Reporting and acting on harassment
The University of Nottingham is committed to ensuring we do everything we can to provide a safe and supportive environment for everyone. Our campuses are a pleasant and inclusive place to study but, as with any community, issues can arise.
How to report harassment
If you have experienced or witnessed harassment, please let us know about the incident(s) using the button opposite. This will take you through to our Report + Support tool.
You can use Report + Support to tell us what happened anonymously or ask to speak an advisor. Speaking to an advisor does not mean that you are making a formal report to the university; it enables you to access the support you or someone else needs to make an informed decision about how to proceed. You can also find information on internal and external support, policies, guidance and our campaigns.
All reports will be handled in confidence and we will never share your details with any support services without your permission.
What types of behaviour constitute harassment?
Harassment is any type of unwanted behaviour that you find offensive or which makes you feel intimidated or humiliated. This can take the form of spoken or written words or abuse; offensive emails, tweets or comments on social networking sites; Images and graffiti; physical gestures; facial expressions; or comments attempted to be passed off as jokes.
Harassment can happen on its own or alongside other forms of discrimination, and can be specifically linked to protected characteristics – age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
Read the statutory definitions of harassment
How is my report investigated?
All reports requesting advisor consultation are investigated for action. When a report is received through Report + Support and you have said that you want to speak to an advisor, it is reviewed to assess who is best placed to deal with the situation outlined. Depending upon the nature of the report, we will arrange a disciplinary investigation under the Student Code of Discipline or University Dignity Policy and offer welfare support, counselling or advice as appropriate.
While each case is different, staff typically involved in the investigation and response include the University's Investigations and Conduct team, Student Welfare staff, Residential Experience staff, and Support and Wellbeing Officers. In serious cases the university's Campus Life Director will assist with an appropriate resolution and response.
We will send you an acknowledgement of your report within five working days. The time spent on an investigation will vary according to the nature of the report, but we will keep you informed of progress in assessing and investigating it. You can always check in with us and ask about progress with your case by contacting us at harassment@nottingham.ac.uk.
If I choose to report anonymously, will an investigation take place?
If you chose to report something to us anonymously, we will not be able to contact you directly and offer you any advice or support. Making an anonymous report informs the university that something has happened. This will not instigate any part of a formal process or complaint. An anonymous report allows us to better understand the issues within the university and our community.
If you would like further support or guidance on the matter you are reporting, you should select the ‘speak to an advisor’ route within Report + Support.
Is the process confidential?
Yes. Please be assured that your report will be treated in the strictest confidence and seen only by staff members concerned with the investigation. Details will not be shared with any service without your permission, unless there is an urgent concern about your safety or the safety of others.
Should I report harassment?
Yes, we strongly encourage you to report any form of harassment to help us keep you safe and to ensure our community is respectful and inclusive at all times. Without your report, we cannot always act or understand the type or scale of issues we need to address.