All Student Update: Personal Relationships Policy Launch

Dear students, 

I hope you are well, and I hope you are enjoying your studies.  

I wanted to share an important update with you. 

The Office for Students (OfS), our regulator, have announced some new conditions of registration for the sector that will come into effect on 1 August 2025. The new conditions will regulate how higher education institutions (HEIs) in England prevent and address harassment and sexual misconduct. This regulation aims to create safer environments for students by establishing clear requirements for handling these issues and are conditions we welcome at the University of Wolverhampton.   

There are a few priorities we have been working through in recent months, the first of which has been the development of a new Personal Relationships Policy. I wanted to share some of the main highlights from this policy which was approved at University Executive Board in November 2024 and will become operational and effective from Monday 27 January 2025. The policy can be found here, and I would please encourage you all to take some time to look at it.   

Requirements relating to relationships between staff and students 

• Under the new policy, the commencement of a new intimate relationship between a student and any member of staff is prohibited.
• There is a need for staff to disclose any pre-existing intimate relationships with students within one month of this policy coming into effect.
• Going forward, there will be a need for staff to disclose any pre-existing intimate relationships with incoming students.
• The need to disclose such relationships extends to any family or close personal relationships with any current or incoming students.
• Close personal relationships – that is, relationships that are not intimate but could reasonably be viewed as going beyond the boundaries of professional conduct – are strongly discouraged and must be disclosed where there is academic or other professional responsibility.

There is no onus on students to disclose, however we would strongly encourage students to inform their programme lead, personal tutor/academic coach or a member of the Student Life Team if they are already in or commence a new relationship with a member of staff.  If you wish to discuss any concerns of this nature, please do book a drop-in slot with our Head of Operational Safeguarding. The booking link can be found here.  

The introduction of this policy and its accompanying guidance is not an attempt to restrict all the rich informal interactions between students and staff that are such an important part of studying at the University of Wolverhampton. Community and connection are part of what makes the University such a great place to study and work, and most of the informal contact between students and staff is positive.

What the policy and its accompanying guidance do is to set out clearly what is not acceptable. It also aims to offer assurance and confidence to you as students, what interaction is acceptable and what is not from those supporting you.  

I want to take the time to pass on my gratitude to all staff and student groups, as well as the Students' Union who have been part of the consultation process, and for their honest and considered feedback. It is this which has ensured this policy is our own and reflects the university culture we want to thrive within.  

Thank you, 

Dr Clare Dickens MBE 

Director of Student Life