1. What would you like the Union to do?
The Union should lobby UCL to maintain a firm and transparent stance against staff misconduct, ensuring consistent enforcement of zero-tolerance policies and safeguarding all students from inappropriate, threatening, or violent behaviour. Where relevant policies exist, the Union should work to hold UCL accountable for their successful implementation, ensure continued improvement, and guarantee that mechanisms remain student-focused and inclusive.
Policy Objectives:
1. Reinforce and Monitor UCL’s Zero-Tolerance Stance
• Lobby UCL to publicly reaffirm and communicate its zero-tolerance position on staff misconduct, particularly in the context of recent reviews of the Personal Relationships and Prevention of Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct policies.
• Ensure that UCL continues to evaluate and improve these frameworks post-publication, with a focus on how they impact students – especially those in vulnerable academic positions.
2. Enhance Implementation and Oversight of Misconduct Investigations
• Lobby for transparent and independent review processes in cases involving staff misconduct, with clear communication of student rights and accessible reporting channels.
• Advocate for independent oversight or external review mechanisms to minimise conflicts of interest and increase trust in outcomes.
• Press UCL to guarantee continued training for staff involved in investigations, especially when personnel changes occur.
3. Guarantee Protection and Support for Student Complainants
• Lobby UCL to guarantee protection from retaliation for any student who reports staff misconduct.
• Ensure that safeguards are in place for the duration of investigations, including academic accommodations and access to support services.
• The SU should seek a formal consultative or review role in policy implementation, ensuring students’ perspectives are reflected.
2. Why would you like to do this?
Students deserve a university environment in which they are protected from misconduct by those in positions of power. While UCL has taken positive steps – such as reviewing key policies – students continue to face barriers in reporting staff misconduct, including unclear processes, fear of retaliation, and insufficient transparency.
Recent cases demonstrate that policy existence alone is insufficient – what matters is how effectively these are enforced and experienced by students. The Union must act as a watchdog and advocate to ensure that implementation is robust, consistent, and student-centred, with ongoing training and improvement built into these systems.
3. How will this affect students?
• Improved Student Safety: A visible, enforced zero-tolerance approach reassures students that UCL takes protection seriously.
• Greater Transparency & Trust: Students will have clearer routes to report misconduct and more faith in the fairness of investigations.
• Protection from Retaliation: Guaranteed safeguards help ensure students are not punished for coming forward.
• Sustained Accountability: Through regular SU monitoring and input, misconduct policies can evolve to meet students’ needs over time.
This policy will especially benefit:
• Postgraduate and research students, who may be especially reliant on staff relationships.
• International students, who may be unfamiliar with reporting processes or their rights.
• Marginalised students, who often face compounded vulnerabilities in power-imbalanced environments.