and in Ms. Hofferson's case your adviser as well. However since I can reasonable conclude that neither of you foresaw actually sharing the class, as by both of your own admissions, Ms. Hofferson registered for the class because it was scheduled to be taught by Dr. Havier, I am going to waive those requirements. However I do recommend that you both do actually inform them the individuals in question. If two would sign these forms, than that will conclude the matter, for the time being. If at any point either of you have a concern, than please contact me and hopefully we can resolve it swiftly."
"Thanks, Bill. Well we better get going." Hiccup said after he and Astrid signed the forms as he and Astrid got up and started to head out.
"No problem, Heck."
"Heck?" Astrid asked.
"It's what I call him; it's based off the first syllable of his name, much like 'Bill' being based off the first syllable of my actual name. Good day to you both." The HR agent said as he gestured that the two should leave.
Author's note: Yes the HR agent is male, yes he and Hiccup refer to each other as 'Bill' and 'Heck'. Yes Hiccup's time is shorter and mostly confirmation. This is not necessary accurate to and actual HR interviews on the topic of relationships, it just made sense to me. Honestly I don't know if what I used are actual terms and conditions for a situation of a professor and student having a sexual relationship, it just was reasonable to me, if anyone has a real world example, I would gladly like to know.