Important information about using Unibuddy Community

To ensure that the UAL Accommodation Unibuddy Community remains a safe online space for our students living in halls to connect with their flatmates, we ask all those who join it to adhere to the Community Rules as set out below.

Please take 5 minutes to familiarise yourself with the rules set out below before you start using the Unibuddy Community.

Community rules 

Community membership 

This Unibuddy Community is exclusively for students who have a tenancy agreement to live within a University of the Arts London (UAL) Halls of Residence for the 2024-25 academic year. Membership will be monitored to ensure that the Community remains a safe and exclusive online space for UAL students living in halls. If you suspect that an individual on the platform does not live in UAL halls or is not studying at UAL, please report them following the steps below.

Be kind - no hate or bullying 

Everyone is welcome and debates and different opinions are fine, but not if they make others feel unsafe or threatened. Treat others in the Community how you would expect to be treated yourself. Bullying of any kind is never acceptable. Personal attacks, inflammatory remarks, profanity, or degrading comments about things such as race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender, or identity will not be tolerated. 

Privacy and respect 

Speaking freely makes interactions in the Community fun and interesting, however please be mindful of others. We are unable to monitor conversations in private groups or direct messages so mutual trust and respect is expected. We also ask you not to spam or post irrelevant links or promotions.

Other social media platforms 

We understand that you enjoy connecting on other social networks, but we advise against giving out your personal details such as telephone number, usernames, full name or location. UAL can moderate Community groups, but we do not have the ability to act in any other platforms you use to make connections. 

Look after yourself and others 

If you are upset by something someone has posted, be sure to report it using the instructions below. We can then act and remove the comment or the user from the platform if appropriate. You can also block other users yourself so they won’t be able to contact you again. 

UAL policies

Of course, we want you to be yourself, but we also want to ensure that all our users feel safe and welcome. At UAL we are committed to creating a fairer and more inclusive institution for all staff, students, visitors and our university community. Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are integral parts of our University’s strategy, values and activities, and we expect all staff and students, including applicants, to respect this. Read more about EDI at UAL.

Poor behaviour within the Unibuddy Community could be investigated as a breach of the UAL Accommodation Services Code of Conduct - Disciplinary Code and the UAL Disciplinary Code for Students. 

You should also be aware that UAL is subject to legal obligations to take reasonably practicable steps to secure freedom of speech within the law for all staff and students.  Further details are set out in the Freedom of Speech Code of Practice.

Sharing Information about yourself 

Unibuddy will give you the option to upload a photo and some information about you in your profile. Please don't feel obligated to do so, as this is not a requirement and you'll still be able to use the platform if you choose not to. Similarly, as other Community users will be able to see your profile and messages, please only share information and comments that you feel comfortable with others reading. 

Advertising 

This Community is a safe online space for you to meet your fellow halls residents, and for the Accommodation Services and Halls Life team to share information with you to support your time living in halls. The only events and activities which can be promoted on this Community are those run by the Halls Life team, the wider UAL network and our partner halls. Third party advertising is not permitted on this Community. 

Stick to the rules 

By logging on to the Community and joining the chat, you agree to comply with these Community Rules. If you break one of these rules, you may be removed from the Community platform.

Unibuddy terms of use 

Use of the Community is also subject to the Unibuddy Terms of Use, Acceptable Use Policy and Privacy Policy, and you are advised to read these carefully before using the platform. 

Moderation 

Messages posted in public groups are read and moderated regularly and messages may be deleted if they are deemed to be inappropriate or offensive. This is done to protect you and other users. If as a user, you feel a message is not appropriate, please report it following the steps below.  If you feel that you are in need, are at a time of immediate crisis or require additional support please reach out to UAL student services. 

Updates to Community Rules

UAL reserves the right to update these rules from time to time.

Last updated: 20 August 2024

Reporting instructions 

All users have the ability to block or report inappropriate users within the Community. 

If you would like to report another user who has sent you a direct message or who has communicated with you in a Community group: 

1. Log into Community. 
2. Go to your inbox and click on your message history with that user. 
3. On desktop / web browser, the user's profile will be visible to the right-hand side of the screen.  On mobile, you can access their profile by tapping on the three dots at the top right. 
4. Select ‘Report user’
5. Select the reason for your report and add a comment for additional context as to why this user is being reported if necessary. 

If you would like to report or block a user within a group: 

1. Log into Community. 
2. Go to your inbox and click on the group in question. 
3. Click on the name of the person that you would like to report or block, either above a message they have posted in the group, or by going to Members in the group's side bar. This will be visible to the right of the screen on desktop / web browser, or accessed by tapping on the three dots at the top right on mobile. 
4. Select ‘Report user’
5. Select the reason for your report and (if necessary) add a comment for additional context as to why this user is being reported if necessary. 

UAL will consider the report and will determine what action to take, which may include the removal of any post or material uploaded to the platform, and the temporary or permanent withdrawal of the right of one or more users to access the Community.

Image credits: Bruce Basudde