Here is a summary of the University's policies and procedures on student harassment and sexual misconduct, including related training for staff and students, how to report incidents and information on where you can access support.
What is harassment and sexual misconduct?
Harassment and sexual misconduct are defined in the University’s Prevention of Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy as follows:
The University has formally adopted the definition of harassment as outlined in the Office for Students (OfS) Statement of Expectations that: “Harassment (as defined by Section 26 of the Equality Act 2010) includes unwanted behaviour or conduct which has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment because
of, or connected to, one or more of the following protected characteristics:
i. age
ii. disability
iii. gender reassignment
iv. race
v. religion or belief
vi. sex
vii. sexual orientation”
Harassment includes: “domestic violence and abuse (which can also involve control, coercion, threats), and stalking…. [and] any incidents of physical violence towards another person(s) on the basis of a protected characteristic, and hate crimes, such as those criminal offences which are perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice, based on a person's disability or perceived disability; race or perceived race; or religion or perceived religion; or sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation or transgender identity or perceived transgender identity”. Harassment may occur through any medium, including online.
The University has adopted the OfS definition of sexual misconduct: “Sexual misconduct relates to all unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. This includes, but is
not limited to:
i. Sexual harassment (as defined by Section 26 (2) of the Equality Act 2010)
ii. Unwanted conduct which creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment (as defined by the Equality Act 2010)
iii. Assault (as defined by the Sexual Offences Act 2003)
iv. Rape (as defined by the Sexual Offences Act 2003)
v. Physical unwanted sexual advances (as set out by the Equality and Human Rights Commission: Sexual harassment and the law, 2017)
vi. Intimidation, or promising resources or benefits in return for sexual favours (as set out by the Equality and Human Rights Commission: Sexual harassment and the law,
2017)
vii. Distributing private and personal explicit images or video footage of an individual without their consent (as defined by the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015).”
As above, sexual misconduct may occur through any medium, including online.
Report and Support Tool
The University provides a portal called Report + Support, which staff and students can use to disclose bullying, discrimination, harassment, assault, mental health concerns and sexual misconduct .
You can choose to disclose anonymously or ask to speak to a trained advisor to get information on reporting options and the available support, so that you can make an informed decision on what happens next.
The University’s Prevention of Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy details other options for reporting if the use of Report and Support is not preffered.
Support for those affected
A range of support is available within and outside the University for students and staff who have experienced harassment and sexual misconduct.
Further information about support options is available on our Report + Support portal. Staff and Students can also contact Student Advice, the Students’ Union, or the Chaplaincy Team who can offer support and signpost to external support services where necessary.
Please see below a list of local and national helpline numbers, where you can access support outside of the University.
Please click here, to find out more from Lincolnshire Police, about the support available and the people who can help.
Their 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line provides free, specialist and confidential support for victims of sexual violence or abuse. open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year- call 0808 500 2222 or visit 247sexualabusesupport.org.uk to chat online.
Please click here to find out more from the only trauma informed specialist organisation in Lincolnshire exclusively supporting survivors of sexual violence and those impacted by sexual violence.
You can call their free, confidential helpline on 0808 801 0818 or text 07860 022 956. To find out more, please click here.
To find sexual health advice and support in your area, please click here.
Investigating incidents of sexual harassment and misconduct
Harassment and sexual misconduct are defined in the University’s Prevention of Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy, which also outlines how we prevent, address and investigate allegations of student harassment and sexual misconduct.
The University's policies on Safeguarding Children and At-Risk Adults, Dignity Policy for Staff and Students and Personal Relationships also provide valuable information on how concerns or incidents can be reported and investigated.
Training for staff and students
PEACHY is BGU's first cross departmentally vetted consent and agency training. This training has 4 distinct modules available on Backboard for both staff and students. These modules include; Active Bystander, Consent, Gender Based Violence and Healthy Relationships. This training has been created in compliance with the OFS E6 guidance outlined for roll-out in August 2025.
Find out more
Listen to a podcast episode with Connor Short, Dr Sacha Mason and Rebecca Midgley.
Find out more about:
- Who are the Office for Students?
- What are the E6 regulations?
- Where can you access report and support tools?
Get in touch
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our Regulatory Compliance team is here to help you.
For historic copies of relevant policies, please email our Regulatory Compliance team.
