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Bullying and Harassment

Advice and guidance if you are dealing with bullying or harassment

The university is committed to providing a positive experience for all students at the university and will not condone any form of bullying or harassment.

What is harassment?

Harassment is unwanted behaviour ( including sexual harassment)  that violates someone’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment.  It counts as harassment if it has this effect, provided it is reasonable to view the conduct in that way.

It can be linked to a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010, such as age, disbaility, gender reassignment, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation

Examples include:

  • Repeated unwelcome comments about appearance
  • Threatening, discriminatory messages or images
  • Mimicking or mocking someone’s disability
  • Unwanted physical contact (“horseplay”, touching, grabbing)
  • Derogatory jokes or language targeting protected characteristics
  • “Outing” or threatening to reveal someone’s sexual orientation
  • Harassment can be a single incident or repeated behaviour, and it can happen in-person or online.

What is bullying?

Bullying is repeated behaviour that seeks to demean, intimidate, or humiliate someone, often involving an abuse or misuse of power.
Unlike harassment, bullying does not have to be linked to a protected characteristic.

Examples include:

  • Spreading malicious rumours
  • Setting someone up to fail
  • Undermining authority or unfairly criticising work
  • Excluding someone from group activities

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How to report harassment and bullying

You can report harassment and bullying using Speak Up

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What is the university’s Bullying and Harassment Policy?

We want everyone at the University of Hertfordshire to feel safe, respected, and supported. If you experience or witness bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, or violence, we will take your concerns seriously.

Step 1 – Try to Resolve Informally (if safe and appropriate)

  • Talk it through: you may be able to resolve the situation by speaking directly with the person involved.Get support – You can speak confidentially to a Dignity & Respect Adviser, the Dean of Students Office, the HertsSU Advice & Support Centre, or Student Wellbeing.
  • Facilitated conversation: a trained third party can help you and the other person talk through the issue, or you may agree to mediation.

If the situation is too serious or informal steps don’t work, you can make a formal complaint.

Step 2 – Making a Formal Student Complaint

Step 3 – What Happens Next

  • Acknowledgement:  a senior staff member (the “Recipient”) will confirm they’ve received your complaint and notify the person you’ve complained about (the “Respondent”).
  • Initial meeting: you’ll discuss the details, possible informal resolution, or whether a formal investigation will proceed.
    Investigation: an impartial investigator will gather statements, evidence, and interview relevant people. You’ll be updated regularly.
  • Confidentiality: all involved must keep details private, except when seeking advice or support.

Step 4 – Outcome

You’ll receive a Letter of Decision explaining whether your complaint has been upheld, partially upheld, or not upheld.
If upheld, the matter will be referred to the relevant University process. In some cases, you may be told about actions taken that directly affect you (e.g., a written apology, a no-contact order).

Step 5 – Requesting a Review

You can request a review only if:

There was a procedural error in how your complaint was handled or you believe there was bias.

Submit the Request for Review Form to studentprocedures@herts.ac.uk  within 10 working days of your decision letter.

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Need more support?

If you have witnessed or experienced an incident you feel uncomfortable with, please see the below options:

You can also use the Speak Up online form to report concerns anonymously or request advice. You can find the full Bullying and Harassment policy (EQ10) HERE

You can find the ‘single comprehensive source of information’ required by the Office for Students (OfS registration condition E6) which summarises the University’s policies and procedures on student harassment and sexual misconduct and the support  University’s policies and procedures on student harassment and sexual misconduct and the support

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Contact Us

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Office

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Office

Today 09:00 - 17:00

Student Wellbeing

Today 8.30 - 16:00
Student Wellbeing is closed at weekends and during holiday periods.
Hutton Hub, College Lane