Transgressive Behaviour: Internal Reporting Point for Students

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What is transgressive behaviour?

Behaviour is considered transgressive if your personal boundaries have been crossed, even if this was not the intention Examples of transgressive behaviour include: 

• bullying: undermining dignity, creating a hostile environment, abuse of power, intimidation;
• aggression: both physical and verbal;
• unwanted sexual behaviour: verbal, non-verbal or physical;
• discrimination: being treated unequally, excluded or disadvantaged.

More information on these forms of transgressive behaviour can be found on the website of Trustpunt.

Where can you turn? 

The faculty has set up an Internal Reporting Point for Transgressive Behaviour for students, staffed by an experienced psychologist who works independently and impartially. The Reporting Point is easily accessible and open to any report - anonymous or not - from both victims and witnesses. The Reporting Point aims to identify inappropriate behaviour as early as possible, serve as a first point of contact and – if desired – refer cases to relevant bodies within or outside the university.

Additionally, there is a university-wide Trustpunt where you can speak to confidential advisors. If, as a student, you expect an intervention, you may contact Trustpunt via the Reporting Point or directly. Trustpunt also provides psychosocial support if you file a disciplinary complaint. 

What is the procedure?

• Please submit your report via email. You may do so anonymously or under your own name, and you can indicate whether or not you wish to be contacted. 
• Every report is reviewed and handled discreetly and confidentially.
• If you have indicated that you wish to be contacted, you will receive a response within two working days.  
• We are here first and foremost to listen. You decide what you want to share and how you wish to tell your story. Sometimes it is enough just to talk; at other times, a more in-depth conversation may be desirable.
• Together with you, we will consider the next steps. We will go through the options for further follow-up and support. Even if you only wish to make a report and do not (yet) want any further follow-up, you can contact the Reporting Point. We will never take action without your consent.
• If necessary and desired, we can refer you to the appropriate services.
• Finally, the Reporting Point stores every report anonymously in a secure registration system. This enables us to identify any patterns.
• The Reporting Point has no mandate to impose sanctions, but it can make policy recommendations regarding the prevention and handling of inappropriate behaviour. If you wish to initiate a formal procedure, you may request that measures be taken or a sanction imposed. 

Contact

The Faculty’s Internal Reporting Point for Transgressive Behaviour can be reached by email. It is staffed by an experienced clinical psychologist with extensive experience in clinical and health psychology. Every report is reviewed and handled discreetly and confidentially. Nothing will be passed on to the individuals and/or departments concerned without your consent. 

• meld.eb@ugent.be