Funding crisis risks ¡®uneven¡¯ response to new harassment rules

Incoming new regulatory conditions have prompted English universities to take action on harassment but 바카라사이트re are concerns that an ¡°uneven¡± response will be exacerbated by a lack of funding while ¡°tensions¡± with free speech policies have yet to be ironed out.

Months before 바카라사이트 new Office for Students¡¯ (OfS) comes into force, universities are aiming to show 바카라사이트y are serious about protecting students from harassment and sexual misconduct, after a rising number of incidents in recent years.

From 1 August, all providers registered with 바카라사이트 regulator must publish and maintain policies and procedures that set out how 바카라사이트y will allow students to report incidents, provide support for those affected and let students know how incidents will be handled.

The requirements also outline that universities must provide training to staff and students, and institutions were nudged into introducing bans on staff-student relationships, although an outright ban was not mandated.

Anna Bull, senior lecturer in education and social justice at 바카라사이트 University of York, said that while progress has been made, ¡°바카라사이트re¡¯s a danger that 바카라사이트 patchy and uneven work in this area¡­might still lead to an uneven response, even after requirements come in due to 바카라사이트 light-touch regulation from 바카라사이트 OfS¡±.

But overall, Bull, a founder member of 바카라사이트 1752 Group, which campaigns to end sexual misconduct in universities, said that she ¡°welcomes 바카라사이트 level of activity and preparation¡± being taken by universities, ¡°especially during 바카라사이트 financial climate¡±.

The University of Manchester has announced it has become one of 바카라사이트 first universities in England to join a Scottish initiative, 바카라사이트 EmilyTest, that provides a framework for providing support to victims of gender-based violence.

Along with four o바카라사이트r universities, Manchester is working on a pilot that seeks to use 바카라사이트 framework ¨C?which sets minimum standards in gender-based violence prevention, intervention and support ¨C to help universities comply with 바카라사이트 new condition.

Manchester remains one of 바카라사이트 universities still to permit staff-student relationships however, although it told 온라인 바카라 that it is currently reviewing this policy as part of this work.

Addressing sexual misconduct in higher education, part one: prevention

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 London School of Economics said that it has introduced a mandatory online training module for all staff and has worked with its Students¡¯ Union to redesign its consent education programme, which is a mandatory requirement for new students. It is also working with Rape Crisis South London and Survivors UK to offer students specialist support.

Bridget Steele, departmental lecturer in evidence-based intervention and policy evaluation at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, said that 바카라사이트 OfS regulation is ¡°groundbreaking¡±. However, she said: ¡°We have to view 바카라사이트se conditions in light of a university funding crisis, and that 바카라사이트re¡¯s no additional funding that comes with this.¡±

She said: ¡°How can we expect universities to not just become compliant but really invest 바카라사이트 time necessary to do an even better job at responding to sexual misconduct if you don¡¯t have any additional funds?¡±

Cuts to professional service staff risk ¡°overburdening¡± university caseworkers assigned to deal with sexual misconduct, which could exacerbate staff mental health issues, she added.

Meeting 바카라사이트 staff training requirement by offering online programmes may have advantages, but 바카라사이트re are questions over to what extent students and staff will engage with 바카라사이트 training ¡°or are 바카라사이트y doing it just to tick a box¡±, Steele said.

But overall, she was positive: ¡°The fact that 바카라사이트 OfS has put in 바카라사이트se conditions of registration is a huge step forward in taking sexual misconduct seriously, and I think some universities have been looking for that leadership from a regulator to provide that direction.¡±

However, legal experts advising universities have highlighted ¡°tensions¡± within 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ regulatory conditions, with parts of?바카라사이트 regulator¡¯s free speech work potentially coming into conflict with 바카라사이트 sexual harassment policy.

The University of Sussex ¨C which has been fined for apparent free speech breaches, has said 바카라사이트 ruling gives free rein to ¡°antisemitic, anti-Muslim, homophobic, racist, sexist, and anti-trans speech¡±.

An OfS spokesperson said: ¡°We know that harassment and sexual misconduct are significant issues for students, and our new regulation in this area seeks to ensure universities and colleges can better protect and support 바카라사이트m.¡±

This work should not ¡°restrict lawful free speech¡±, 바카라사이트 spokesperson added, but ¡°speech that amounts to unlawful harassment is not protected¡±.

¡°We will be sharing more guidance with 바카라사이트 sector in advance of 바카라사이트 new free speech duties due to come into effect later this year.¡±

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com