universities pledge
On January 18 2022, Michele Donelan, Minister for Further and Higher Education in England, announced that universities must stop using NDAs for complaints about sexual harassment, bullying and other forms of misconduct. In her words, “I am determined to see this shabby practice stamped out on our campuses.”
The first step is a voluntary pledge which Minister Donelan and Can’t Buy My Silence are asking universities to sign on to:
“Backed by the Minister for Higher and Further Education, former Equalities Select Committee Chair Maria Miller MP and campaign group #CantBuyMySilence, we [our vice-chancellor and higher education provider] commit to not using Non-Disclosure Agreements to silence people who come forward to raise complaints of sexual harassment, abuse or misconduct, or other forms of harassment and bullying.”
Signing the pledge means that the provider undertakes to never use a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) in a case involving sexual harassment, discrimination, other forms of misconduct and/or bullying. It is intended to ensure that victims can speak about what has happened to them to whoever would be appropriate; and that any harmful behaviour is not hidden, thereby allowing opportunities for repeat offences and further victims.
We recognise that NDAs may be appropriate where there has been access to commercially sensitive information, and where it would be reasonable for an organisation to take steps to ensure that such information remains undisclosed. This pledge is not designed to encompass such cases.
If you represent an English provider of higher education, and you want to sign the pledge on behalf of your institution, please contact Adam Watson at the Department for Education: adam.watson@education.gov.uk
Please check to see if your university has signed the pledge (See list below) and if not, please consider sending them this letter urging them to do so!
PLEDGE LIST
The following Universities have signed onto the Pledge to stop using NDAs for complaints about sexual harassment, bullying and other forms of misconduct.
Please note that Minister Donelan’s pledge is directed at the English universities. However, there are others that inform us there are making the same commitment to stop using NDAs to cover up misconduct.
English universities
Buckinghamshire New University
Edge Hill University
University of Exeter
Goldsmiths, University of London
Keele University
Newcastle University
Northumbria University
The Open University
University of Plymouth
University of Reading
UCL (University College London)
University of Warwick
University of the West of England (UWE Bristol)
University of York
Aston University
University of Bristol
Canterbury Christ Church University
Durham University
London South Bank University
Manchester Metropolitan University
University of Southampton
University of Sheffield
University of East Anglia
Middlesex University
University of Nottingham
University of Birmingham
University of Leeds
University of Lancaster
Bath Spa University
De Montfort University
Leeds Trinity University
University of Manchester
University of Chichester
Solent University
London Metropolitan University
Loughborough University
University of Kent
University of Winchester
Hartpury University and Hartpury College
Sheffield Hallam University
University of Liverpool
University of Leicester
Arts University Plymouth
Royal Holloway, University of London
University of Greenwich
Teesside University
University of Hertfordshire
University of Worcester
AECC University College
Royal Northern College of Music
Royal Academy of Music
NCG
University of Westminster
Harper Adams University
The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
University of Bolton
University of Salford
SOAS University of London
BIMM Institute
University of Brighton
University of Gloucestershire
Brunel University London
Huddersfield University
University of West London
University of Sussex
University of Bath
University for the Creative Arts
University of Essex
Oxford Brookes University
Staffordshire University
University of the Arts London
King’s College London
Arts University Bournemouth
London School of Economics and Political Science
Liverpool Hope University
oxbridge Colleges
Lady Margaret Hall Oxford
Keble College (University of Oxford)
Linacre College (University of Oxford)
Universities outside England
Cardiff Metropolitan University in Wales
Queen’s University in Northern Ireland
Ulster University in Northern Ireland
Stranmillis University College in Northern Ireland
St Mary’s University College in Northern Ireland
Open University in Northern Ireland
This list is updated on a weekly basis to include higher education providers that have most recently signed up to the pledge.
We reserve the right to remove the name of a pledge signatory from the list where there is evidence that the pledge has been breached. Where and when a satisfactory resolution of the breach, or alleged breach, has been resolved the name of the provider would be reinstated on the list of signatories.
student resources
We have been working with the NUS and campaigning group Not on my Campus to produce information to help you navigate your way through any form of confidentiality restrictions presented to you by your university or college.
