Expectations
Warwick Community: Our Community Values and Expectations
At Warwick, we believe that every individual in our University community should be treated with dignity and respect and be part of a working and learning environment that is free from barriers, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity status.
We value our diverse and international community, the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge and research with real impact.
We want to support our students and each other to become critical thinkers and collaborative yet independent learners – individuals with a global and sustainable outlook, who are able to make an active and positive contribution to society. At the same time, we are committed to working towards a supportive, accessible and inclusive environment.
We uphold the importance not only of free speech, but also in promoting free speech. We also support academic freedom, a component of free speech.
We place great importance on the responsible behaviour of both our students and staff at Warwick. It is important for you, as a student, to have an idea of Warwick’s core values and an understanding of the primary expectations of student members of the Warwick community.
- Warwick Values shaped by Warwick's community, our values represent the way we work together to deliver our strategy and ambitions.
- Our Dignity Principles set out our expectations of how we behave as a community, both as individuals and as an institution, and inform our approach to taking appropriate action when these expectations are not met.
- Social Inclusion sets the value we place on maintaining an inclusive environment where all can contribute and reach their full potential.
- University Strategy sets our goals and vision as a world-class university committed to making a positive impact.
- Warwick Student Community Statement sets out aims for the University as well as for students.
- University Calendar includes the University’s Charter, Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations for staff and students.
- Student Life provides information and links to university regulations, policies and guidelines that govern what students can expect from the University, and what they would need to be aware of and adhere to as a registered student.
A note on History as a subject of study
“History is not a comfortable subject; it includes confronting uncomfortable and unsettling aspects of the past, elements of which may continue to resonate and inspire controversy and debate today, but which are an unavoidable part of the process of historical recovery and essential to the rigour of historical enquiry. History operates best when its practitioners reflect the diversity of human society and thought, bringing different perspectives and life experiences to bear on the past, and engage in self-reflection and critique to test and question both their own and the discipline’s approaches to studying the past.” (QAA History Subject Benchmark Statement, 2022).
At Warwick we believe the classroom should be an “accountable space” rather than a “safe space”. Students will not necessarily agree with the opinions of their lecturers or fellow students, though they should expect everyone to express their opinions in a respectful and thoughtful manner. For more information please see the Lectures and Seminars section of the History UG Handbook.
The University operates an Academic Freedom policy (Statute 11 - The Employment of Staff), which ensures that Academic Staff have freedom within the law to question and test received wisdom, and to put forward new ideas and controversial or unpopular opinions, without placing themselves in jeopardy of losing their jobs and privileges.
If you have any concerns please discuss them with your seminar tutors or personal tutor.
Behaviour misconduct
Students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the University's regulations on behaviour misconduct, including student harassment and sexual misconduct.