Standing Together

Engaging with thousands of staff and students has enabled improved knowledge of unacceptable behaviours, supported increased reporting, and facilitated the use of Standing Together as a linchpin to building a safer and more inclusive campus. 

Some examples of the awareness and engagement activities we’ve conducted over the past few years are listed below. We have:

• Given white ribbon pins to 2,000 staff and students for international days of action to tackle violence against women and girls
• Received ~500 signed anti-bullying pledges 
• Developed the ‘Be the Influence’ campaign with Sports and mandated a ‘Wellbeing Officer’ in all 49 Team Leicester clubs and teams to foster acceptable behaviours and support all students involved
• Engaged with over 300 staff and students with ‘Caravan Theatre’, across 3 separate events/occasions
• Co-designed and created animations with students detailing acceptable bystander behaviours. This is now a key part of how we communicate our University ethos, e.g. used within teaching and welcome activities for students and staff. Other institutions have also requested use of these animations.
• Exhibited across 6 sites at the University to tackle myths and misconceptions about sexual violence – this work is ongoing and we are developing more to follow up on the initial exhibition.

The main development to improve support for students under our case management commitments is the development of our own online reporting system.

The system is designed to allow for students to start their disclosure process their way. Students can disclose an incident on the system anonymously or by leaving contact information, and find out about additional support information through our support pages. Students can then receive end-to-end support depending on how they wish to progress with their holistic support and reporting options.

This development directly resulted from Standing Together and student requests for better reporting and more awareness of unacceptable behaviours.

For more support and reporting options please see our report and support webpages.

Disclosure and support process for cases of sexual misconduct

The following process will take place where students have provided consent and contact details.

Step 1: Disclosure

• Students can disclose sexual misconduct, harassment or violence to the University through report and support
• The University may receive information from the police and other external agencies.

Step 2: Assessment

• After a disclosure has been made, we contact the disclosing student within two working days to arrange a one-to-one supportive conversation.
• We talk to the disclosing student to gather information and discuss the disclosure.
• We undertake a needs assessment with the disclosing student to determine support options, including referrals to internal and external support agencies, such as:
  • External
    • Specialist support (i.e. sexual assault referral centre)
    • Counselling services
    • Health services
  • Internal
    • Counselling services
    • Welfare advisers
    • Residential support services
    • Academic support
• We discuss options for reporting the disclosure to the police or to the University as a disciplinary matter.
• If the student reports as a University disciplinary matter, the disciplinary process begins.

Step 3: Continuous support

• We continue to support the disclosing student, re-evaluating requirements until the student’s needs are met.

Working closely with the Standing Together team, the Centre for Hate Studies have developed a suite of free training modules on various aspects of Hate Crime. These can be accessed by anyone through registering for an account on their website.

Standing Together are also developing other training modules including:

• Standing together for community – information and guidance to help encourage being an active bystander
• Sexual violence myths and misconceptions – leading on from our recent ‘Let’s Talk about Sexual Violence’ exhibition
• Having sensitive conversations – information around receiving disclosures of mental health and other incidents
• Standing Together awareness – general information about Standing Together and our activities

For more information about training, or to book in a session, please email Liz Jennings at emj9@le.ac.uk.

On 1 August 2019, we launched the University-wide dignity and respect at Leicester policy – the first policy at the University to cover the whole University community (including staff, students and visitors) and outline our University ethos and expectations around behaviour. This policy has been written in collaboration with Leicester Students’ Union, HR, Staff Health and Wellbeing, Student Support Services and the Trade Unions.

For more information about our dignity and respect at Leicester policy, please email dignityandrespect@le.ac.uk.

We are also currently re-working our student regulations. Please contact the Quality Office for more information (qualoffice@le.ac.uk).

Disciplinary process for cases of sexual misconduct

Step 1: Report

• Report of sexual misconduct received by the University.

Step 2: Assess

• We assess the complaint, considering risks to wellbeing and safety of individuals involved and how risks need to be managed.
• If the wellbeing and safety of individuals is at risk, we will refer the complaint to the Cause for Concern Group, who may take the following actions:
  • Contact the police.
  • Implement precautionary measures, including no-contact orders.
• We determine whether the complaint should proceed to a formal investigation or seek an alternative resolution.

Step 3: Formal investigation

• We meet with the reported student and inform them of allegations and process.
• An Authorised Officer, usually a member of staff from the Student Conduct Group, will be appointed to oversee the investigation of the complaint.
• The Authorised Officer or appointed representative undertakes interviews with parties involved, gathers information and produces a full written report of findings and recommendations.

Step 4: Determine outcome

• The Authorised Officer will determine the outcome of the formal investigation:
  • Disciplinary action, or
  • Referral to a Student Discipline Panel hearing to resolve complex cases, or
  • No further action.
• Disciplinary action might include a reprimand or temporary exclusion.

Step 5: Student Discipline Panel

• The Student Discipline Panel will consider the case and provide the student with an opportunity to respond.
• The Panel will then determine the outcome, either:
  • No further action, or
  • Penalties as appropriate, up to and including expulsion from the University.

Step 6: Appeals

• Usually the student will be entitled to appeal the disciplinary outcome.
• A member of the Student Conduct Group will review the submission and determine the next steps:
  • Decision remains, or
  • Action to revise the penalty, or
  • A full appeal hearing.

This process is intended as an overview. However, some steps may vary according to individual cases.