Contents:
- Introduction
- Equality Statement
- Commitment to Equality
- Responsibilities and Commitment
- Complaints of Discrimination or Harassment
- Staffing
- Supporting Policies & Guidance
- Review
- Appendices
1. Introduction
This policy codifies the spirit and practise of numerous documents and programmes within the University of St Andrews Students’ Association and inherits aspects from the University of St Andrews Equality and Diversity Inclusion Policy.
This document borrows from the following - which are all added as appendices:
- University of St Andrews Students’ Association Constitution (2022)
- University of St Andrews Students’ Association Laws
- University of St Andrews Students’ Association Zero Tolerance Policy
- University of St Andrews Students’ Association Complaints Procedure
- University of St Andrews Students’ Association Board - Governance, Nominations, and Staffing Subcommittee ‘Terms of Reference’
- University of St Andrews Trans Staff and Student Policy
- University of St Andrews Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy (2023)
This policy highlights our commitment and dedication to ensuring that all members, staff and visitors of the Students’ Association have an experience free from discrimination and prejudice. Our practises currently celebrate the diversity of the student body and we will continue to promote an inclusive and progressive environment for students to develop into well-rounded and fulfilled individuals.
2. Equality Statement
The University of St Andrews Students’ Association is fully committed to achieving the highest standards of equality to provide a more open, safe and accessible environment which allows all students to not only celebrate their diversity but also promote unity through areas of increased understanding and awareness.
In addition to being compliant with the equality laws; public duties; and Human Rights Acts (Universal and European), the Association also supports diversity and promotes equality of opportunity and employs our own ‘Zero Tolerance to Harassment and Bullying Policy’ which protects all members, visitors and staff from harassment regardless of their:
- ‘Protected Characteristic’ (Single Equality Act)
- Age
- Disability
- Gender Reassignment
- Marriage and Civil partnership
- Pregnancy and Maternity (including Paternity)
- Race (colour, ethnicity or national background)
- Religion or Belief (including non-belief)
- Sex/Gender
- Sexual Orientation
- Caring responsibilities for a ‘Protected Characteristic’ including dependents
- Transgender and non-binary individuals, see Trans Staff and Student Policy
- Family planning decisions
- Socio-economic background/grouping
- Unrelated spent convictions
The Equality & Diversity Policy outlines the Students’ Association’s dedication and responsibility to promote, internally and externally, inclusive environments, free from discrimination, for all members, staff, and visitors.
3. Commitment to Equality
The Students’ Association strives to ensure that equality is embedded into all areas of its operations. Initiatives to support the embedding process are facilitated by the Equality Committee, the Governance, Nominations, and Staffing Subcommittee of the Student’s Association Board, the Human Resources Manager/Education Advocate, the Wellbeing and Equality Coordinator, and the Director of Wellbeing and Equality.
4. Responsibilities and Commitment
Each individual is responsible for their own behaviour and must accept the principle that there is equality of opportunity and fairness for all staff and students and anyone associated with the Students’ Association (e.g. members, staff and visitors).
Individuals and affiliated societies must ensure they do not support unfair behaviour by ignoring what is happening around them and must not incite or collude with unfair or unlawful discrimination.
The law stipulates that, any member of the Students’ Association community found to be responsible for inciting, perpetrating or colluding with harassment may face disciplinary action as per our duties as a licensed premises, a charity, and an employer.
Members of the Association, including staff, elected officers and volunteers, have a responsibility to adhere to this statement and apply it in their day-to-day activities. The specific responsibilities in relation to this statement as follows:
4.1 The Students Association Board is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the Students’ Association fulfils its legal responsibilities for promoting equality and eliminating discrimination, and for making sure the commitments within this statement are fulfilled.
4.2 The Director of Wellbeing and Equality and relevant officers of the Students’ Association have a duty to address representational concerns of all students by submitting motions to the Students Representative Council, hosting an array of education and social events, and collaborating with other subcommittees of the St Andrews Students’ Association. All of these are conducted to ensure that the Students’ Association works to achieve the highest standards of equality in all of its activities.
4.3 The Human Resources Manager is responsible for implementation of the statement with respect to staff and also for implementation of related policies and procedures. The Human Resources Manager will also ensure that all staff receive appropriate equality and diversity inclusion training.
4.4 Presidents of societies have a responsibility to raise the profile of the policy within their societies and ensure that all members are aware of the commitments within the policy. They also have a responsibility to promote equality of opportunity and to eliminate discrimination within their society.
4.5 All members have a responsibility to promote equality and to eliminate discrimination on the grounds listed in section 2 and adhere to the ‘Equality Statement’. Any act of discrimination or harassment by a member of the Students’ Association will be taken very seriously and may result in disciplinary action being taken. Any reports will be treated with sensitivity and discretion by staff. A person reporting harassment or bullying will be treated with dignity and respect and their report will be treated seriously.
5. Complaints of Discrimination or Harassment
5.1 If a member of the Students’ Association feels that they have been treated unfairly by a member of staff and/or officers in violation of this policy, a complaint should be raised in accordance with the Students’ Association ‘Complaints Procedure’.
5.2 If a member of the Students’ Association feels that they are being bullied or harassed, the complaint should be raised in accordance with the Students’ Association ‘Zero Tolerance to Harassment and Bullying Policy’.
5.3 All employees, students, and members of the public can use the online ‘Report and Support tool’ to report complaints or concerns to the University and Union as relevant and access support information: https://reportandsupport.st-andrews.ac.uk/
Advice on the use of these procedures can be obtained from Your Union website or the Human Resources Manager/Education Advocate.
6. Staffing
The Governance, Nominations, and Staffing Subcommittee of the Student’s Association Board ensures legal compliance and promotes good practice in human resources issues throughout the Association.
7. Supporting Policies & Guidance
The Students’ Association has a range of policies and guidance that support the underlying principles of this policy. Further information can be obtained from the Human Resources Manager, the Your Union webpage or the appendices of this document.
8. Review
A review of this policy will be conducted every year by the Director of Wellbeing and Equality and whenever one of the documents listed as appendices is updated.
If you have any questions regarding the content of this statement or would like further information, please contact:
9. Appendices
University of St Andrews Students’ Association Constitution (2022)
University of St Andrews Students’ Association Laws
University of St Andrews Students’ Association Zero Tolerance Policy
University of St Andrews Students’ Association Complaints Procedure
University of St Andrews Students’ Association Board - Governance, Nominations, and Staffing Subcommittee ‘Terms of Reference’
University of St Andrews Trans Staff and Student Policy (2023)
University of St Andrews Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy (2023)