Student Safety

Definitions

Harassment has the meaning given in section 26 of the Equality Act 2010 and section 1 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (in its entirety, and as interpreted by section 7 of the Act). (PHA).
As defined by Section 26 and Section 26(2) of the Equality Act 2010, the Sexual Offences Act 2003, the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 and as set out by the Equality and Human Rights Commission: Sexual harassment and the law, 2017:
Harassment is where a person engages in unwanted behaviour or conduct related to a relevant protected characteristic (age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation) and the conduct has the purpose or effect of violating the other person’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for the other person.
As defined by the PHA, harassment applies where a person pursues a course of conduct which amounts to harassment of another, and which the perpetrator knows, or ought to know, amounts to harassment of the other. This can include, but is not limited to, alarming the person or causing them distress.

Sexual misconduct means any unwanted or attempted unwanted conduct of a sexual nature and includes, but is not limited to, sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape*. It can be either in the online and/or offline world. It has the purpose or effect of violating the dignity of a person, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them.Something can still be considered sexual harassment even if the alleged harasser didn’t mean for it to be. It also doesn’t have to be intentionally directed at a specific person.

It is unlikely to amount to harassment or sexual harassment when students are exposed to course materials, and statements made and views expressed by a person as part of teaching, research or discussions about any subject matter that is connected with the content of a Higher Education course.

NTC is committed to protecting and promoting both freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law.

* (as defined by Section 26 and Section 26(2) of the Equality Act 2010, the Sexual Offences Act 2003, the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 and as set out by the Equality and Human Rights Commission: Sexual harassment and the law, 2017)

1. Mandatory training

All students and staff receive mandatory training on harassment and sexual misconduct taking place. There is also equality training as part of orientation week.

2. Policies to advise students about expected behaviour

Equality & Diversity Policy
Student Policy on Harassment
Student Policy on Sexual Misconduct.

3. Intimate personal relationships between staff and students

NTC values and relies upon the professional integrity of relationships between employees and students. The College is committed to an environment for UG and PG students (or prospective students) where decisions about assessment, selection and access to resources are based on merit.

The College does not wish to prevent relationships between employees and students but when an employee enters into a romantic relationship with a student, it can jeopardise professional relationships. In this situation, the employee must inform Human Resources who will then be responsible for ensuring that the employee will have no involvement in the student’s assessment and, as far as practical, will separate the employee from other responsibilities in respect of the student. Failure to comply with this may lead to disciplinary action.

NTC’s policy is that no employee should enter into a sexual relationship with a student for whom they have pastoral responsibility or hold a position of trust.

4. Placements

We promote the safety of any student involved with one of our Placement organisations – each placement has a Learning Agreement which includes confirmation that the placement organisation has appropriate policies in place for preventing harassment and sexual misconduct and processes to follow when anything is reported. There will be an independent point of contact (confirmed when placement begins) as well as ongoing support from NTC (chaplaincy@nazarene.ac.uk) in the event of any incident.

5. Pastoral care group structure

Throughout their time at the college, students have access to a pastoral care group and supervisor, where they are able to discuss any concerns in a safe setting or raise with their supervisor later on.

6. Non-disclosure Agreements

NTC does not use non-disclosure agreements in relation to complaints of harassment, sexual misconduct, bullying or discrimination.
All these combine to reduce the likelihood of harassment/sexual misconduct taking place