The Office for Students (OfS) has released new guidance on tackling harassment and sexual misconduct in higher education, setting out clearer expectations for universities. This marks a powerful step forward in transforming survivor experiences, creating safer campuses, and ensuring student wellbeing. But this isn’t just about compliance – it’s about embracing cultural change, fostering more respectful, inclusive, and safe spaces, and building a future where every student feels supported.
Why is this change so vital?
According to research by Revolt Sexual Assault, in partnership with The Student Room, almost two-thirds (62%) of students and graduates have experiences sexual violence at UK universities. Alarmingly, only 6% reported their experience to their university, and of those who did, only 2% were satisfied with the reporting process. These statistics highlight a significant gap in support and protection for students, underscoring the urgent need for universities to take decisive action.
Key Takeaways from the OfS Guidance:
The new guidance builds on previous sector commitments but introduces stricter measures to hold institutions accountable. Universities must:
- Develop clear, survivor-centred, and trauma-informed policies and procedures: Make these easily accessible, transparent, and prominently advertised around the university. This is critical when 29% of students don’t even know how to make a report to their university.
- Strengthen reporting mechanisms: Ensure students and staff know how to report harassment and misconduct through confidential and effective processes. Policies should set out transparent, easily accessible, and robust reporting mechanisms. Anonymous reporting is crucial because it:
- Captures complaints that might otherwise go unreported – only 10% of respondents reported their experiences to either the university or police.
- Provides reporters with information about available support and safeguards.
- Allows the university to take action even if a formal investigation isn’t pursued.
Cultural change takes time, but it is vital to maintain consistent responses to harassment. Every report should be met with a response that fully adheres to the robust processes outlined in university policies.
- Provide robust, context-specific training: Staff and students should receive training on recognising and responding to harassment, with a focus on supporting survivors and bystander intervention. This is essential given that 51% or respondents felt there was a lack of understanding about consent at their university.
- Monitor and evaluate responses: Collect and analyse data on harassment reports to ensure accountability and continuous improvement. Accountability and transparency are key. Now that standards have been communicated and processes established, monitoring and evaluation are necessary to assess effectiveness. Consider creating a transparent system for how reports are managed and resolved, highlighting the benefits of accountability.
A Survivor-Centred and Trauma-Informed Future:
At its core, this guidance is about empowering survivors and shifting campus culture for the better. Universities now have an opportunity to create environments that:
- Adopt trauma-informed practices: Staff should be trained to understand trauma responses, communicate with empathy and care, and enable survivors to feel valued, safe, and empowered without retraumatisation.
- Prioritise safety and support: Survivors should have access to specialist services, counselling, and academic adjustments without unnecessary barriers. This is crucial, as 25% of students reported skipping lectures or changing mondules to avoid their perpetrators with 16% even suspending their studies or dropping out.
- Respect survivor choices and empower them with control: Survivors should be supported in making informed decisions without feeling pressured to report formally.
- Empower the individual: Ensure survivors feel in control of the dialogue and decisions they make.
- Informed choices: Survivors should be informed about all their options, including disclosing without making an official report.
- No obligation to report: Survivors should know that they are not obligated to report the incident and can still access support for their wellbeing.
Seizing the Opportunity: Challenges and Exciting Opportunities
The road ahead may require significant policy shifts and cultural change, but the potential to transform lives is immense. Yes, this will require effort, resources, and institutional commitment. But this is more than a policy shift – it’s an opportunity to create lasting, meaningful change. By stepping up now, universities can build safer, more inclusive spaces where survivors are heard, respected, and supported. We encourage you to move beyond compliance to actively prevent harm, ensuring a safe and inclusive campus environment.
An Exciting Time for Higher Education
This is an exciting time for higher education. The new OfS guidance isn’t just a set of rules – it’s a call to action. It’s an invitation to rethink how we support students, build a culture of respect and accountability, and ensure that no one suffers in silence. At ICENA, we’re here to help every step of the way. Whether you need training, policy guidance, or cultural change strategies, we’re ready to support your institution in making this transformation a reality. Let’s seize this opportunity together!
All statistics in this blog post were taken from research by Revolt Sexual Assault, in partnership with The Student Room: https://revoltsexualassault.com/research/
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