University-Wide Anti-Harassment Policy

Universitas Islam Sultan Agung (UNISSULA) maintains a university-wide policy framework to prevent and address harassment, bullying, intimidation, and other harmful behaviour across the institution and its operations.

A principal policy instrument is Rector Decree No. 7993/E/SA/VIII/2023 concerning the Prevention of Bullying within Universitas Islam Sultan Agung (UNISSULA). The decree establishes institutional rules for preventing bullying and protecting members of the university community from harmful conduct.

The policy is complemented by UNISSULA’s 2025 anti-discrimination framework, which prohibits discriminatory treatment and provides mechanisms for handling reports or suspected incidents.

Scope of the Anti-Harassment Framework

UNISSULA’s anti-harassment framework applies within the university environment and covers behaviour that may harm, intimidate, distress, humiliate, or otherwise negatively affect members of the university community.

The bullying prevention policy recognises several forms of harmful behaviour, including:

• physical bullying;
• verbal bullying;
• relational bullying; and
• cyberbullying.

These categories cover behaviour that may cause physical, psychological, social, or reputational harm.

Physical Harassment and Bullying

The policy addresses physical bullying, including behaviour intended to harm or intimidate another person physically.

Examples identified within the policy include acts such as hitting, kicking, pushing, pinching, intimidating gestures, damaging belongings, and other forms of physical aggression.

By explicitly identifying physical forms of bullying, UNISSULA establishes that physical intimidation or harmful conduct is not acceptable within the university environment.

Verbal Harassment and Bullying

UNISSULA also recognises verbal bullying as a form of harmful conduct.

The policy covers behaviour such as:

• insulting remarks;
• ridicule;
• defamation;
• harsh criticism;
• humiliation;
• threatening statements; and
• sexually inappropriate or degrading verbal behaviour.

This broad scope helps protect members of the university community from harassment that may occur through spoken or written communication.

Relational Harassment

Relational bullying is also included within the policy.

This form of harmful conduct can involve actions intended to damage social relationships, isolate individuals, or undermine their participation in university life.

Examples may include:

• deliberate exclusion;
• hostile treatment;
• spreading harmful information;
• social intimidation; and
• behaviour intended to damage interpersonal relationships.

Recognising relational harassment is important because harmful behaviour is not always physical or verbal.

Cyber-Harassment

The policy also includes cyberbullying, covering harmful behaviour carried out through digital communication.

This may include:

• harmful or humiliating messages;
• repeated unwanted communication;
• intimidating digital content;
• misuse of images;
• social-media harassment; and
• distribution of content intended to embarrass or distress another person.

The inclusion of cyberbullying extends the anti-harassment framework beyond physical campus spaces into digital interactions.

Prevention Measures

UNISSULA’s policy includes institutional measures to prevent bullying and harassment.

The university establishes a Bullying Prevention Team and assigns responsibilities for prevention, monitoring, reporting, and coordination.

Preventive measures include:

• identifying risks;
• conducting awareness activities;
• creating a safe campus environment;
• developing prevention programmes;
• monitoring implementation; and
• providing guidance to students and relevant university units.

These measures demonstrate that the policy is not limited to responding after incidents occur.

Bullying Prevention Team

The policy provides for a dedicated institutional team responsible for coordinating bullying prevention.

The team is tasked with supporting the university’s efforts to:

• coordinate prevention activities;
• monitor implementation;
• conduct preventive programmes;
• report to university leadership; and
• help maintain a campus environment free from bullying.

This institutional responsibility strengthens the implementation of the anti-harassment policy.

Safe and Respectful Campus Environment

UNISSULA’s policy aims to create a campus environment that is safe, respectful, and supportive.

The prevention framework emphasises:

• protection of students;
• safe participation in academic and extracurricular activities;
• respectful behaviour;
• prevention of violence and intimidation;
• inclusive campus conditions; and
• appropriate institutional response.

These principles support the wider objective of preventing harassment and harmful conduct.

Reporting and Handling Mechanisms

The anti-harassment framework includes mechanisms for identifying, reporting, and addressing harmful behaviour.

The university’s bullying prevention policy provides institutional procedures for:

• identifying incidents;
• reporting concerns;
• following up on cases;
• conducting appropriate handling;
• referring cases where necessary; and
• applying sanctions in accordance with university rules.

This enables the university to respond to harassment rather than relying only on general statements of principle.

Sanctions for Bullying and Harassment

The policy establishes sanctions for violations.

Sanctions may include:

• verbal warnings;
• written warnings; and
• termination or dismissal in serious cases.

The level of sanction is linked to the seriousness and recurrence of the conduct.

This provides an institutional accountability mechanism for harmful behaviour.

Protection from Discrimination and Harassment

UNISSULA’s anti-harassment framework is reinforced by Circular Letter No. 8406/J/SA/IX/2025, which prohibits discrimination across university activities and operations.

The policy covers students, lecturers, education personnel, prospective students, and other parties interacting with the university.
SURAT EDARAN 10.6.4

The Circular Letter also establishes a mechanism for handling reports or suspected cases of discrimination.
SURAT EDARAN 10.6.4

Together, these policies strengthen protection against both discriminatory and harassing behaviour.

Coverage across University Operations

UNISSULA’s broader anti-discrimination and anti-harassment framework extends across:

• education;
• research;
• community service;
• employment;
• university services;
• academic activities;
• student activities; and
• other university operations.

This ensures that harmful conduct is addressed across the institution rather than only in one specific area.

Relationship with Student Protection

The anti-harassment policy is closely connected to student protection.

The bullying prevention framework aims to protect students from harmful behaviour occurring:

• on campus;
• during university activities;
• in extracurricular activities;
• in digital communication; and
• in other contexts connected with university participation.

This supports students’ ability to participate in university life without fear of intimidation or harassment.

Relationship with Anti-Discrimination Policy

Harassment and discrimination can overlap but are addressed through complementary institutional mechanisms.

UNISSULA’s anti-discrimination policy prohibits discriminatory treatment based on characteristics such as gender, economic condition, disability, age, race, nationality, social status, and other protected characteristics.
SURAT EDARAN 10.6.4

The anti-harassment framework addresses harmful behaviour such as bullying, intimidation, humiliation, and cyber-harassment.

Together, these policies provide broader protection for members of the university community.

Relationship with Equality and Inclusion

UNISSULA’s anti-harassment policy also supports its broader equality and inclusion framework.

A safe and inclusive campus requires both:

Equal treatment → Protection from harmful behaviour

By preventing harassment and responding to harmful conduct, UNISSULA supports participation and well-being across diverse groups within the university community.

Institutional Response Framework

UNISSULA’s approach can be summarised as:

Policy prohibition → Prevention → Reporting → Institutional handling → Sanctions → Continuous improvement

This framework combines preventive and corrective measures.

Evidence of Implementation

UNISSULA’s anti-harassment policy is demonstrated through the following institutional evidence:

1. Rector Decree No. 7993/E/SA/VIII/2023 concerning the Prevention of Bullying within UNISSULA.
2. Formal recognition of physical, verbal, relational, and cyberbullying.
3. Establishment of a Bullying Prevention Team.
4. Institutional responsibilities for prevention and monitoring.
5. Prevention programmes and awareness measures.
6. Reporting and case-handling mechanisms.
7. Sanctions for bullying and harmful conduct.
8. Circular Letter No. 8406/J/SA/IX/2025 as supporting anti-discrimination policy.
9. Policy coverage across students, staff, faculty, prospective students, and other members of the university community.
10. Application across university operations and activities.
11. Policy review/creation within the period 2022–2026, through the 2023 Rector Decree and 2025 supporting policy.