Concerns about sexual misconduct and domestic abuse

At York St John University we are committed to the prevention of sexual misconduct and domestic abuse. We aim to respond effectively to incidents of sexual misconduct and domestic abuse to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the university community.

The University actively encourages students who are impacted by sexual misconduct and domestic abuse to report it and to seek support.

Sexual misconduct and domestic abuse

Sexual misconduct covers sexual violence, which includes sexual assault and rape, and sexual harassment, which is unwanted or attempted unwanted conduct of a sexual nature.

Domestic abuse is any abusive behaviour or pattern of behaviour between people who are or have been personally connected to each other.

Report and Support

The Student Dignity and Respect Policy sets out the University's expectations for student behaviour and conduct, as well as that of our wider community.

Any conduct or behaviour which contravenes these expectations and jeopardises the mental, physical and emotional wellbeing of our students and community is not acceptable.

The Report and Support online platform provides further information on how to report incidents, and where to seek help and support.

Report and Support

We strongly encourage you to seek advice and speak to a Welfare Adviser by booking an appointment. They will listen to your concerns and talk you through your options.

Book a welfare appointment

If you are in immediate danger or risk of harm you should contact emergency services by calling 999, and University security when on campus.

What happens when your report is submitted

Our Welfare Team will contact you to offer support. If you would like support a Welfare Advisor will meet with you to talk through what options are available to you. They will also ensure you have access to services to support your mental health and wellbeing if this is needed.

We understand that you may not feel comfortable raising a concern, maybe because you feel it will make things worse, or you may not be believed. Any disclosures made will be taken seriously and treated sensitively, and the University will work with you to decide if you wish to take further steps.

There is also an option to make an anonymous disclosure through Report and Support. These will also be reviewed and inform improvements, however it not usually possible to respond to anonymous disclosures directly.

Action the University can take

Failure to meet expected standards of behaviour and conduct will be dealt with through the Student Disciplinary Policy and Procedure or the Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedure. Both of these policies set out a clear and consistent process for addressing student disciplinary matters. Reports of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct are dealt with under the Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedure. All other forms of harassment will be dealt with under the Student Disciplinary Policy and Procedure.

If an incident involves a criminal charge or police investigation, or if there is the possibility of injury or harm to others, the University may take provisional action to limit a student's interaction with the University community, including through suspension and exclusion. 

Investigation

All allegations relating to sexual harassment and sexual misconduct will be investigated as level 2 misconduct.

Reports will be investigated by an Investigating Officer. This will be a member of staff who has no prior involvement, who has received investigation training from the University and is not connected to either yourself or the student you have reported.

The Investigating Officer will meet with the reporting student and discuss the options open to the student. These options are to request the university formally investigations, reporting the incident to the police, initiating support from internal or external agencies or taking no further action at this time.

Should the reporting student wish to proceed with a University investigation, the Investigating Officer will meet separately with the responding student. The Investigating Officer will review any evidence and make any further enquiries they deem necessary. A written report will be completed by the Investigating Officer and will be reviewed by the University Disciplinary Officer.

Based on this report the University Disciplinary Officer will decide whether misconduct has taken place. If they decide that misconduct has taken place, they will refer the case for a hearing of the Appeals and Conduct Committee. Both parties will be notified of the outcome.

Disciplinary hearing

The hearing panel is made up of members of the University's Appeals and Conduct Committee and a representative from the Students' Union. Both parties will be invited to attend the hearing at separate times.

The Committee will consider the Investigating Officer's report and any other available evidence to reach a conclusion. If the Committee agrees that a disciplinary offence has taken place, they can choose to issue a penalty as follows:

• A verbal warning
• Written warning or reprimand
• Restitution of any damage caused
• Enforced suspension
• Exclusion from specified University facilities or activities
• Fines up to a maximum of £250
• Expulsion
• Other such actions as may be appropriate to the case

More than one penalty may be applied.

Both parties will be notified of the outcome. 

Documentation

• Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Student Disciplinary Policy and Procedure