At the Royal Agricultural University (RAU), we recognise that harassment and sexual misconduct, including but not limited to rape, sexual assault, stalking, domestic abuse and online harassment, are matters of significant concern impacting university communities.

We are committed to providing an environment in which all members of our community feel safe and we are working to protect all students.  We are dedicated to promoting a culture in which sexual misconduct is not tolerated. Incidents will be thoroughly addressed and we support everyone in our community to challenge inappropriate behaviour where it is safe to do so.

This webpage is the University's Single Comprehensive Source of Information (SCSI), as required by the Office for Students (Condition E6). It summarises our approach to student harassment and sexual misconduct and brings together all relevant policies, procedures, support services, reporting mechanisms, and preventative initiatives in one accessible location. Its purpose is to ensure transparency, clarity, and ease of access for all students, staff, and visitors.

What is Harassment and Sexual Misconduct

Sexual misconduct means any unwanted or attempted unwanted conduct of a sexual nature and can occur through any medium, including online. For full definitions and the legal framework, please refer to the University’s Sexual Misconduct Policy.

Harassment and sexual misconduct include a wide range of unacceptable behaviours of a sexual nature. These may involve:

  • Unwanted sexual advances (verbal or physical)
  • Rape or sexual assault
  • Verbal abuse of any kind, including on social media
  • Threats
  • Bodily harm
  • Offensive or intimidating comments or gestures, or insensitive jokes or pranks
  • Mocking, mimicking or belittling a person’s disability
  • Racist, sexist, homophobic or ageist jokes, or derogatory or stereotypical remarks about a particular ethnic or religious group or gender
  • Outing or threatening to out someone as gay, lesbian, bisexual or trans
  • Ignoring or shunning someone, for example, by deliberately excluding them from a conversation or social activity
  • Intimidation or coercion for sexual favours
  • Sharing explicit images or videos without consent
  • Sexual harassment
  • Sexual violence
  • Intimate partner violence
  • Sexual assault
  • Grooming
  • Coercion or bullying with sexual elements
  • Sexual invitations or demands
  • Sexual comments or non-verbal communication
  • Creating uncomfortable or unsafe atmospheres
  • Offering resources or advancement in exchange for sexual access

Unlawful harassment involves any unwanted conduct of a sexual nature and can take two forms:

  1. Conduct related to a protected characteristic that is unwanted and has the purpose or effect of:
  • Violating a person’s dignity, or
  • Creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment.
  1. A course of conduct that amounts to harassment, where the individual knows or ought to know it is harassing. This includes repeated behaviour that causes alarm or distress.

The effect of the conduct is key—regardless of the perpetrator’s intentions. A single incident or a series of actions may constitute harassment.

RAU Policies

The RAU promotes an inclusive and respectful environment and has a range of policy documents in place to support this approach: 

Reporting Harassment and Sexual Misconduct

Instances of harassment or sexual misconduct can be reported via the  RAU Report4Support system. Anyone can make a report about something that they have experienced, witnessed or been made aware of and reports can be made anonymously or by third parties.  Anonymous and third-party reports will be considered and acted upon where possible, though the University's ability to investigate will be limited in these cases.

The University procedures should not stop or delay any report to the police. To report a crime in an emergency dial 999. To report an incident which isn’t an emergency please dial 101, or report anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

Students

If current students have experienced an act of harassment or sexual misconduct they can use the RAU online reporting tool RAU Report4Support to report an incident. If they choose to report with contact details, a member of the Student Services team will get in touch to offer advice and support, and help explore options. Allegations will be taken seriously, considered carefully and acted upon appropriately.  

Students may also choose to report directly to Student Services in person, by email (StudentServices@rau.ac.uk)  or send a letter. However students choose to make a report, the information is collected sensitively and treated with appropriate confidentiality.

Where a student does not wish to seek support from the University but does wish to pursue a complaint they can contact the Student Conduct Team directly: conduct@rau.ac.uk.

Please be aware that if an anonymous report is made, the University will be unable to take any action, or provide any advice. However, the information will still be used to monitor issues across the RAU so that actions can be taken to address identified trends.  

Staff

Staff can report instances of harassment or sexual misconduct  using the RAU online reporting tool RAU Report4Support or in person to Human Resources or via email (human.resources@rau.ac.uk); they can also phone (01285 889836), use MS Teams or send a letter. If the staff member provides their contact details, they will be contacted by a member of the Human Resources team to discuss the incident and they will be encouraged to access appropriate support. Staff can also choose to report anonymously. 

Members of the Public 

Members of the public can report instances of harassment and sexual misconduct experienced or witnessed using the RAU online reporting tool RAU Report4Support. They can also report in person by telephone (01285 889836) to Human Resources, via email (human.resources@rau.ac.uk) or send a letter to Human Resources, Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester, GL7 6JS. If contact details are provided, Human Resources staff will respond to discuss the incident and support, and where appropriate the University’s investigation procedures will be followed.

Support

Support is available to students via the Student Services team and staff are encouraged to seek support from the Human Resources team.  Support will be provided regardless of where the incident occurred - whether on University premises or elsewhere.

Students may also seek confidential support 24-hours a day from the University funded Student Assistance Programme provided by Health Assured on 0800 028 3766. Students can  download the Wisdom app, which is part of this service, using the RAU code: MHA292867. It can be accessed by phone, or live chat and is staffed by professional and qualified advisors. The service provides immediate support and guidance to students 365 days a year and includes a confidential, high-quality interpreter and translation service available in over 250 languages to ensure students are supported in the most appropriate language.

Staff may also seek confidential support 24-hours a day from the University funded Employee Assistance Helpline provided by Health Hero on 0800 358 4858.

In addition, support is available from key external agencies including:

  • SARC Support, Hope House, Gloucester: 24-hour crisis intervention and support for anyone who has experienced a sexual offence, regardless of when the offence occurred or whether the incident was reported to the police or not. Tel: 0300 421 8400
  • Rape Crisis: A free phone and online chat service for anyone aged 16+ in England and Wales who has been affected by rape, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment or any other form of sexual violence. Tel 0808 500 2222
  • Survivors UK  support and help for male survivors of sexual violence including counselling and therapy appointments as well as online chat. Tel: 020 3598 3898
  • Victim Support: an independent charity who work to support people affected by crime or traumatic events. They provide help to ensure people feel safer and find strength to move beyond crime. Their support is free, confidential and can be tailored to your needs. Tel: 0808 168 9111

If a student does not wish to pursue a complaint, Student Services will:

  • Support them through each step of the process.
  • Remain available throughout, offering guidance and emotional support.

The Student Services team also provide support for students who are accused of harassment and sexual misconduct.

The role of Student Services includes:

Liaising on behalf of the Student

With the individual’s consent, Student Services can communicate with other University departments to help address their needs. For example:

  • Security Team – if they have concerns about personal safety
  • Accommodation Team – if they wish to move rooms following an incident

Exploring Next Steps

Student Services will talk with the individual about their options, including:

  • Whether they wish to engage with the University’s investigation process
  • Whether they want to report the incident to external agencies, such as the police

Academic Support following Harassment or Sexual Misconduct

The University recognises that experiences of harassment or sexual misconduct can significantly impact a student’s academic progress. These experiences are treated as exceptional circumstances, and a wide range of academic adjustments are available to support affected students:

Students may request adjustments such as:

  • Short or long coursework extensions
  • Deferrals of assessments
  • Alternative assessment of arrangements

 

  • Longer-Term Academic Options

If a student’s studies are affected over a longer period, additional options include:

  • Suspending studies temporarily
  • Repeating the academic year
  • Transferring to a different course

These measures are designed to give students the time and space they need to recover, without jeopardising their academic progress.

Many of these adjustments can be requested without the need to provide detailed personal statements or evidence about the incident.

Safeguarding Students Under 18 years old

Students are treated as independent adults, but the University recognises that anyone under 18 years old is legally a child in the UK. The RAU has additional safeguarding measures in place to protect younger students.

  • Same Support, Extra Protection
    Students under 18 have access to the same harassment and sexual misconduct support as others and in addition the Safeguarding Policy applies to ensure their safety and wellbeing
  • Statutory Safeguarding Duties
    The University is legally required to report any suspicions or allegations of abuse involving a person under 18 to Children’s Social Care services

Investigating Incidents of Harassment and Sexual Misconduct

When a case is referred for investigation, a trained investigator will be appointed by a senior member of Student Services or Human Resources to establish the facts about what happened. The investigation will be conducted fairly and objectively in accordance with the principles of natural justice.

The investigator will seek to meet separately with both parties and may also meet any witnesses or potential witnesses. Both the reporting party and the responding party may be accompanied during the investigation by a supporter; they will be advised who they can bring, e.g. a member of the RAU Students' Union or a colleague or trade union representative. Meetings can be arranged in-person or online to suit the situation and the needs of those involved.

The investigator will then write a report and recommend a course of action. They may decide that:

  • with the agreement of both the reporting party and the responding party, they should seek to resolve the matter through mediation or otherwise; or
  • informal resolutions should be proposed; or
  • the case should be referred for consideration under the Student Discipline Policy and Procedure or the Staff Disciplinary Policy and Procedure; the decision-making process is set out in these policies and will be explained to all parties involved

Acceptance of an informal resolution may not require the responding party to admit liability, and it may not imply a finding of wrong-doing.

If the police are carrying out a criminal investigation into a matter that is also the subject of an internal  investigation, the University will take care that its own investigation does not prejudice or disrupt the police proceedings. In this situation, the RAU will carry out its own reasonable investigation, as far as the circumstances allow and will not rely on the outcome of the police investigation.

Communicating Decisions following an Investigation

When an incident is reported by a student and it is reasonable and practical to do so in accordance with data protection legislation and obligations, the University will:

  • inform the student (the reporting party) about the outcome of the investigation and any hearing; and/or
  • provide the reporting party with an explanation of any actions taken by the University

This commitment also applies if the outcome changes for any reason, for example following an appeal process.

However, the information provided may be limited depending on the circumstances.

In cases where a student’s actions are investigated in accordance with the Student Discipline Policy and Procedure, the student (the responding party) will be informed of the arrangements for the investigation process, any hearing, and of the outcome. They will also be advised of the arrangements for an appeal and the outcome of any appeal process.

In cases of student misconduct, the outcome - including, in some instances, the sanction applied - may be shared with the reporting party, the Student Services team, relevant internal and external support services and appropriate individuals within the student’s academic faculty. This will be done only where appropriate and reasonable, and always with sensitivity to privacy and welfare considerations.

In rare cases, where it is considered necessary for welfare reasons, the detailed reasoning of the relevant disciplinary panel may also be shared with the reporting party.

In cases where an incident is reported against a member of staff by a student, the University will share as much information as possible about a formal process and outcome.

In all cases, where the University is not able to share specific information with the reporting party, an explanation will be given. The University will carefully review the purpose of sharing (including the lawful basis), why it is necessary and on balance whether it is appropriate and proportionate. All parties will be notified when key stages of a process are reached, including when an investigation is complete, when there is an outcome of a formal procedure or when an appeal is concluded.

Handling Information 

Information received relating to instances of or concerns relating to harassment and sexual misconduct will be handled sensitively and held within secure data systems. Further information about how the University processes information can be found in the Student Privacy Notice and Staff Privacy Notice.

Maintaining confidentiality is essential to ensure the integrity of the investigative process, protection of the privacy of the individuals concerned, and to encourage reporting of incidents without fear of retribution or exposure. The treatment of all disclosures will align with the University’s Data Protection Policy and Safeguarding Policy and Procedure.

Information is typically shared only with individuals or organisations directly involved in the case management. In exceptional circumstances, where there is concern for the safety of individuals or the broader community, the University may share information beyond the usual channels. Such actions will be taken in accordance with legal and ethical standards to minimise risks and protect all parties. 

Records of proceedings will be kept in accordance with the University’s data retention policies and relevant data protection legislation and the University will maintain anonymised data for monitoring and reporting purposes. The University is committed to understanding the full scope of sexual misconduct affecting our community. Findings will be reported annually and used to inform policy development and resource allocation. 

The effectiveness of our data collection methods will be regularly reviewed to ensure they remain fit for purpose and responsive to emerging trends. Through these measures, we aim to build a comprehensive understanding of sexual misconduct issues on campus, enabling us to tailor our prevention and response strategies effectives and to work to understand and minimise any barriers to reporting and disclosing incidents that may exist for particular groups.

Preventing Harassment and Sexual Misconduct

The University is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment and steps are taken to protect students. Acts of harassment and sexual misconduct are unacceptable and this is reflected in RAU policies which have undergone an Equality Impact Assessment to consider the needs of different groups.

The University’s RAU Report4Support form will help to reveal broad patterns of behaviour that are addressed through proactively raising awareness and campaign work. The University will collect and monitor anonymised data relating to harassment and sexual misconduct in order to focus resources where they are needed and tailor actions to support the needs of those affected by sexual misconduct. The University will make evidence-based decisions to improve our actions, using any findings or themes to improve our processes.

The campus is staffed by a dedicated Security and Welfare team. Students, staff and members of the University community are actively encouraged to call them if they feel unsafe or have a concern about the safety of another person. The Security and Welfare team are trained to understand and recognise harassment and sexual misconduct and to respond appropriately to disclosures.

Students will receive:

  • Clear Expectations and Training

The University requires all students to treat each other with dignity & respect in accordance with the RAU Student Code of Conduct. Students will learn about RAU standards for respectful behaviour during admissions and induction, and mandatory training on harassment, sexual consent, and misconduct

  • Ongoing Communication

The RAU will regularly share reminders and updates through emails, social media, blogs, and newsletters to keep respectful behaviour on the agenda

  • Campaigns that Make a Difference

Campaigns that the RAU will run impactful initiatives like alongside our Students' Union and also support national efforts like the UK Government’s Enough Campaign.

Training

All staff are required to undertake tailored training to help identify, address, remove and prevent harassment and sexual misconduct. 

All staff receive information and regular updates on how to signpost students to sources of support and how to report incidents of harassment and sexual misconduct to the University (including guiding staff to this comprehensive source of information). 

Staff supporting individuals who have disclosed incidents of harassment and sexual misconduct receive training from specialist external partners.

The University expects all students to undertake a tailored training module to ensure they understand what constitutes harassment and sexual misconduct, how they can report incidents to the University, what the University is doing to address such issues and what support is available for any student.

The training will explain what constitutes consent. Students will learn how to safely intervene when an individual is faced with harassment, including sexual harassment, and it will illustrate the importance of our student community becoming active bystanders. Students will also learn how to develop a skillset which will build confidence to intervene in a positive and safe way, should they find themselves acting as a bystander. 

However, the subject matter can be challenging for some students due to their own lived experience. Students can contact the University’s Student Services team: StudentServices@rau.ac.uk to talk about opting out and to familiarise themselves with the support available from the Student Services Team. 

Relationships between Staff and Students

Intimate or close personal relationships between students and staff who have responsibility for students can cause significant problems because of conflicts of interest, imbalance of power and authority, perceived favouritism, and undermining of trust and confidence.

To protect the welfare of students, and in the best interests of staff, the RAU prohibits staff from entering into an intimate relationship with a student for whom they have any responsibility. The University also strongly discourages any other close personal relationship between a staff member and student for whom they have any responsibility, and requires such relationships to be declared.

Any intimate relationship between a member of staff and a student for whom they have any responsibility may lead to disciplinary action.

Any close personal relationship between a member of staff and student must be declared by the staff member to their line manager and/or to Human Resources. The line manager must notify Human Resources so that a record is made.

Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom

The University is committed to addressing harassment and sexual misconduct while simultaneously upholding the principles of freedom of speech and academic freedom. It is recognised that in an educational context, students may encounter ideas, materials or discussions that they find challenging or uncomfortable but which do not constitute harassment of sexual misconduct. 

The content of academic discourse, including lectures, seminars, debates and course materials is protected under principles of academic freedom and is unlikely to be considered harassment or sexual misconduct unless it is targeted at or delivered in a way that harasses a specific individual. However, this protection does not extend to personal conduct or behaviour that crosses the line into harassment or sexual misconduct. The University will carefully consider the context of any allegation, ensuring that legitimate academic discourse is protected while still taking appropriate action against genuine instances of harassment or sexual misconduct.

Training, policies or procedures related to sexual misconduct will be developed and implemented in a manner consistent with the University’s obligations to protect freedom on speech and academic freedom.

Non-Disclosure Agreements

Since September 2024 the Office for Students has prohibited universities from using Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) in relation to student allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct and the RAU will not use them.

The University recognises that NDAs can have a silencing effect on individuals who have experienced misconduct and may hinder the pursuit of justice.