Higher education providers should clearly communicate, and embed across the whole organisation, their approach to preventing and responding to all forms of harassment and sexual misconduct. They should set out clearly the expectations that they have of students, staff and visitors.
We expect this to include:
- Visible commitment from senior leaders and the governing body to preventing and responding to all forms of harassment and sexual misconduct. There should be clear governance accountability lines to ensure that the provider’s approach is embedded, upheld in practice, and remains fit-for-purpose across all of the provider’s higher education activities.
- Providers working with students’ unions, or other relevant student bodies, and student representatives deliver a clear and consistent message to students, staff and visitors that harassment and sexual misconduct will not be tolerated. This should involve making clear the possible consequences and action the provider may take in response to such instances.
- Providers clearly setting out behavioural expectations for prospective and current students, staff and visitors, and the possible sanctions that can be imposed where these are not followed. These expectations should be visible and easy to understand for all students, staff and visitors and be made clear to new students and staff as part of induction activities.
