Preventing and responding to harassment and sexual misconduct at Aston University

Harassment includes any unwelcome or inappropriate behaviour that makes you feel uncomfortable, upset, or distressed. We use the definitions set out by the OfS:

Harassment: Unwanted behaviour that violates someone’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment. This can relate to protected characteristics such as race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or religion.

Sexual misconduct: Unwanted sexual acts or behaviour, including sexual harassment, assault, coercion, stalking, or sharing private materials without consent. This includes, but is not exclusive to:

• Sexual harassment (Equality Act 2010)
• Harassment (Protection from Harassment Act 1997)
• Assault and rape (Sexual Offences Act 2003)
• Distribution of explicit images without consent (Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015)

These definitions are supported by the Bullying and Harassment Policy.
 

Visit our Report + Support webpage to:

• Learn more about harassment and misconduct and understand what behaviours may feel unsafe or uncomfortable
• Report an incident (named or anonymous) and receive support. If contact details are provided, a trained colleague will reach out to discuss next steps
• Access additional resources and support from local and national organisations

We are here to ensure no one faces these challenges alone. Your safety and wellbeing are our priority.

Formal complaints are managed in accordance with our:

• Student Disciplinary Regulations

We provide clear guidance at every stage and ensure that disclosures are taken seriously and handled sensitively.

Formal investigations are conducted in line with our:

• Student Disciplinary Regulations
• Personal Relationships Policy

We ensure fair and thorough investigations, including:

• Clear timeframes and procedures
• Trained investigators
• Right to representation and appeal

Handling information

We treat all information in accordance with our privacy and safeguarding obligations. Disclosures are handled confidentially unless there is a risk of serious harm.

Relevant documents:

• Safeguarding Policy
• Data Protection Guidance

Informing individuals

Where appropriate, we keep those affected informed throughout the process. This includes:
Confirmation of receipt of a report
Updates during investigations
Clear outcomes and available next steps

Safeguarding

When a student discloses harassment or sexual misconduct, Aston University may take precautionary steps to safeguard the wellbeing of those affected and ensure that investigations can proceed fairly. These steps are considered on a case-by-case basis, in line with our commitment to providing a safe and supportive environment.

Actions are guided by our Safeguarding Policy, which outlines our responsibilities in protecting students from harm. The policy sets out the University’s approach to identifying, responding to, and escalating safeguarding concerns, including working with external statutory agencies when required.

You do not need to make a formal report to access support. Students can receive help from trained colleagues and a range of professional support services if they have been affected by harassment or sexual misconduct, or if they need help with other challenges they may be facing.

The Student Solutions Centre

Our friendly and knowledgeable team can help with a wide range of queries:

• Settling into university life
• Fees, finance, and money advice
• Support for disabilities, learning differences, mental health, or long-term health conditions
• Career and placement guidance
• Advice for international students
• Wellbeing concerns for yourself or someone else
• Navigating campus resources and academic queries

Contact us:

• In person: Ground floor, Main Building, Monday to Friday, 9 am – 5 pm
• Phone: 0121 204 4007
• Email: AskUs@aston.ac.uk

Additional support at Aston:

• Aston Students’ Union Advice: independent support with complaints and wellbeing
• Aston University Chaplaincy team: Multi-faith prayer space, pastoral support and quiet space

We also collaborate with our student accommodation partners to ensure they understand our support systems and can assist students effectively.

Colleagues can access additional support through HR, our Employee Assistance Programme, and specialist wellbeing resources. Managers, HR colleagues, and mental health first aiders are available to help guide colleagues to the right support.

All students must complete mandatory online training on preventing harassment and sexual misconduct, with a focus on consent and bystander intervention. This training is delivered via our VLE (Blackboard), and engagement is monitored through our Student Engagement Dashboard (Power BI).

• New students are expected to complete this training within one month of enrolment.
• Returning students must complete it within two months of re-enrolment (final timelines to be confirmed).

Students who may be retraumatised by this content can opt out confidentially and receive support from our Student Life safeguarding team.

Additional live workshops are offered throughout the academic year to deepen understanding and provide opportunities for discussion. Training and awareness are promoted via the student portal (One Aston), Blackboard, digital screens, emails, newsletters, and social media.
 

If you are a current Aston student, you can access the mandatory student training here.

All Aston employees, regardless of role, complete mandatory online training on recognising, preventing, and responding to harassment and sexual misconduct. This must be refreshed every two years. Colleagues who may be retraumatised can opt out confidentially and receive support through HR and our Employee Assistance Programme.

Specialist colleagues (e.g., counsellors, mental health and safeguarding advisers, campus safety teams, complaints and conduct officers, HR) complete further trauma-informed training in partnership with local experts (RSVP).

Training and awareness for colleagues are promoted year-round through the staff portal (One Aston), internal communications cascades, emails, and newsletters.

Aston discourages intimate personal relationships where a conflict of interest may exist, particularly between staff and students. Pre-existing relationships must be declared so any conflicts of interest can be managed. We take these matters seriously to ensure fairness, safety, and transparency. 

Further guidance is outlined in our Personal Relationships Policy
 

Aston University does not use non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in cases involving harassment or sexual misconduct.

The University celebrates the rights of freedom of speech and academic freedom and is committed to protecting and upholding these rights within the law. These rights are a fundamental consideration when we take action to deal with and prevent harassment and sexual misconduct at Aston.

‘Freedom of speech’ means everyone has the right to express lawful views and opinions freely, in speech or in writing, without interference.

‘Academic freedom’ means protecting the intellectual independence of academics to question and test received views and wisdom, and to put forward new ideas and controversial or unpopular opinions, without placing themselves in danger of losing their jobs or privileges or reducing the likelihood of them securing promotion or different roles at the University.

Aston affords a very high level of protection for the lawful expression of a viewpoint and for speech in an academic context, including protection for speech which is shocking, disturbing or offensive.

However, the University also has a duty to maintain safety and good order on its premises and harassment of any kind, including sexual misconduct, is never acceptable. Therefore, whilst the University stands for the widest possible definition of free speech, unlawful speech or behaviour will not be tolerated.

For more information on what Freedom of Speech means at Aston, please visit our Freedom of Speech page.