Mary Jo Helms, a university professor, is surprised when Mark Dubois, a middle-aged man, enters her freshman journalism class. University policy forbids relationships between teachers and students, but an attraction between them leads Mary Jo to take risks that could jeopardize her career. A disgruntled student attempts to blackmail Mary Jo for a passing grade then has her suspended when she refuses to submit to his threats. She must make a decision whether to allow Mark, who is chairman of the board of regents at the college, to defend her at the hearing or agree to forgo her university career and accept a position with Mark's company and allow their relationship to continue.