Support and report at a glance
Our procedures and policies
1. Our values – an inclusive community where everyone can thrive
At the University of Exeter we are an inclusive community, where everyone has the right to be treated with respect. Unwanted behaviours, particularly harassment and sexual misconduct, go against all we stand for and will not be tolerated. We want you to be clear about what we expect of you, and to know what to do if something goes wrong.
2. Our expectations – Consent training and Bystander Intervention
We want everyone to feel safe, respected and informed when it comes to relationships. That’s why we ask all students to complete our Consent training. It covers what consent really means and what it could mean for you if things go wrong. (There are circumstances under which you may be eligible for exemption from this training, and this is explained on the page before your take the online course).
We also offer Bystander Intervention training to empower you to call out unacceptable or unwanted behaviours wherever you experience them. We strongly encourage you to take part in this training during your time with us.
3. What you can expect from us
We take the safety of our community extremely seriously and work with colleagues, our Students’ Guild and Students’ Union, Devon and Cornwall Police, and other external partners to support the wellbeing of our community, both on and off campus. We are a diverse community and we work with our students, staff and partners to create a respectful and inclusive environment in which everyone has the opportunity and freedom to achieve their potential and get the very best out of their time here.
We’re working hard to tackle unwanted behaviour, including harassment and sexual misconduct, discrimination and other harms. However, we recognise these experiences are a reality for some members of our community, whether they have been experienced before arriving at University, or during your time here.
Support
No one should ever feel unsafe, unheard or unsupported at our University. No matter how or when you experienced harm, including harassment, discrimination and sexual misconduct, support is here for you. Getting the support you need doesn’t mean you have to report what’s happened to you – though we can help you if you want to consider reporting it. Whatever your situation, if you need help, we want to support you. Please reach out to our wellbeing team, which not only offers support but can also let you know about other external organisations which are here to help.
Report
If something’s happened to you, we’d encourage you to tell us about it. We have specially trained colleagues who can help you to find the right support and help you decide whether to report it. It’s always your decision. We’re here to listen and to help you make the decisions which are right for you,. and we’ll be led by you and go at your pace.
There are several places you can report the incident.
If the person who harmed you is part of the University, you can report it to us. Reporting means that we will consider any relevant action that can or needs to be taken on the basis of what has happened.
While we can’t take action against someone if they’re not part of the University community, we can give you advice on how to report it, should you wish to. We will also offer you support.
Whether the person who harmed you is, part of the University or not, you can also report it to:
- The Police (call 999 in an emergency, or 101 at other times)
- Anonymously via Crimestoppers
- Your nearest Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)
Reporting, investigation and decisions about complaints
We’ll listen to you and help you understand what options are available and what’s involved if you decide to report what’s happened.
What happens when we receive a report
Once we receive a formal report from you about harassment and/or sexual misconduct, we’ll call a Case Management Conference (CMC). This will consider your welfare, support and academic needs, along with the needs of anyone else directly involved such as the person who’s been reported. The CMC will carry out a risk assessment and consider any measures which may be needed. This could include precautionary measures, such as temporarily restricting the accused person’s access to campus, or a faculty, or accommodation while the investigation takes place.
Investigation
A University investigation is different to a police investigation even where it is investigating the same incident. A police investigation will explore whether a criminal offence has, beyond reasonable doubt, been committed. A University investigation will consider whether our sexual misconduct and/or disciplinary regulations have, more likely than not, been breached. Criminal findings can result in more serious outcomes, whereas a University outcome can only consider whether the accused person is in breach of our regulations. We have various measures we can take if we find that someone has breached our regulations – right up to expulsion from the University.
A University investigation is an evidence-based process. A dedicated investigating officer will hear what has happened to you and receive any evidence in support of your experience. They will also need to hear from the person who’s been reported, and receive any evidence from them too. If there are witnesses to what occurred, we will need to ask you who they are and we will look to speak to them, though we can’t compel witnesses to take part.
Decision making
The investigating officer will review what they’ve been told and the evidence, to decide if an offence more likely than not took place. If they do find an offence most likely took place, they have a range of options available, depending on the severity of what happened. If they believe a major disciplinary offence took place, the case will be referred to a Disciplinary Board.
When a Disciplinary Board meets, they might ask you some further questions to help them reach a decision. The person who has been reported will also be asked questions. You won’t be in the same room as that person but we’d ask you to join from a separate location, with support available if you want it.
Advice for colleagues
We know that colleagues will want to help students to access the right support when needed, and report issues when things go wrong. Please see our Information for colleagues on how best to do this. It also details where to get support for yourself too.
