The complaints policy is for all students, staff and visitors.

If you are complaining to the SU, you can complain about any service, event, activity or decision in our remit, as well as any student if the issue is connected to something which occurred (or could be perceived to have occurred) during SU business. You can also complain about SU staff and Full Time Officers, but this will be dealt with under employee processes. 

Speak to us, we’re here to help. Please contact bristolsu-complaints@bristol.ac.uk.

Yes you can get support, all students at Bristol can access our support or University Wellbeing Support; if you’re unsure where to go speak to the Investigating Officer overseeing the complaint, go to our contact pages, or see the University Wellbeing Services pages. 

Sometimes we will depending on the nature of the complaint. If the alleged misconduct is seen as a potential breach of the University expected standards of behavior the case will be referred to them for consideration. Cases will automatically be referred to the University that involve serious misconduct including sexual misconduct. Cases referred to the University will be investigated under the University’s Student Disciplinary Regulations and Procedures. We’ll liaise with you if your complaint is referred to the University and will update you on the process that will be followed.

The SU will always endeavor to give you the highest levels of support possible. Where cases are referred to the University to investigate but the Students’ Union has some involvement – for example because of the context the incident occurred in, then the following measures may be put in place by the Students’ Union:

• Regular communication with the University to ensure a consistent and coordinated approach (especially where precautionary measures are required)
• A named contact for you to act as a point of contact within the Students’ Union.
• Assessment of relevant stakeholders and a plan for communication – for example if the complaint / allegations impact on others within the Students’ Union.
• An automatic wellbeing referral (for the victim / complainant and other key parties).
• Proactive referral to the Students’ Union Advice Service, where there may be an impact on study.

Students can make anonymous disclosures of misconduct via the University’s Report and Support online reporting tool, however no formal action will be taken about any matter that has been reported anonymously unless it is possible to verify what has been reported. Anonymous information may be used to identify trends and shape prevention and support provision.

A student group books an event space in the Students’ Union one evening to hold an event for 50 students. The following morning it is discovered that the event had more than 50 students in attendance, the room was a mess, and several chairs were broken.

This would be considered misconduct and would be dealt with by the Students’ Union under the Student Groups Code of Conduct.

A student at an SU event being run by a student group is spoken to rudely and aggressively by another student who turns out to be on the committee of that student group. The victim reports the incident but does not want the Students’ Union to use University procedures but seeks to have the student removed from the committee position.

This would potentially be considered misconduct and would be dealt with by the Students’ Union under the Members Code of Conduct.

A student is on a night out in Bristol and is sexually assaulted by another student who is known to be on the committee of a student group. The victim reports this to the Students’ Union.

This would be considered as potential serious misconduct and would be referred to the University. The Students’ Union would continue to offer the victim support and would carry out a risk assessment which could result in the alleged perpetrator being temporarily restricted from accessing all Students’ Union spaces and activities whilst the University carries out its investigation. 

A student is caught on CCTV stealing equipment from the Students’ Union building. This is potential misconduct and would be dealt with by the University as it breaches their Student Disciplinary Regulations & Procedures.

A student group holding an information stall in the Students’ Union building feel they have been spoken to rudely by a member of University staff.

The Students’ Union would not deal with this as it is not misconduct by a student/student group/SU employee so it should be reported to the University. We would still support the affected students and help them to navigate the University complaints process.