Harassment and sexual misconduct

At NTU, we are committed to creating a community based on respect and consent. We do not tolerate any form of harassment or sexual misconduct. This includes all interactions and communications, both in person and online.

What is harassment?

Harassment, includes sexual harassment, and includes unwanted behaviour or conduct which has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment because of, or connected to, one or more of the following protected characteristics: age; disability; gender reassignment; race; religion or belief; sex; and sexual orientation. (Equality Act, 2010).

And:

A course of conduct conducted on at least two occasions that harasses one other person, or a course of conduct that harasses two or more persons at least once each. References to harassing a person include alarming the person or causing the person distress. (Protection from Harassment Act, 1997).

What is sexual misconduct?

Any unwanted or attempted unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. This includes, but is not limited to sexual harassment, sexual assault; and rape.

Sexual misconduct can occur between strangers or acquaintances, including people who are involved in an intimate or sexual relationship. It can be committed by a person of any gender, and can occur between people of the same or different gender.

Sexual misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

• sexual intercourse or engaging in a sexual act without consent
• attempting to engage in sexual intercourse or other sexual acts without consent
• kissing without consent
• sharing or distributing private sexual materials of another person without consent through any medium e.g. images, video, voice recordings
• intimidation, or promising resources or benefits in return for sexual favours
• touching inappropriately without consent
• inappropriately showing sexual organs to another person
• making unwarranted remarks of a sexual nature
• repeatedly following another person without good reason and in a manner which causes the person being followed to feel alarmed or threatened (stalking).

Training

NTU has training that will help you understand what behaviours are expected and how to seek support if you need it:

• Introduction to Harassment and Sexual Misconduct - short online training module that all NTU students are required to complete during their first term.
• Consent is Everything workshops - 90-minute sessions co-delivered by colleagues and students. They cover the basics of understanding and practicing consent, debunk myths about sexual violence, and provide guidance on supporting friends who disclose incidents. All undergraduate students will be timetabled a workshop during their first year of study and are expected to attend.
• Look after your Mate training - this session covers an introduction to student mental health, understanding when a friend may be struggling, communication techniques, signposting and boundaries, self-care and looking after yourself whilst supporting a friend. Email healthyntu@ntu.ac.uk for more information and training dates.
• Understanding Racism - you have access to an online ‘Understanding Racism’ learning module. It is a self-study syllabus offered to all students which aims to help create an anti-racism learning community.

Our colleagues also have essential training they must complete, relating to:

• Responding to Student Disclosures of Sexual Violence
• Equality, Inclusion and Respect
• Student Safety and Wellbeing at NTU
• Safeguarding.

Reporting

This section provides information on emergency help, and how to report incidents of sexual misconduct or any form of harassment and access support.

Emergency help

• If you feel that you cannot keep yourself safe or there is a significant risk of harm to yourself or others, you should seek immediate emergency help. You should call 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department.
• If you are not at immediate risk, but you do need to access help urgently you can call our security team 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on 0115 848 2222. You can store the number in your phone. It's also on the back of your NTU student card.

Reporting

• If you, or someone you know, has experienced or witnessed any form of sexual misconduct, harassment, bullying, discrimination or hate please tell us through Report + Support. If you would rather report anonymously, you can do so. However if you would like support from NTU, it is better to provide your details so we can contact you.
• The Safeguarding Referral Form is used to report a safeguarding concern/disclosure relating to one or more of the following – a child or young person under the age of 18; an adult with significant care and support needs; or a Prevent Duty concern related to radicalisation.
• If you wish to make a complaint about an aspect of your learning experience you can use the complaints procedure for students. A complaint about an NTU staff member will be managed under NTU’s  Disciplinary Policy.
• Quality Handbook Section 17F covers the research degree complaints and appeal procedures. If you are concerned about an aspect of your doctoral experience, you're able to use this complaints procedure to bring the issue to the attention of relevant colleagues.

Handling incidents

This section provides information on how incidents of harassment and sexual misconduct are handled by NTU in line with the Student Code of Behaviour.

How information is handled

• All reports of harassment and/or sexual misconduct are treated fairly and seriously. They are handled with sensitivity and an appropriate level of confidentiality.
• Any information gathered relating to incidents of harassment and/or sexual misconduct will only be shared with those who need it for the purposes of investigating and/or responding to it, or to provide support, in line with our responsibilities under the Data Protection Act.
• We will keep accurate records of all evidence and records related to an investigation of a report of harassment and/or sexual misconduct, and will store these in an appropriately secure way.
• Data protection requirements do not prevent University staff reporting incidents or allegations to the relevant areas within the University.
• Information may be shared with the police where there is a lawful basis for this, particularly where they need to investigate an alleged criminal offence.

Investigations and decision making

• The Student Code of Behaviour provides details about the circumstances in which we would initiate an investigation against a student, including those that might constitute a criminal offence. In the Code you can find our investigation and decision making processes as well as the timescales, possible range of outcomes and right of appeal against decisions.
• Processes will be completed without undue delay and all parties will be kept informed of progress throughout.
• NTU’s investigatory and disciplinary processes are free from bias or any reasonable perception of bias.

Informing relevant parties about decisions

• NTU will ensure that anyone who is directly affected by decisions made in respect of incidents of harassment and/or sexual misconduct are informed of the decisions and the reasons for them.
• Persons directly affected will be identified on a case-by-case basis but may include those who experienced the incident, witnesses and reported students. These parties will be informed within two working days of the reported student receiving the outcome.
• The University may also inform other parties of the outcome where they consider it reasonable to do so. This may include the academic School, relevant professional bodies, employers (in the case of apprentices) or parents (where the student is under the age of 18).

Staff and student personal relationships

Intimate personal relationships between and NTU staff and NTU students are not allowed. We take this approach because there is an imbalance of power and authority in any such relationship. Intimate personal relationships between staff and students can create issues which impact on a student’s wellbeing, hinder their learning and damage confidence in the University.

We want to protect the welfare of both staff and students. It helps ensure students can study in an environment free from harassment, intimidation, abuses of power and sexual misconduct. Staff can set appropriate professional boundaries which enable the best outcomes for students and protects themselves from accusations of unfairness, bias or conflicts of interest.

You must not enter a relationship with an NTU staff member. It is ok if you were in a relationship either before you became an NTU student or before the person you are in a relationship with became an NTU staff member, but the staff member must tell their manager.  You can report any concerns you have, either about yourself or someone else, through Report + Support or speak to an NTU staff member you trust.

Non-disclosure agreements

NTU is committed to transparency and integrity. NTU does not use non-disclosure agreements (commonly referred to as gagging clauses) to suppress the voices of students or colleagues who have raised complaints about sexual misconduct or harassment. Every complaint is thoroughly investigated, and action is taken against perpetrators where misconduct is found. We encourage any member of our community who experiences sexual misconduct or harassment to use our Report + Support platform to report their concerns.

Freedom of speech

NTU is committed to protecting and promoting free speech and academic freedom so that our students and colleagues can become acquainted with diverse viewpoints and provide an environment that encourages peaceful debate. Students will be supported to develop skills to engage with new ideas and perspectives. Staff members will be supported in developing and disseminating the insights generated by the evidence from their research, scholarship, and practice.

We must ensure that this remains lawful at all times. NTU does not tolerate abuse, threats, incitement to violence, hatred, discrimination, or other unlawful acts.

The University has a duty under the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 to protect its colleagues and students from unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation or threats of violence on the grounds of race, sex, age, religion or philosophical belief, sexual orientation, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. However, this duty should not be interpreted as a means to undermine freedom of speech and academic freedom. As a result, students’ learning experience and the working environment of colleagues may include exposure to research, course material, discussion or speaker’s views that they find offensive, contentious or unacceptable, but are nonetheless lawful, and unlikely to be considered unlawful harassment or discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.