Imperial College London has blamed a “clerical error” after it emerged that its longstanding policy on bullying was altered days before staff were told of a completed investigation into bullying allegations against the world-leading university’s president.
Alice Gast and the chief financial officer, Muir Sanderson, this week admitted to bullying colleagues after allegations against them were investigated during the summer by a QC who was commissioned to carry out an inquiry. They have remained in post at the London university despite mounting pressure to step down.
The Guardian has now learned that changes were made without customary oversight earlier this month to a policy, which had the effect of watering down how severely bullying was regarded. The previous version said that bullying was “gross misconduct”. After the changes, the policy said that “all incidents will be taken seriously”.
Hours after it was contacted by the Guardian about the changes, the university said that the policy had been “mistakenly edited and published without approval from the director of HR or due process”. It said the original policy would continue to apply.
Clarifications have now also been published on the university’s website stating that the changes were due to a “clerical error” and the provost has launched a formal investigation to find out what occurred.
The Office for Students (OfS), which has a role in regulating universities, is now looking into the controversy amid mounting disquiet among staff, students and others who are concerned that Gast and Sanderson are still in post. Anger has been exacerbated by the fact that at least two of the people who were bullied have left the university.
Before the changes, Imperial’s policy on harassment and bullying stated: “Harassment, bullying and victimisation are viewed as gross misconduct, and disciplinary action, including dismissal, may be taken if any complaint of harassment, bullying or victimisation is upheld.” It was this wording, which had been in place for at least three years, that informed the investigation into the bullying allegations.
However, shortly before staff were told of the inquiry, the wording of the policy was changed to read: “Zero-tolerance means any complaints must not be ignored and will be investigated. All incidents will be taken seriously and could provide grounds for disciplinary action that may lead to dismissal from the College.”
Days after the new wording was put in place, an email to staff on 4 December first mentioned the investigation into the conduct of the president.
In its clarification, the university said it was a mistake in the updated policy that meant that the passage referring to “gross misconduct” was left out.
It is alleged that the revised policy, published after questions from an MP in parliament first made public mention of the bullying inquiry, was relied upon to provided a post-hoc justification for Gast and Sanderson’s conduct.
A spokesperson for Imperial said: “We reject these allegations.”
Imperial said on Friday that the policy, which was in place from earlier this year, continues to apply and the passage flagged by the Guardian should not have been removed. The definition of zero tolerance, which had also been inserted, had not yet been consulted on, according to the clarification.
The Imperial branch of the University and College Union called this week for the resignation of Gast and Sanderson for gross misconduct, with the union citing the college’s own statutes.
It is unclear who approved the revised policy or who was responsible for setting in motion moves to make the changes.
