Harassment and Sexual Misconduct

If you are in immediate danger or need urgent help, call 999 and/or Security on 07860 834802 (Buckingham) or 01270 332 545 (Crewe).

Please see the security page for more information.

Our Commitment

The University of Buckingham is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all members of our university community. We do not tolerate any form of harassment or sexual misconduct. We take all reports seriously and respond in a fair, timely and supportive manner.

You will find all of the information that you need on this page, and it will remain the authoritative, final and current resource.

As a student of the University, or a student enrolled with one of our collaborative partner institutions, our approach to preventing and addressing harassment and sexual misconduct will apply to you; depending on your circumstances, some of the following policies and processes may or may not be applicable to you:

Relevant Policies

• The Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy is applicable to all staff and students at the University (including those at our collaborative partner institutions; NB: some procedural aspects will necessarily be subject to local contextualisation).
• The Staff and Student Relationship Policy is applicable to all staff and students at the University (including those at our collaborative partner institutions; NB: some procedural aspects will necessarily be subject to local contextualisation).
• The Dignity at Work and Study Policy is applicable to all staff and students at the University (including those at our collaborative partner institutions; NB: some procedural aspects will necessarily be subject to local contextualisation). It sets out the University’s expectations of staff and students in maintaining a working environment free from bullying and harassment.
• Student Code of Conduct is applicable to students at The University of Buckingham only (students at our collaborative partner institutions will be covered by their local equivalent).
• Student Non-Academic Misconduct Policy is applicable to students at The University of Buckingham only (students at our collaborative partner institutions will be covered by their local equivalent).
• The Safeguarding Policy is applicable to all students at the University (including those at our collaborative partner institutions); it contains information regarding the University’s duty of care to any student either under the age of 18 or that may be considered a vulnerable adult.
• Fitness to Practice is applicable to students studying medicine at The University of Buckingham only. The General Medical Council (GMC) has specific expectations surrounding behaviours and where students fall short of these, their continued fitness to practice may be investigated. For more information about fitness to practise, you can contact the Medical School.

You should use the most recent version of the relevant policy/procedure. If the policy/procedure is updated after you have informed us of a case of harassment and/or sexual misconduct, you should use the version that was approved at the time your report was made. If the policy/procedure has been updated since the incident(s) occurred, but before the university has been informed, you should use the most recent (current) version.

What is Sexual Misconduct?

Sexual misconduct is attempted or actual unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. This includes any action of a sexual nature that is unwanted and/or is perceived by the recipient as a violation of their dignity and/or an act of intimidation and also includes activity which may take place online (for example but not limited to: inappropriate use of social media, cyberstalking, sending unwanted explicit material).

An incident of sexual misconduct, whether isolated or repeated, can take many forms, including, but not limited to:

• Sexual acts without consent (sexual assault/rape)
• Unwanted sexual touching or comments
• Indecent exposure
• Repeated unwanted following or stalking (including cyberstalking)
• Sharing intimate images without consent (including ‘sextortion’)
• Degrading or inappropriate events (such as ‘upskirting’).

**The University also has a web page containing information specific to rape and sexual assault.**

What is Harassment?

Harassment occurs when a person or group of subjects engage in unwanted and/or unwarranted conduct which has the purpose or effect of violating another’s dignity, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. This can be in-person or online.

Harassment is often defined as the act of systematic and/or continued unwanted actions of one party or group, including threats and demands; however, an isolated incident or threat could amount to harassment if it causes distress.

Harassment may also breach other legislation and may in some circumstances be a criminal offence, e.g. under the provisions of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

The Equality Act 2010 prohibits harassment related to the following protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. If you are affected by this type of harassment, you can report the matter to us, and you will be supported by our dedicated Wellbeing, Skills and Diversity team. You could also report the incident to the police, and you will be able to receive university support whether you decide to follow this route or not.

The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (Section 1) makes it unlawful to pursue a course of conduct which you know or ought to know would be harassment, which includes causing someone alarm or distress.

Our Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy contains further information, and staff and students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with this document.

How to Report Harassment and/or Sexual Misconduct

If you, or someone you know have been affected by harassment and/or sexual misconduct, or if you have witnessed this happening to someone else, you can report it to us.

If you are in immediate danger or need urgent help, call 999 and/or Security on 07860 834802 (Buckingham) or 01270 332 545 (Crewe).

Please see the security page for more information.

You can report concerns in the following ways:

1. Report and Support (Online)

Use our secure Report and Support platform to report an incident, either anonymously or with your contact details.

2. Speak to a Trusted Contact

• You can raise your concern with your Personal Tutor (or other member of staff such as your Faculty Dean or the Head of Student Services), you could do this face-to-face, via email or Microsoft Teams.
• You can raise your concern with the Student Conduct team (student.conduct@buckingham.ac.uk )
• You can raise your concern with the Wellbeing, Skills and Diversity team.
• You can contact Campus Security on 07860 834802 (Buckingham) or 01270 343 545 (Crewe).
• You can raise your concern with one of the University’s Safeguarding Leads:
  • Chris Payne, Registrar & Chief Administrative Officer (Designated Safeguarding Lead)
  • Laura Whitty, Head of Student Services (Deputy DSL – Students)
  • Emma Ward, Head of Apprenticeships (Deputy DSL – Apprentices)
  • Barnaby Lenon, Dean of Education (Deputy DSL – Education Students)
  • Diane Jackson-Gould, Director of HR (Deputy DSL – Staff)

An incident does not have to be formally reported in order for it to amount to harassment and sexual misconduct and the University reserves the right to investigate cases it becomes aware of even where there is no formal complainant.

Similarly, where harassment and sexual misconduct may have occurred away from University premises, and/or by person(s) not connected to the University, you can still access sources of support through Wellbeing, Skills and Diversity (students) or Human Resources (staff).

If you are member of staff who wishes to report an incident(s) of harassment and/or sexual misconduct, please use the Report and Support system or contact your Line Manager, Department Head or Human Resources. Similarly, you can raise your concern with one of the University’s Safeguarding Leads as noted above.

What Happens Next

Once a report is made:

• We will treat it seriously and with respect and confidentiality.
• We will outline the support options available to you.
• You will be guided through your options, including informal resolution or formal investigation procedures.
• You have the right to choose whether or not to participate in any formal process.
• We will ensure the process is fair and transparent.

All reported cases of Harassment and Sexual Misconduct will be investigated in accordance with the Non-Academic Misconduct Policy (NAMP) (for students) or the Grievance and/or Disciplinary Procedures (staff).

The University adopts an objective approach to investigations, and the perception of the reporting party, the circumstances surrounding the case and whether it is reasonable for the conduct to have had the effect it has, will all be considered. We aim to complete investigations and outcomes within reasonable timeframes as per our policies, and complainants will be kept informed throughout.

Any judgement reached by the University in cases of reported Harassment or Sexual Misconduct do not constitute a legal ruling and do not, therefore, draw a conclusion on whether criminal activity has taken place.

You will be offered support from the moment you notify us (or it comes to our attention) that you have been affected by harassment and sexual misconduct. You will continue to be supported throughout any investigation procedure and thereafter.

Support Services

We offer specialist and general support for students through:

• Our Student Casework team who have been trained to respond to harassment and sexual misconduct disclosures; and
• Our Counselling and Mental Health Services delivered by our dedicated Wellbeing, Skills and Diversity staff.

We can also assist with:

• Academic Adjustments including mitigating circumstances, extensions, timetable adjustments, alternative assessments.
• External Referrals: e.g. Rape Crisis, Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Police, NHS services.

We provide this support to all current students who are registered with the University. Please reach out to us if:

• You wish to make an allegation about harassment and/or sexual misconduct (either for yourself or for someone else);
• You have experienced harassment and/or sexual misconduct;
• You have been accused of harassment and/or sexual misconduct;
• You have witnessed harassment and/or sexual misconduct directed at someone else.

You can access our support services via the Student Support Hub or by contacting your personal tutor, academic tutor or Wellbeing, Skills and Diversity directly.

Training

The University will provide mandatory online training for all students and staff. You will receive an invitation to access your training module via your University of Buckingham email address.

Additionally, senior staff as well as staff who are likely to handle disclosures of harassment and sexual misconduct (key staff) will receive specialist training. This includes all of the University’s Designated Safeguarding Officers. Information will be sent to you via your University of Buckingham email address.

The University recognises that some students and staff may have been affected by past experiences of harassment and sexual misconduct and for them participation in mandatory training may be detrimental to their wellbeing or mental health. If this applies to you, please contact the Student Casework Manager (students) or the Director of Human Resources (staff).

Prevention

The University of Buckingham is actively working to prevent harassment and sexual misconduct through:

• Clear behavioural expectations communicated through our Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy as well as our Dignity at Work and Study Policy.
• Campaigns and events (including induction week) promoting respect, consent, and active bystander intervention.
• Providing 24/7 security services (Buckingham only, our collaborative partner institutions are responsible for their own security arrangements).
• Use of CCTV technology to monitor University of Buckingham premises, including the Student Union and bar area.
• Providing online and in-person services to report misconduct and harassment.
• Collecting and collating data to inform practice and address any systemic issues.
• Providing training for all students and staff members of the university.

Non-Disclosure Agreements

The University prohibits the use of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) in cases of harassment and/or sexual misconduct and will never ask students or staff to sign one.

If you are a student being pressured to sign an NDA by an external party, please inform the Student Casework Manager who may contact the Legal Services team for advice.

If you are a staff member being pressured to sign an NDA by an external party, please inform the Director of Human Resources who may contact the Legal Services team for advice.

Freedom of Speech

We recognise that during academic tuition and discussion, there may be certain topics that some may find offensive. These topics, which could be controversial and/or sensitive in nature, are pedagogically relevant, form part of the course content and are intended to inform healthy academic debate. Exposure to sensitive and/or controversial topics is not a form of harassment or sexual misconduct, and the University will facilitate academic expression as part of our commitment to the principles of freedom of speech; however, we will not tolerate abuse, malicious targeting or intimidation of an individual.

The Equality Act 2010 recognises protected characteristics and students must conduct themselves in a manner that adheres to this Equal Opportunities Statement. Academic expression should always remain topical, relevant and respectful.

Institutional Responsibility

The University of Buckingham recognises the need to maintain clear, accessible policies on harassment and sexual misconduct, and ensure fair, independent investigation and disciplinary procedures.

We will regularly review and improve our prevention strategies as well as collect and analyse data to understand trends, which in turn will inform our practice and response.

Staff/Student relationships

The University of Buckingham is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in all staff and student interactions. To protect the academic environment, ensure fairness, and maintain appropriate professional boundaries, the Staff and Student Relationships Policy strictly prohibits intimate or romantic relationships between members of staff and students.

Contact Us

If you have questions or need further support, please contact:

• Student Casework team: student.conduct@buckingham.ac.uk
• Wellbeing, Skills and Diversity: wellbeingskillsanddiversity@buckingham.ac.uk, phone +44(0)1280 820200, or drop in to the office on Hunter Street, Buckingham, MK181EG.
• Campus Security: Call 07860 834802. Please see the security page for more information.

**Remember, we are here to support you. **