Academics in abuse scandal

Academic staff at the University of York have come under fire from students for their misconduct when dealing with students.

Tutors in a number of departments have been criticised for the way they have addressed cases of vulnerable students, the year after York saw a huge increase in the number of complaints dealt with by senior management at the University.

In the past year 1,787 members of University staff have completed an online training course regarding bullying and harassment. Nevertheless, numerous students have spoken to Vision about their negative experiences with academic staff.

One ex-student, who claims to have been subject to racial defamatory statements by University staff, told Vision: “It’s like the University has attempted to sweep the complaint under the rug”.
The ex-student in question is now pursuing a personal injury claim against the University for the emotional trauma she has received as a result of the alleged abuse and told Vision that the investigation was carried out by a senior member of staff with no previous experience in dealing with such issues.

However, Vision understands that the staff member in question requested that the investigation should be undertaken by an advisor with more expertise in racial discrimination cases.

In a statement, the University of York said: “The complaint has been dealt with exhaustively by the University’s Registrar and at the Appeals stage by a Pro-Vice-Chancellor who has many decades of senior management experience in the University. We have also benefited from legal advice on this matter and are confident the right decisions have been made.”

The ex-student has subsequently appealed her degree classification.

Two students have also left a humanities course at the University in the past year complaining that a member of staff working on the course was unprofessional.

Other students on the course have described the member of staff as “abrasive”, with one student telling Vision: “He didn’t know how to deal with vulnerable students. He was highly detrimental to my progress until I switched supervisor.”

“During one meeting he made me cry, his behaviour was, I would say, verging on misconduct.”
The University have refused to reply to multiple Freedom of Information requests regarding the number of misconduct cases brought against academic staff or the University’s Open Door team under Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act.

YUSU Welfare Officer Bob Hughes told Vision: “If students feel that an academic has behaved inappropriately, they should raise it with the head of department if appropriate, and let YUSU know at [email protected] so that we can help you with the process of speaking to the department and resolving the issue.”

All of the students quoted in this article asked to remain anonymous.