Social Safety Team for students

What is socially undesirable behaviour?

Undesirable behaviour can take many forms. How you experience a situation is the starting point here. Not the other person's intention.

Examples of undesirable behaviour are:

• Sexual violence: unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, or other verbal, non-verbal, online or physical behaviour of a sexual nature. Read more about sexual safety. 
• Intimidation/harassment: a form of manipulation in which someone can instil fear in another person by threatening negative consequences physically, verbally or in writing. Intimidation/harassment can often be used by someone in a position of power.
• Aggression and/or violence: incidents in which a person is psychologically or physically harassed, threatened or assaulted, in this case under circumstances directly related to one’s studies.
• Bullying: repeated negative behaviour by fellow students or UM employees against which a student cannot (or can no longer) defend themselves. This may be verbal, non-verbal or physical behaviour.
• Discrimination: unequal treatment based on nationality, cultural background, skin colour, gender, disability or chronic illness, religion, age, socio-economic origin or sexual orientation.
   

Check out the UM Student Charter for an overview of your rights and obligations as a student at Maastricht University.

Reaching out to the Social Safety Team

When you reach out to the Social Safety Team you can have a talk with one of us either online or at one of our locations at various places at UM. If you would like to stay completely anonymously you can phone us and switch off your caller ID. You can find our details below.

When talking to us we regard this as an informal interaction where you can tell us your story, ask for advice and where we can explore together what options you consider possible. You will always be in the lead, no actions will be taken without firstly discussing this option with you.

We prefer to make an (anonymous) report of your case. We use this information for statistics in our annual report, recognising patterns of socially undesirable behaviour within UM and being able to give a signal to either the Executive Board or your faculty or service centre. Your report is important in order to address undesirable situations within the UM community. An anonymous report means that your name and exact details will not be revealed to others. Only the person you had the appointment with knows who you are. If necessary - with your consent - third parties are involved. If you want to make a completely anonymous report, you can call the contact point and turn off your caller ID beforehand.

When you decide to file a formal complaint we can we can explain and support you in this process. 

For more information on filing a formal complaint, visit the Complaints Service Point (CSP) webpage.

When to contact us
You can contact the Social Safety Team if you:

• experience(d) socially undesirable behaviour;
• suspect, witness or are involved in socially undesirable behaviour;
• think you may have engaged in socially undesirable behaviour yourself; or
• are being accused of socially undesirable behaviour.

Don't hesitate to reach out to us for support or guidance. See top of this page for direct contact or at the bottom for more details of who we are.

The role of a confidential advisor

A confidential adviser is here to listen to you and keep whatever you say private. They offer advice and help explore solutions to your problem with you. A confidential adviser can help you advocate for yourself and when needed join you for moral support. Any action will only be taken with your prior consent. While they are not mediators, they support you, prioritise your feelings and concerns, and always act in your best interest.  

You can also discuss with the confidential advisor whether or not you want to file a formal complaint regarding undesirable behaviour.

If you are the subject of a complaint, you also have the right to consult a confidential advisor.

What a confidential adviser does not do
A confidential adviser does not serve as a mediator, intervene in legal proceedings or investigate to find the truth.

 Make an appointment with a confidential advisor

For more about the role of the confidential adviser for undesirable behaviour, see:

  Uitleg functie vertrouwenspersoon (in Dutch)
  Landelijke Vereniging van Vertrouwenspersonen (in Dutch)

The role of the ombuds officer

The ombuds officer is an unbiased and independent discussion partner for UM students, offering advice on study-related matters. 

The ombuds officer:

• Maintains independence and neutrality; is not an advocate
• Facilitates discussions, but is not a mediator
• Adheres to regulations that guarantee confidentiality and privacy
• Does not handle issues designated for other university roles or units (e.g., student dean or Board of Examiners)
• Provides solicited and unsolicited advice

The ombuds officer enhances the social safety of the study environment, advises the Executive Board on social safety trends, and can independently investigate in response to a report. 

If you want to request an investigation by the ombuds officer regarding UM’s conduct, send a detailed request to Claire Essers. She will inform you whether or not she has the authority to conduct an investigation.

For more about the ombuds officer's regulations and statute, see:

  regulations for the position of ombuds officer
  statute on the position of ombuds officer 

 Read more about the ombuds officer.

Getting support outside UM

In addition to the resources we offer at the university, the following resources outside UM are also available if you experience undesirable behaviour:

• Sexual Assault Center
• Police station Maastricht (website in Dutch, but you can call and speak to the police in English) 
• Huisartsenpost (general practitioners’ emergency post)
• Suicide prevention crisis line 113  
• Discrimination hotline and assistance (website in Dutch)
• Anonymous talk and chat line to discuss anything you are worried about