According to an exclusive report from the Independent, universities minister Michelle Donelan and education secretary Nadhim Zahawi have told the Office for Students (OfS), the higher education regulator, that not following recommendations regarding sexual misconduct could result in ‘sanctions’ for universities.
Repeated breaches or disregard for the OfS advice could result in institutions losing their university status, the Independent revealed.
In April 2021, the OfS released a list of recommendations calling on universities to ‘take urgent action’ to address sexual harassment and misconduct affecting their students. One example of these requirements was that all universities should have a clear process by which students could report incidents.
This action from the OfS was in part spurred on by the website Everyone’s Invited, a site for survivors to anonymously report incidents of sexual violence – many schools and universities were called out for not doing enough to protect their students, with the University of Oxford mentioned over fifty times.
‘A lack of consistent and effective systems’
At the time, chief executive of the OfS, Nicola Dandridge, said that there was ‘a lack of consistent and effective systems, policies, and procedures’ in the higher education sector.
‘As a result, students continue to report worrying cases that have not been properly addressed by their university or college.’
Dandridge added; ‘It is now for all universities and colleges registered with the OfS to put these principles into practice.
‘Having the right processes is important. Students should feel confident reporting and disclosing incidents, knowing that they will be listened to and their reports will be dealt with appropriately.’
‘Penalise universities which are failing victims’
More recently, ministers have made it clear that regulatory bodies and powers like the OfS should have more influence over sexual misconduct policies.
A Department for Education spokesperson told the Independent: ‘In March the education secretary and Minister Donelan wrote to the OfS making clear his view that this should be made a condition of registration, meaning the regulator would have very real powers to penalise universities which are failing victims of sexual harassment and assault.
‘In our view, the OfS should include this in a condition of registration as soon as possible.’
Speaking to the Independent earlier this month, the OfS director for fair access and participation, John Blake, said: ‘We are now examining how universities and colleges have responded to the statement of expectations, and this work includes listening to the views of students and students’ unions.
‘Once this work is complete, we will consider what steps to take next including whether to connect the statement directly to our conditions of registration.’
The Independent reported that the OfS ‘says universities would likely be given an opportunity to ‘improve performance’ before anything else in the case of breaches.’
However, should the universities not fulfil these requirements, intervention from the regulatory body could occur – from lighter penalties like fines all the way to strict sanctions that could include ‘revoking the use of university in [the institution’s] name.’