Our Student Charter and our Values and Behaviours outline the standards we all agree to follow. Bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct of any kind are not acceptable and won’t be tolerated. Further examples of unacceptable behaviour can be found in our Staff and Student Unacceptable Behaviours Policies.
The sections below detail definitions of unacceptable behaviours, details of the support and reporting mechanisms we offer to staff and students, and the policies and protocols in place to address any issues that are reported to us.
We understand that the terminology used around some of the issues covered in this guidance can be subject to interpretation. We have provided definitions used in our policies and procedures below for the purpose of clarity and consistency in understanding.
Bullying occurs when someone is subject to offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, that is intended to undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure them. There is often an imbalance, abuse or misuse of power, or perceived power, and it is normally repeated behaviour rather than a one-off isolated incident.
Discrimination occurs when someone is treated unfavourably because of their actual or perceived membership of a certain group or social category including but not limited to characteristics protected under the Equality Act 2010.
Domestic and partner violence/abuse covers incidents or a pattern of incidents that happen between those who are, or have been, partners or family members. The incidents can take a number of forms, including: physical, verbal, emotional, financial and coercive control. It can occur online and offline. Anyone can be a victim, while the majority of victims are women and girls.
Harassment occurs when someone is subject to unwanted or unwelcome behaviour, which has the purpose or effect of violating dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them. Stalking is a form of harassment and occurs when a person becomes fixated with another. It can occur online and offline.
Hate incidents are behaviours motivated by hate, fear, prejudice or intolerance and are often based on real or perceived characteristics of the victim(s) in relation to their age; disability; race; religion or belief; sex; sexual orientation; gender reassignment; pregnancy and maternity; marriage and civil partnership. Racial harassment occurs when someone is subject to unwanted behaviour in relation to their real or perceived race, which has the purpose or effect of violating dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them.
Misogyny is the hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against women or girls, and the belief that men are inherently superior. Its meaning is similar to 'sexism', and can refer to behaviour and attitudes. Misogyny is generally directed by men against women and occurs online and offline.
Sexual misconduct occurs when someone is subject to unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature from another person. It includes sexualised and predatory behaviours by students, and by university staff towards students. It can occur online and offline. In the University setting, it may also involve the misuse of institutional or role power in an unequal professional relationship.
Sexual violence and abuse is any unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, which occurs in person or by letter, telephone, text, email, social media or any other means. The violence or abuse is often characterised by the absence of consent (see below for definition of consent). Sexual violence and abuse includes but is not limited to:
Victimisation occurs when an individual is treated in a way that is detrimental because:
A violent crime occurs when someone uses or threatens to use force against a person. A violent incident occurs when a person or group of people are attacked, or threatened with attack, using physical force.
Anyone can be attacked – and anyone can be an attacker. An attacker could be a friend, a colleague, a partner, a family member, or a complete stranger.
The use of physical violence is a crime.
Consent is agreeing by choice and having the freedom and capacity to make that choice. The person seeking consent should always take steps to ensure that consent is freely given, that it is informed and recognises that it can be withdrawn at any time. Consent should be freely given, reversible, informed, enthusiastic and specific.
Sexual violence or abuse is often characterised by the absence of consent which may be demonstrated by:
We use 'disclosure' in this guidance and related policy to be when a person chooses to tell anyone who is part of the University about their experience of unacceptable behaviour. If you make a disclosure of this nature, you will be offered support from the University as outlined below.
Refers to the person who has submitted a report to the University, either through the Unacceptable Behaviours portal or directly.
The person who is alleged to have acted in breach of university policies and/or expectations, and is therefore required to respond to those allegations as part of our investigation.
If you have experienced or witnessed sexual misconduct, harassment or any other unacceptable behaviour, the University is here to support you.
We encourage you to report any incidents to us so that we can provide the right support. A range of specialist, one-to-one support services are available to help you navigate your options and access the right help for your wellbeing, studies, and safety.
Alternatively, you can contact:
All reports are carefully and thoughtfully addressed by relevant staff members through a process that is transparent and clearly communicated to the individuals involved. We will respect the right of the individual disclosing an experience to choose how to take forward a disclosure.
See the FAQs below, as well as University Policies and Protocols, for details of our investigation protocols.
As described above, when a report is made to us, a range of specialist, one-to-one support services are available to help you navigate your options and access the right help. This support is confidential, professional and guided by your decisions at every step. You will be offered this support if you report any serious welfare incident to us either vis our reporting tool or any of the other mechanisms described above.
We understand that you may have reservations about speaking about a distressing or traumatic experience. We have therefore compiled some frequently asked questions to help you understand how our service works and what to expect if you access support from us.
If you are based at our Newcastle Campuses:
If you are based at our London campus or are a Distance Leaner:
A member of our team will read your report and contact you by email to offer support and advice. We may ask you certain questions to ensure you are safe and well, but you don't need to disclose more details than you feel comfortable with. When you are ready, you can move forward with your options independently or with our support.
Our service operates seven days per week 09:00–17:00, with the exception of some bank holidays.
Our support is confidential unless we believe that you or others are in immediate danger. Telling us what has happened and seeking support will not automatically trigger any complaints processes with the University or the police. However, we will discuss these options with you.
If we are seriously concerned about your welfare, we may contact your named Trusted Contact and/or Next of Kin. Current students can read more about Trusted Contact on their Student Portal.
If we believe there is a significant risk of harm to a student or others, we may need to share information with other professionals to ensure safety. We will always aim to discuss this with you first, and seek your agreement, unless there is an immediate or significant risk where it is necessary to act quickly for your or others' protection. This is done in line with the law, under what is called “vital interests”.
No.
However, as above, if we believe there is a significant risk of harm to a student or others, we may need to share information with the Police or other professionals to ensure safety. We will always aim to discuss this with you first, and seek your agreement, unless there is an immediate or significant risk where it is necessary to act quickly for your or others' protection. This is done in line with the law, under what is called “vital interests”.
When you make an anonymous disclosure via our reporting tool, it is truly anonymous. We cannot locate where the disclosure came from or find out your name, contact details or any identifying information.
If you share identifying information like your name or location in the free-text boxes, it may be possible to determine who you or others are. This could lead to contact with you or others if we need to take action to protect you or anyone in the university community and keep you safe.
We're limited in the actions we can take against the person who harmed you if you make an anonymous disclosure, so we recommend you report share as much detail as you feel comfortable with us. In either case we will not take any further action without your consent.
We use anonymous disclosures to shape and inform university and city-wide prevention and engagement activities. We also anonymise named disclosures by removing all personal information and collating these with anonymous disclosures to shape our support activities.
Yes. We can support you no matter where the incident or behaviour took place or who is responsible. We will guide you through the options and help you to make informed choices. We can signpost you to appropriate support both from our support services and any other relevant agency outside of the university.
If the incident happened within a Northumbria Students' Union (NSU) society or event, you could also talk discuss this with a member of the NSU Advice Service.
You can use any of the above reporting mechanisms to let us know your concerns or report any incidents of unacceptable behaviour you have witnessed or know of. Your report will be treated with sensitivity and confidentiality.
We have a robust procedure for following up and investigating reports, which is outlined in University Policies and Protocols. As a responder to a report made to us, you will be offered advice and guidance throughout this time.
A personal relationship means any association, however brief, of a sexual or other intimate nature, either in person or remotely (e.g. via social media, email or text messaging).
As outlined in our staff Code of Conduct – Working Together at Northumbria University [link required], staff are strongly advised not to enter into a personal relationship with a student for whom they have responsibility in the areas of selection, assessment, supervision, tutoring, teaching or pastoral care, or for who they provide administrative, technical or advisory support.
If a relationship (past or present) with a student does exist that may influence, or be perceived to influence, our ability to carry out our role, staff are encouraged to disclose this to an appropriate manager, who will consider alternative arrangements to reduce or eliminate the potential for conflicts of interests arising. Disciplinary action may be taken against the member of staff where there is a failure to declare this information.
See above for details of how to report Unacceptable Behaviour by a member of Northumbria staff and our Investigative Procedure for details of how reports and complaints are progressed.
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