Consent for Students: an online consent programme

Taking the course 

Consent for Students forms part of the University’s Oxford Against Sexual Violence campaign, sending a clear message that sexual harassment and violence of any form is unacceptable.

The consent training complements the existing measures of the wider campaign, including the University’s Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service.

Consent Workshops

Colleges run a variety of in-person consent workshops in Freshers' Week and throughout the year. Consent workshops from the Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service will be rolled out in Michaelmas term for Freshers’ Week, complementing the online consent course by allowing space for further discussion. 

Support for students

The Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service provides a safe and confidential space for students to be supported, independent of their college or department.

The Service offers free support and advice to any student who has been affected by sexual harassment or violence; whoever you are, whatever has happened and whenever this was. They also support students impacted by domestic abuse and stalking.

FAQs

How do the modules work?

This is a single course with five modules. You only need to book once, and you will see all five modules when you start the course. You need to interact with the module to work through it, selecting ‘continue’ to access the next section. If you are unable to 'continue', double check you have submitted your answers or worked through everything required. You can track your progress using the progress bar at the top right of the screen. Once you have reached the end of the module, you will be able to access the next module or select the ‘menu’ button to see your overall progress.

You need to interact with the training content, including completing activities and working through material, before you can continue to the next part of a module. Some activities ask you to 'submit' answers before you can continue. Once you have completed the activity, the continue button will change colour, allowing you to navigate to the next section.

How do I return to the course if I open an external link?

External websites will open in a new window in your browser. The Consent for Students course page will remain open in the initial window. To return to the course either minimise the external website window, or tab to the original page.

Is there a test or a pass score?

There is no test or pass ‘score’ required for this course. If you interact with all the essential participatory aspects and navigate through each module, then you will have completed the course and will receive your certificate.

I've completed the modules - what next?

Once you have reached the end of Module five, you will see a message saying 'YOU'VE REACHED THE END OF MODULE 5: HELP AND SUPPORT'. Exit the training to finish the course and receive your certificate, which will be sent via email to your Oxford University email address. Your CoSy eLearning page should say Progress = Complete; Status = Passed. You can expect to receive your certificate by email within an hour. If you still have not received an email within 1 hour, contact [email protected].

I have not received an email confirming I have completed the course.

If you do not receive a confirmation email, please check the following:

1. You have completed all five modules.

2. You have exited the course by closing the browser window / selecting Exit.

3. Your Oxford email account. The email will be sent to your Oxford email address, not any personal accounts such as Gmail.

Check your spam mail in your Oxford account. If you have checked the above and the certificate has not arrived, please contact [email protected] for advice.

I have gone back into the course to press the ‘Exit’ button and my progress has disappeared – do I need to complete the course again?

If your progress has disappeared, please contact [email protected] who will check your account.

When will the training be available until?

You can complete this training any time after you have received your SSO (Single Sign-On), but your college may have a deadline for completion, which they will communicate to you.

Can I return to complete the course another time?

Yes, if you return to take the course on a different day, you do not need to book or begin the course again - go to your ‘My eLearning tile’ and continue where you left off.

Do I need to complete the training every year?

We would encourage all students to complete the training annually, to ensure you receive the most up to date training, as amendments are made each year to content in line with student and staff feedback. It also offers a refresher of the support services available to students.

Brook's position statements 

You can read more about Brook's positions on key topics such as gender terminology, trans and non-binary people and experience, pornography and pleasure on their website.

Can I be exempt from completing the course?

Consent is relevant to everyone and is an essential foundation for a safe and respectful community of learning at the University of Oxford. We would encourage all students and staff to complete the training. However, we appreciate there are a number of reasons why someone may not wish to engage with this topic. If you are really concerned about completing the eLearning and your college has made it mandatory, talk to your college and explain that you wish to be exempt. You do not need to give any details of the reasons why. You can also contact the Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service if you would like to arrange an appointment for some confidential and independent practical and emotional support for any matters relating to the consent course. 

I am under 18 - is the course appropriate for me?

If you are over the age of 16, we would still recommend you complete the course. If you are between 13 and 16, please speak to your college welfare team and ask that someone supports you whilst going through the training. If you are under 13, you can be exempt from completing the training. There is also a text-only version of the training, available from the Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service. Please email [email protected] to receive a copy.

Can I skip the case studies?

If you’re concerned that some of the content may be upsetting or distressing, you may wish to skip the case studies. If your college has made the training mandatory, let them know you are not able to engage with the entire eLearning content at this time. From the Menu you can chose which modules you are able to complete. There is also a text-only version of the training, available from the Support Service. Please email [email protected] to receive a copy.

I found the content triggering/distressing, what shall I do?

If you found the content triggering, there are several options for support. For immediate support, you can contact the 24/7 Rape Crisis Helpline, on 0808 500 2222 or visit their website for webchat, and further information including grounding techniques. Your college Welfare Team can provide support and signposting. Student Welfare and Support Services offer Counselling, as well as the Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service for students who have experienced any form of sexual harassment or violence (whenever and wherever it happened). There is a separate service for students who have been accused of sexual misconduct.

I have feedback around the content, who shall I discuss this with?

Please contact the Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service by emailing [email protected]. They are collating feedback around content for ongoing discussion with the provider - Brook - as the course continues to develop. We are aware of some typos and some suggestions around the inclusivity of the content, which will be taken into consideration for future iterations of the training.

Who will see that I’ve completed the training?

Select staff in your college and Student Welfare Support Services can see which students have completed the training. This allows them to monitor engagement and the number of students completing the course. Some colleges may have made the training mandatory, and students from these colleges might be asked to share their certificate.

What does CoSy record about my training?

The system records your name, email address and affiliations at the University. It records the status of your booking – whether it is booked, in progress or completed. It records some answers to questions within the training (which you can also see on the Overview Page in the My eLearning Tile). Any reflective text you input to the free text boxes is not recorded.

I am a staff member - do I need to complete the course?

Consent is relevant to everyone and is an essential foundation for a respectful community of learning at the University of Oxford. We would encourage staff to complete the training. This means all Oxford members can have a shared understanding and language of consent, and that you have an overview of the learning your students’ will have completed. The more people that engage with this topic, the more we can create a consent culture that tackles sexual harassment and violence at the University.