Student harassment and sexual misconduct
This webpage summarises the University's policies and procedures on student harassment and sexual misconduct, including intimate personal relationships between staff members and students.
What is sexual harassment and sexual misconduct?
Sexual harassment and sexual misconduct are defined in the University’s Prevention of Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Harassment Policy.
“Sexual Misconduct” relates to all unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. This includes, but is not limited to: conduct of a sexual nature which occurred in person or by letter, telephone, text, email, or other electronic and/or social media. and includes
- engaging, or attempting to engage in a sexual act with another individual without consent
- sexually touching another person without their consent
- conduct of a sexual nature which creates, or could create, an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment for others including making unwanted remarks of a sexual nature
- inappropriately showing sexual organs to another person
- repeatedly following another person without good reason
‘Sexual Harassment’ (for the purposes of this Policy) is any unwanted behaviour or conduct of a sexual nature, which has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.
See our Report a Concern portal for further information.
What is harassment?
Harassment is any behaviour that is unwelcome and affects the dignity of those subjected to it. It is
‘Unwanted conduct which has the purpose or effect of:
- violating a person’s dignity; or
- creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them.’
Harassment can be communicated verbally, expressed in writing (e.g. via letter, email, text message, on social media, in graffiti or posters/signs etc.) or be physical in nature. It may be expressed directly to the individual concerned, occur in their presence or be communicated about them to a third party.
Read the University's Harrassment and Bullying Policy
Reporting
The University provides a Report a Concern portal which students and staff can use to disclose bullying, discrimination, harassment, hate crime, and sexual misconduct and sexual harassment. You can disclose anonymously or ask to speak to a trained advisor to get information on reporting options and support available so that you can make an informed decision on what happens next.
The Prevention of Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Harassment Policy and the Bullying and Harassment Policy set out other options which students and staff have for disclosing concerns if they don’t want to use Report a Concern, including asking for action to be taken under the appropriate University policy. We would however encourage students and staff to consider using Report a Concern in the first instance so that they can access specialist support from a trained advisor.
Support for those affected
Students and staff can disclose how they have been affected by harassment and sexual misconduct using the University’s Report a Concern portal. You can choose to do this anonymously or you can request support from an advisor. If you choose to speak to an advisor, they will be able to talk through the reporting options and support available to you, in confidence.
A range of support is available within and outside the University for students and staff who have experienced sexual harassment, sexual misconduct and harassment. Further information about support options is available on our Report a concern portal and in the policies listed:
Individuals facing allegations will be provided with a named staff member who they can contact for support. Support is also available from Student Services and the Students' Union.
Investigating sexual misconduct and sexual harassment
The following policies are relevant to how we investigate allegations of student harassment and sexual misconduct:
The Prevention of Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Harassment Policy defines what sexual harassment and sexual misconduct are and sets out the University’s approach to preventing and addressing sexual harassment and sexual misconduct.
In terms of how incidents are investigated:
These procedures set out how allegations will be investigated, including timescales, stages, penalties and appeal provisions.
Handling information
Ensuring confidentiality is a key principle in creating a culture where those affected feel safe to make a disclosure.
The University will take all reasonable steps to protect the confidentiality and privacy of those who disclose. However, there may be circumstances (e.g. in order to protect an individual at risk) where we are required to share information with other agencies or to share information internally.
Informing individuals
Where it is reasonable and practicable to do so in accordance with its duties and obligations under data protection legislation, the University will provide the individual that has raised an allegation with an outcome of the investigation and/or an explanation of any actions that the University has taken, or not taken. This includes where the outcome is changed for any reason. However, it may only be possible for the University to provide limited information depending on the circumstances.
Training for students
We’re committed to ensuring that students understand what sexual harassment and sexual misconduct is, how to report it, the support available to them, what consent is and how to intervene effectively. There is a course that all students will be expected to complete when registering each year of their studies.
Training for staff
The course for students is available for relevant staff to view. There is additional training for staff in the staff learning management system and bespoke workshops if required. Staff involved in specialist roles receive specialist training appropriate and relevant to their roles.
Personal relationships between students and staff
We are committed to protecting students from any actual or potential conflict of interest and/or abuse of power that may arise from intimate personal relationships with staff. The University prohibits any sexual or intimate relationship between staff and students where the relationship was not pre-existing. Pre-existing relationships must be declared so any conflicts of interest can be managed.
Read the University's Relationships at Work policy.
Taking steps to protect students
We are committed to taking steps that will make a significant and credible difference to protecting students from harassment and sexual misconduct. These include:
- Analysing and publishing data on use of our Report a Concern reporting portal.
- Building feedback surveys into our online training for students and staff, evaluating the results and making changes to the training where appropriate.
- Consulting with the Students’ Union on changes to our student policies on sexual harassment and sexual misconduct. Students are represented on the committees where these policies are approved.
Non-disclosure agreements
We do not use non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in relation to complaints of sexual harassment, abuse, misconduct, or other forms of harassment and bullying. In addition, since September 2024 the Office for Students has prohibited universities from using NDAs in relation to student allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct.
This webpage is the 'single comprehensive source of information' required by the Office for Students (OfS registration condition E6).