Having trouble viewing this email? View online version.

2 June 2025

Dear students, 

For 175 years, the University of Sydney has been a public institution for good – serving our communities through transformational education and outstanding research. We want to be a place where all members of our community feel welcome. Where the best and brightest can flourish. Where everyone feels safe to be themselves no matter their religion, gender, sexuality, race or ability. 

In a world of increased conflict and polarisation, that can be challenging. But over the past year, we’ve done some significant work across the University to ensure our campus is a place where everyone can thrive. We have been focusing on our foundations, cultivating a positive, respectful culture and improving processes to empower staff and students, and I’d like to update you on our progress.  

With feedback from our community, we’ve revised five key policies that guide how we connect, communicate, and express ourselves across the University:  

These policies balance our commitments to campus safety with those to academic freedom and freedom of speech and set clear standards for what is and isn’t acceptable. I thank everyone who took the time to contribute their views. Our website has more information about what has changed in these policies and guides on what they mean for you. 

We’ve heard your feedback that you want an easier way of telling us when you witness or experience behaviour that isn't ok — whether that’s bullying, harassment, racism, sexual misconduct, an administrative issue or something else that affects aspects of university life.  

In response to this feedback, we’ll soon be launching a new, more user-centric webpage that brings all the key information and options together in one place.  

This is the first stage of a broader project to reform how we manage complaints across the University, grounding our approach in care and accountability.  

In the coming months, we’ll continue collaborating with our community to refine and improve the feedback and complaints process and implement the recommendations of the Hodgkinson External Review report.  

I’ll keep you updated on our work to make our campus safe and welcoming for all. 

Kind regards,
Mark

Professor Mark Scott
Vice-Chancellor and President

Copyright © 2025 The University of Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia
Phone +61 2 9351 222 ABN 15 211 513 464 CRICOS Number: 00026A

We recognise and pay respect to the Elders and communities – past, present, and emerging – of the lands that the University of Sydney's campuses stand on. For thousands of years they have shared and exchanged knowledges across innumerable generations for the benefit of all.

Please add university.communications@sydney.edu.au to your address book or senders safe list to make sure you continue to see our emails in the future.