Complaint: ex-UND professor manipulated and coerced student

Complaints filed against two former University of North Dakota professors will be heard Tuesday morning.

One of the cases alleges that a social work professor used his position to coerce and manipulate a student. That professor was even arrested on campus by police.

Andrew Quinn was a tenured professor at UND's Social Work Department.

Two complaints turned in to the North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners accuse him of having an improper relationship with two students.

The most recent complaint, which was submitted last year, stated Quinn violated a no contact order filed by UND while he was suspended.

Three school officials, including the chair of the social work school, accused Quinn of using his position to get involved in a romantic relationship with a student.

The three submitted their complaints to the board.

According to documents, the student was scared to report Quinn because he knew many people in the social work field. Moreover, Quinn said he'd write a letter of recommendation for her and help her get a job.

A police report showed officers responded to an on-campus apartment after Quinn reportedly was caught sleeping with the same student while he was on administrative leave.

The incident led to him getting arrested for several charges, including criminal trespass and marijuana possession.

The Grand Forks County State's Attorney tells Valley News Live the case remains an open investigation.

Quinn eventually resigned last May from his tenured position.

He's defended himself before the social work examiners board calling the allegations baseless.

One of the complaints filed against him in 2016 was dismissed by the board.

His license was suspended for three years in August of 2019, according to documents, and on Tuesday the NDBSWE will decide whether to revoke it.

We reached out to Quinn for an interview and he told us we need to look at the UND’s social work department and not at him.

His attorney didn't get back to our request for comment.

The North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners will meet on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. in Bismarck to hear the complaints.

Besides Quinn, a complaint was filed against another former UND professor from the social work school but it isn't a public record yet.