Universities in England must intensify their efforts to protect students from sexual harassment, according to the Office for Students (OfS). The higher education

regulator announced plans to establish specific benchmarks for reporting systems, disciplinary processes, and staff training.

While the OfS considered mandating a ban on relationships between staff members and students, it ultimately decided against this requirement.

Universities UK (UUK), representing 142 universities, committed to working “constructively and rapidly” with the OfS to implement the new measures.

Key Measures and Conditions

The OfS initiated a consultation on addressing harassment and sexual misconduct in February, leading to the introduction of a “condition of registration” for universities. This condition stipulates that institutions must meet certain standards to retain their university status and degree-awarding powers, including:

Training for staff and students to enhance understanding of harassment and sexual misconduct.

Publishing clear information about their policies and procedures.

Prohibiting the use of non-disclosure agreements in cases of harassment or sexual misconduct.

Universities are expected to identify necessary steps to comply with these conditions. The deadline for implementing most changes is August 1, 2025, with the non-disclosure agreement ban taking effect on September 1, 2024.

While the OfS encourages universities to prohibit staff-student relationships, it did not make this a mandatory requirement.

Survey Findings and Sector Response

The OfS also released findings from a survey conducted among students at 12 institutions, revealing that one in five students had experienced some form of sexual harassment. However, this sample is not considered representative of the entire student population.

Universities UK described the survey results as "sobering" and acknowledged that, despite positive efforts within the sector, more needs to be done. In a statement, UUK emphasized the need for universities to further their efforts to achieve cultural change and eradicate sexual misconduct on campuses.

"Universities must go further still, doing everything possible to bring about a cultural change and stamp out sexual misconduct on campus," UUK stated. "UUK and our members will now work constructively and rapidly with the OfS to help implement changes in support of our shared commitment to tackling harassment." Photo by stevecadman, Wikimedia commons.