How does Warwick protect its students from sexual misconduct?

Everyone at Warwick has the right to feel safe. Harassment of any kind is completely unacceptable, and our community is an environment where prejudice and socially unacceptable behaviour are never tolerated. We want to tackle sexual misconduct issues as a community - raising awareness, providing support and being clear about our values so that we change behaviour and attitudes. Prevention and education are a crucial part of our approach, in partnership with our Students’ Union. All students must complete training on sexual abuse and violence, so that they understand the behaviours that we expect from every member of the University. We also provide training to empower people to feel that they can intervene where they see incidences of sexual misconduct.

Our University Principles on sexual misconduct are clear that we will not tolerate unacceptable behaviour. If individuals are found to have broken these Principles, either by the Police or by our own disciplinary processes, we impose sanctions. These can include suspension or the requirement to permanently withdraw. Where individuals are allowed to return to the University after disciplinary action, this is only once we are satisfied that they are fit to return to our community. A suitably qualified professional confirms that the individual has satisfactorily completed training before any decision is taken.

How do you support students who are victims of sexual misconduct?

Our University Principles on sexual misconduct are clear that we will not tolerate unacceptable behaviour. In the event that individuals are found to have broken these Principles, either by the Police or by our own disciplinary processes, we impose sanctions. These can include suspension or expulsion.

Where individuals are allowed to return to the University after disciplinary action, this is only once we are satisfied that they are fit to return to our community. A suitably qualified professional confirms that the individual has satisfactorily completed training before any decision is taken.

How do you support students throughout the disciplinary process?

All individuals involved in a disciplinary case are provided with support from dedicated Student Liaison Officers who have attended sexual misconduct training, and members of disciplinary panels considering sexual misconduct cases receive training from the Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre and an external independent Sexual Misconduct Investigator. Disciplinary processes are victim-led, which means the pace and duration of these processes can vary significantly. Victims of sexual misconduct do not have to attend disciplinary hearings, although they can choose to do so. At no point are they in the same room (or visible on camera in video calls) as their alleged attacker. Questions put to the victim in the course of the investigation are intended to establish the context for what happened and help the victim to remember important details.

Can students appeal the outcome of the disciplinary process?

Individuals involved in a disciplinary case have the right of appeal. This appeal will be then considered by a separate Discipline Appeals Committee.

Is the Facebook group chat case happening now?

We want to reassure you that this is not so. The Facebook group chat case took place in 2018. Following it, the University held an independent external review in 2019 of its student disciplinary and appeals process, and a review of values and behaviours within our community. Since then the University has embedded the recommendations of both reviews and is continually trying to improve.