°µÍø³Ô¹Ï

If you experience anything at all that makes you feel uncomfortable and you would like to tell someone about it, please disclose this to us so that we can support you. As a university, we encourage those who have experienced unwelcome behaviour to report it. We support our students and our staff, and we want to work with you to find the best options for you, moving forward. We will never pressure you to take any action, and we want you to feel heard.

Experiencing any kind of abuse can be distressing and confusing. Whether it happened recently, in the past, or is happening now, finding help and support to think through your next steps and options is important. Our supporting and reporting options are also there for those who have witnessed such actions.

Students can disclose how they have been affected by harassment and sexual misconduct using the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï’s reporting tools below:

Our specialist advisors can discuss options for support from the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï with you and/or other specialist organisations, and reporting options (this could include reporting to the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï or the Police).

The °µÍø³Ô¹Ï has specialist Sexual and Domestic Abuse Advisors based in Student Wellbeing, whose roles are to support students who have past or present experiences of sexual misconduct, domestic abuse, stalking and harassment.

Advisors in the Student Support Centre can provide advice and guidance on support and reporting to those who experience Hate Crimes.

Students facing allegations will be encouraged to access the support available to them from Student Wellbeing, Student Support or the Students’ Union Advice Centre.

Further information about support options are available on the Student Services webpages: 

If you are a staff member experiencing harassment or sexual misconduct you can access further information and support through the following resources:

• The Department of People Performance and Culture (PPC): Find the .
• Employee Assistance Programme: Offers counselling, advice and an information service. .
• Bullying and Harassment Policy: Provides detailed guidelines and procedures. .
• Concern Line: Enables staff to report concerns anonymously. .

There are a range of options which students have for reporting concerns.

Our online reporting tools is normally a helpful starting point. Our specialist advisors will pick up these reports, support you and talk to you about the options available to you in confidence. This helps you to make an informed decision on the steps you might wish to take. The tools are linked below:

The °µÍø³Ô¹Ï can still offer support regardless of whether you wish to progress a case, or where the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï determines a report is not in scope of its Regulations.

No Contact/Protection Orders

Sometimes, those who experience harassment and/or sexual misconduct just want these behaviours to stop, and wish to have no further disciplinary action taken against the reported person.

Under the Student Conduct and Disciplinary Regulations, authorised staff have the power to issue No Contact/Protection Orders, which are mutual agreements designed to prevent further incidents occurring. These are often highly effective, and they do not prevent individuals who might experience further issues from bringing these to the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï’s attention.

Police

If any allegations constitute an offence under criminal law, students will be supported to report these matters to the Police.

If a matter is reported to the Police then the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï can normally rely on the findings to inform its decision-making under its own process. This is important, as the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï does not have the same investigatory authority as the police, or the authority to prove whether a criminal act has or hasn’t occurred.

The °µÍø³Ô¹Ï benefits from the support of a Campus Police Officer based in Student Wellbeing, who can support students to explore what a report to the police might look like, and whether this is right for them.

Student Disciplinary Investigation

The Student Conduct and Disciplinary Regulations provide the option for the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï to investigate reports of alleged misconduct against a student, which includes allegations of harassment and/or sexual misconduct.

More information can be found in the Student Conduct and Disciplinary Regulations.

Student Complaints

The Student Complaint Regulations provide the option for the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï to investigate reports by students of alleged harassment and/or sexual misconduct by a member of staff.

More information can be found in the Student Complaint Regulations.

The °µÍø³Ô¹Ï gives due regard and places significant weight on the importance of freedom of speech within the law, academic freedom and tolerance for controversial views in an education context or environment, including in premises and situations where educational services, events and debates take place. It shall apply a ‘rebuttable presumption’ to the effect that students being exposed to any of the following is unlikely to amount to harassment:

A. the content of our course materials, including but not limited to books, videos, sound recordings, and pictures;

B. statements made and views expressed by a person as part of teaching, research or discussions about any subject matter which is connected with the content of our courses

Anonymous reporting

Anonymous reporting allows students to raise issues without disclosing their identity.

Anonymous reports will be reviewed and used to identify trends and to improve support services. However, due to the nature of anonymous reports, the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï’s ability to respond to specific incidents or provide direct support to the reporting individual can be limited.

You can also report incidents online either anonymously or with contact details for support by clicking on our .

The set out the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï’s approach to investigating allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct against students. 

The set out the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï’s approach to investigating allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct made by students against staff. Where such a complaint is substantiated, action under the will be considered. 

The above regulations define harassment and sexual misconduct and set out how we ensure investigations are undertaken fairly, the timescales and stages involved, including how we make decisions, determine potential outcomes and appeal options.  

Procedural Fairness: The Principles of Natural Justice 

The principles of natural justice are fundamental to our investigative processes. This means individuals have: 

i. The right to know the case against them (and often, by whom); 

ii. The right to be given opportunity to respond to such a case; 

iii. The right for the case to be treated confidentially; 

iv. The right for their case to be adjudicated on by someone impartial. 

Decision-Making: The Balance of Probabilities 

The °µÍø³Ô¹Ï makes decisions on cases using the balance of probabilities. This means we make decisions based on whether an incident was more likely than not to have occurred, based on the evidence provided. 

 

In accordance with the Student Conduct and Disciplinary Regulations and the Student Complaints Regulations, the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï commits to provide students who raise allegations of harassment or sexual misconduct with an outcome of the investigation and/or an explanation of any actions that the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï has taken, or not taken, to the extent that data protection legislation permits. This includes ensuring that students are kept updated where an outcome which relates to them is changed, for any reason. 

As the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï has an obligation to both the reporting individual and the individual who has had an allegation made against them, this means that it may only be possible for the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï to provide limited information, depending on the circumstances.  

We are committed to creating a culture where students feel confident about and safe disclosing information about harassment and sexual misconduct. 

We will take all reasonable steps to ensure the information which individuals disclose to us is treated sensitively. However, there may be circumstances (e.g. in order to protect an individual at risk) where we are required to share information with other agencies or to share information internally. 

When students decide to make a report to the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï for investigation under its Student Conduct and Disciplinary Regulations or the Student Complaints Regulations, they will be made aware that it will be necessary to share information about their report with relevant parties to ensure fair investigation of the matters concerned.  Similarly, we shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that students who have reports made about them have their information handled carefully. 

Further details about how we handle information can be found: 

Within our Student Wellbeing Centre Privacy Notice for information shared in relation to support and advice on reporting options. 

Within our Student Contention Privacy Notice for information shared as part of the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï’s formal investigative processes. 

The °µÍø³Ô¹Ï commits to a set of activities to ensure students understand what harassment and sexual misconduct are, the support available to them, what consent is and how to intervene effectively when they have concerns. 

1. From August 2025 students must complete mandatory , which aims to ensure they understand and feel confident making a stand against harassment and sexual misconduct. The training was developed by experts in our Student Wellbeing team in conjunction with our Students’ Union. As the training is mandatory, support will be provided to those who might find it difficult to complete for any reason, but disciplinary action explored when there is evident unwillingness to complete the training. We ask students to evaluate the training for us, to ensure we continue to improve it and make a meaningful impact on the issue of harassment and sexual misconduct. 
2. We expect good conduct from °µÍø³Ô¹Ï students. All students agree to adhere to the Terms and Conditions of Admission, which include the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï’s Student Conduct and Disciplinary Regulations when they enrol and re-enrol each year. These Regulations set out the expectations of student behaviour and potential consequences when the Regulations are breached. 
3. We, as a university, are One Community and strive to be kind, patient, and supportive of each other. Our One Community Values define our One Community ethos and are a framework to ensure that respectful and inclusive behaviours should be at the heart of all we do. Our One Community values are: Equality, Understanding, Listening, Kindness and Acceptance.  
4. In conjunction with our Students’ Union we run various campaigns to promote awareness of the issues relating to harassment and sexual misconduct to our staff, students and wider °µÍø³Ô¹Ï Community. 

To ensure students and members of staff can achieve their full potential, the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï is committed to ensuring that everyone can work and participate in °µÍø³Ô¹Ï life without fear of harassment or sexual misconduct:  

1. Staff are responsible for ensuring they complete and remain up to date with all mandatory training.  
2. Some staff members are required to undergo additional training. This includes staff responsible for taking disclosures from students, undertaking investigations and making decisions about disciplinary cases. The training outlines the relevant policies and procedures in place at the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï. The Department of People, Performance and Culture also run more bespoke training to support staff need throughout the academic year. 
3. In conjunction with our Students’ Union we run various campaigns to promote awareness of the issues relating to harassment and sexual misconduct to our staff, students and wider °µÍø³Ô¹Ï Community. 

The °µÍø³Ô¹Ï recognises that personal relationships within our community can take many forms. Most social, personal, and professional relationships are beneficial, fostering valued working practices and positive academic interactions.

However, we are committed to safeguarding students from potential or actual conflicts of interest and abuses of power that may arise from personal relationships with staff. Our prohibits staff from engaging in intimate or close personal relationships with students for whom they have direct responsibility, whether it be in their academic studies and/or pastoral care. Any such relationships must be declared by the staff member to manage any conflicts of interest appropriately.

Beyond this, the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï strongly discourages staff from engaging in an intimate personal relationship with any student, even where there is no direct responsibility, to avoid potential conflicts of interest and abuses of power.

The updated policy is effective from 1 August 2025. 

The °µÍø³Ô¹Ï has never used non-disclosure agreements in relation to student allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct. 

The Office for Students has prohibited universities from using NDAs in relation to student allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct since September 2024. 

To read more on the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï's position on Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) for Employees and Students please click here

The °µÍø³Ô¹Ï’s Senior Leadership Team and its Board of Governors are committed to the endeavour required to tackle harassment and sexual misconduct. We believe the combination of the below steps will make a significant and credible difference in protecting students from behaviour that may amount to harassment and/or sexual misconduct: 

1. Publishing an annual report on data relating to the prevalence of harassment and sexual misconduct, and where reported to the °µÍø³Ô¹Ï for formal investigation, the outcomes of those processes. 
2. Ensuring that evaluation of our approach and online training is regularly undertaken in conjunction with students, the Students’ Union and our staff, and that we act to make change where appropriate. 
3. Consulting with our Students’ Union on development of the policies and regulations relevant to student harassment and sexual misconduct, with students represented on the committees where these policies and regulations are considered and approved. 

Student Wellbeing

T: 01522 886400

E: studentwellbeing@lincoln.ac.uk

 

Student Support & Advice

T: 01522 837080

E: studentsupport@lincoln.ac.uk

 

Students’ Union Advice Centre

T: 01522 837000

E: advice@lincolnsu.com