Oxford University Gazette

Advisory Panel on Harassment: Annual Report 1997-8

Supplement (2) to Gazette No. 4503

Wednesday, 3 March 1999

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Contents of the supplement:

• [Introductory note]
• The survey results
  
• Requests for advice
  
• Resolution of cases
  
• Training
  
• Report of the Harassment Review
  Committee
  
• ANNEXE:
• Table 1: Requests for advice
  
• Table 2: Requests from academic staff,
  non-academic staff, postgraduates, undergraduates, others
  
• Table 3: Complaints and enquiries related
  to
  academic staff, non-academic staff, postgraduates,
  undergraduates,
  others
  

The results of the 1997–8 survey of harassment advisers are
annexed below. As in previous years,
advisers
were asked to give anonymised reports outlining the basic
characteristics of the complaints or enquiries they had dealt
with
during the year, and to indicate any particular problems which
they
had encountered. Returns were received from 139 of the 230
advisers,
compared with 118 last year. Of these, the great majority (103)
reported no cases during the year.

In addition to the annual survey, the Harassment Panel has
reviewed
the number and type of cases dealt with specifically by panel
members
since 1994–5 and the results of this review are included in
the
annexe. This exercise has proved useful in assessing longer term
developments and has also enabled the panel to brief nominating
bodies on the likely experience of new members.

The returns relate only to matters brought to the attention of
advisers so they cannot be taken as a complete record of the
experience of harassment within the University; nor do they
record
all complaints made because returns may be incomplete and
complaints
made through other channels.

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supplement

The survey results

The survey shows a decrease in the total number of cases dealt
with
to 36, compared with 51 in 1996–7. There has also been a
decrease in the proportion of cases dealt with by panel members
as
opposed to departmental and college advisers. These fell to to
13 out
of 36 compared with 28 out of 51 in the previous year.

The longer term review shows that the total numbers of cases fell
significantly in 1997–8 compared with all previous years.
Future
monitoring will show whether this is the beginning of a welcome
trend
or not.

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supplement

Requests for advice

Requests for advice were received from within all groups of staff
and
students but the largest number of requests (16) came from
non-academic staff of whom the majority (11) were women. The
longer
term review for panel members shows that, between 1994–5 and
1997–8 the majority of requests for advice brought at this
level
have been from female non-academic staff (21) or female graduates
(23).

Complaints and enquiries were related to the behaviour of
individuals
amongst all groups of staff and students but the largest number
of
complaints or enquiries related to non-academic staff (13) of
whom
the great majority (10) were men.

As in previous years the majority of enquirers were seeking
general
information or advice in relation to harassment experienced.

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supplement

Resolution of cases

Of 28 cases where the outcome was reported, 15 were felt by
advisers
to have been satisfactorily resolved; seven had not been
satisfactorily resolved; two were on-going and the outcome was
reported as unknown in four cases. The Harassment Panel is
seeking
advice from the Counselling Service on techniques such as those
needed to `close' cases where the adviser believes that all
possible
assistance has been given.

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supplement

Training

During the year five half day training sessions were led by an
experienced external training consultant. These have once again
proved popular both with newly appointed advisers and with those
who
already have some experience of dealing with cases. The course
takes
place on two separate half days with several months between the
two
sessions. Part one enables participants to discuss the legal and
policy framework for the Univerity's work on harassment while
part
two facilitates discussion of anonymised actual and fictional
cases.
In total 39 advisers attended part one and 22 attended part two.

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supplement

Report of the Harassment Review
Committee

The report of the Harassment Review Committee was received
towards
the end of 1997–8 and will provide the focus for the work
of the
Harassment Panel during the current year. This will include
increasing the membership of the panel, revising the Code of
Practice
and guidance for advisers, recommending new terms of reference,
reviewing publicity for the scheme and reassessing training
needs.

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supplement

ANNEXE

Advisory Panel on Harassment: Harassment Survey Annual Report 1997-8

Table 1: Requests for advice

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supplement

Table 2: Requests from academic staff,
non-academic staff, postgraduates, undergraduates, others

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supplement

Table 3: Complaints and enquiries
related to
academic staff, non-academic staff, postgraduates,
undergraduates,
others

[Note: These do not add up to the number of cases
shown
above as in some cases there is more than one complainant (shown
in
table above); in others there is more than one alleged harasser
(shown in table below)].

Notes:

1. Figures in parenthesis in tables 2 and 3 represent the
numbers
of women included in the totals.

2. The category `non-academic staff' includes
academic-related
staff.

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