University of Sussex

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First report 1 Feb 2019•Latest report 1 Feb 2019

Reports, concerns and published responses

Reports over time

Reports naming this recipient by issue year.

* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.

Reports: 1
Published responses: 100%
Concerns addressed: 3
Stated actions: 15

Concerns and recipient responses

Statements from University of Sussex linked to the concerns in each report. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

1 Feb2019
Brighton and Hove
Concerns raised3
1. Failure to maintain communication links between healthcare providers and student support services
2. Failure to effectively use academic advisors to support students under academic pressure
3. Imposition of penalties for late academic work without adequate regard to student vulnerability
Actions described in response 10
1. Action
  Review late-submission and penalty clauses in examination and assessment regulations, with specific consideration of potential changes.
2. Action
  Implement a university-wide support pilot around assessment-result releases, including weekday release and the “We are Here” academic-advice campaign.
3. Action
  Roll out an improved academic-advising system following evaluation.
1. Action
  Improve professional-service data sharing, case-note access, links and active referrals across student support services.
2. Action
  Review the academic-advising delivery model and evaluate the alternate delivery pilot.
3. Action
  Conduct further academic-advising work and additional pilots during the 2019–20 academic year.
4. Action
  Continue working with the GP practice to improve data sharing about student patients and support risk mitigation.
5. Action
  Reconfigure pastoral support from separate teams into coordinated thematic services with streamlined processes and clarified responsibilities.
6. Action
  Introduce an online student-support tool providing 24/7 access and oversight of vulnerable or at-risk students.
7. Action
  Identify vulnerable repeating or resitting students and contact each by telephone with academic advice and support offers.
AI-generated summary

Daniel Alexander Jeremiah BOWEN · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

Daniel Alexander Jeremiah BOWEN took his own life, as recorded in the inquest conclusion. Concerns included insufficient use of academic advisors to support him with late work and academic pressures, and flawed communication between university departments, his GP or counsellor, and student support services.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to University of Sussex; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Failure to maintain communication links between healthcare providers and student support services
Wider context from the report
“(2) With regard to communication – this appeared to be deeply flawed amongst the huge number of University departments and units. The health clinic incorporating amongst other things a pharmacy and the counselling service, was excellent offering free access to students. The system failed – Daniel was not in the link between his GP/counsellor and the student support unit. If this link had been complete I do not believe Daniel would have died when he did. ”
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to University of Sussex; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Failure to effectively use academic advisors to support students under academic pressure
Wider context from the report
“(1) Academic Advisor – Better use should be made of the person in this post for each school. There was a wasted opportunity for the academic advisor to be involved in face to face meetings with Daniel and help him when he was struggling to get his work in on time and to deal with his academic pressures. In the circumstances I heard that if work was late a penalty would be imposed. This seems ridiculous; why hit a man when he is already down? ”
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to University of Sussex; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Imposition of penalties for late academic work without adequate regard to student vulnerability
Wider context from the report
“(1) Academic Advisor – Better use should be made of the person in this post for each school. There was a wasted opportunity for the academic advisor to be involved in face to face meetings with Daniel and help him when he was struggling to get his work in on time and to deal with his academic pressures. In the circumstances I heard that if work was late a penalty would be imposed. This seems ridiculous; why hit a man when he is already down? ”
Open source report
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Review late-submission and penalty clauses in examination and assessment regulations, with specific consideration of potential changes.

Verbatim wording from the response
“Regulatory & procedural monitoring and review The University regularly reviews its academic regulations and procedures, including the Principles underpinning this governance. As is general practice across the higher education sector, the University sets deadlines for submission of coursework. When a student is late or misses a submission for a deadline a penalty can be applied. When there are known reasons for late submission, a student may submit a request for exceptional circumstances, with evidence (e.g. medical), where appropriate. Students with reasonable adjustments in place due to a disability or specific learning difference have an additional seven days to submit work without penalty. When the University is unaware of such circumstances, a penalty will be applied.”

Source location
Response from University of Sussex
Page 4 · response
Published 23 February 2024
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Implement a university-wide support pilot around assessment-result releases, including weekday release and the “We are Here” academic-advice campaign.

Verbatim wording from the response
“From Summer 2019 a university-wide pilot system of support will be in place. Release of assessment and examination results will now be at the start of the week rather than just before the weekend. This will facilitate a ‘We are Here’ Campaign whereby key academic staff will be available during the week following release of results in order to ensure that”

Source location
Response from University of Sussex
Page 4 · response
Published 23 February 2024
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Roll out an improved academic-advising system following evaluation.

Verbatim wording from the response
“Academic Advising System The University accepts that improvements to the academic advising system are required; consequently, the University is reviewing its delivery model for the academic advisory system. An alternate delivery pilot is already taking place this academic year (September 2018 to July 2019) in one school to improve the current offer to students. An evaluation of this pilot model will take place in the Summer with further work, and additional pilots taking place during the 2019-20 academic year. Following evaluation, roll-out of an improved academic advising system is expected from 2020-21 academic year onwards.”

Source location
Response from University of Sussex
Page 4 · response
Published 23 February 2024
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Improve professional-service data sharing, case-note access, links and active referrals across student support services.

Verbatim wording from the response
“Communication and Data Sharing Following Daniel’s death, the University has reviewed and improved its data sharing and appropriate access to case notes and systems to improve the flow of information across the professional service areas. Professional service staff have improved access to necessary information, links and active referral between constituent areas such as: the Student Support Unit (that works with disabled students and those with specific learning differences and mental health conditions), Student Life and the Counselling Service, to facilitate more cohesive support to students and remove barriers to service access.”

Source location
Response from University of Sussex
Page 3 · response
Published 23 February 2024
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Review the academic-advising delivery model and evaluate the alternate delivery pilot.

Verbatim wording from the response
“Academic Advising System The University accepts that improvements to the academic advising system are required; consequently, the University is reviewing its delivery model for the academic advisory system. An alternate delivery pilot is already taking place this academic year (September 2018 to July 2019) in one school to improve the current offer to students. An evaluation of this pilot model will take place in the Summer with further work, and additional pilots taking place during the 2019-20 academic year. Following evaluation, roll-out of an improved academic advising system is expected from 2020-21 academic year onwards.”

Source location
Response from University of Sussex
Page 4 · response
Published 23 February 2024
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Conduct further academic-advising work and additional pilots during the 2019–20 academic year.

Verbatim wording from the response
“Academic Advising System The University accepts that improvements to the academic advising system are required; consequently, the University is reviewing its delivery model for the academic advisory system. An alternate delivery pilot is already taking place this academic year (September 2018 to July 2019) in one school to improve the current offer to students. An evaluation of this pilot model will take place in the Summer with further work, and additional pilots taking place during the 2019-20 academic year. Following evaluation, roll-out of an improved academic advising system is expected from 2020-21 academic year onwards.”

Source location
Response from University of Sussex
Page 4 · response
Published 23 February 2024
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Continue working with the GP practice to improve data sharing about student patients and support risk mitigation.

Verbatim wording from the response
“The University is also continuing to work with the GP’s Practice towards improving data sharing about patient/student service users, to ensure pertinent information and knowledge is available to expert practitioners, working together to support students and mitigate the risk of serious self-harm as far as it is possible to do so.”

Source location
Response from University of Sussex
Page 4 · response
Published 23 February 2024
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Reconfigure pastoral support from separate teams into coordinated thematic services with streamlined processes and clarified responsibilities.

Verbatim wording from the response
“Reconfiguration of pastoral support The University is reconfiguring its student support provision from separate teams into thematic areas. The objectives of this reconfiguration are:”

Source location
Response from University of Sussex
Page 3 · response
Published 23 February 2024
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Introduce an online student-support tool providing 24/7 access and oversight of vulnerable or at-risk students.

Verbatim wording from the response
“Activity/Action | Timeline for completion Creation of a Well-being and Mental Health Strategy | September 2019 Introduction of an online student support tool to offer all students 24/7-year-round access and oversight of vulnerable or at-risk students | September 2020 (expedited to Jan 2020) Fundamental review of assessment and feedback mechanism to ensure inclusive practice, effective learning experiences and achievement of fair outcomes | June 2021 Utilise learning analytic and business intelligence software to provide real time data, informing practices and allowing for targeted interventions. | September 2021”

Source location
Response from University of Sussex
Page 3 · response
Published 23 February 2024
Open published response
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Identify vulnerable repeating or resitting students and contact each by telephone with academic advice and support offers.

Verbatim wording from the response
“Immediate Action Taken”

Source location
Response from University of Sussex
Page 4 · response
Published 23 February 2024
Open published response

Information checked against published PFD reports and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026

Reports, concerns and published responses

Reports over time

Concerns raised3

Failure to maintain communication links between healthcare providers and student support services

Failure to effectively use academic advisors to support students under academic pressure

Imposition of penalties for late academic work without adequate regard to student vulnerability

Actions described in response An action is something this recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.10

Actions described in response 10