UPN Veteran Yogyakarta Sanctions Five Lecturers for Harassment

Universitas Pembangunan Nasional (UPN) Veteran Yogyakarta has imposed administrative sanctions on five lecturers found guilty of verbal sexual harassment toward students. The university took action following a comprehensive internal investigation and formal recommendations from its Task Force for Prevention and Handling of Violence in Higher Education (Satgas PPKPT).

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The examination results show that the five accused were proven to have committed verbal harassment with sexual nuances as stipulated in Ministerial Regulation No. 55 of 2024 concerning Prevention and Handling of Violence in Higher Education.

Iva Rachmawati, head of the Satgas PPKPT, stated that her team followed up on all reports received since May 19, 2026. The investigation involved in-depth interviews with the accused, victims, and witnesses. The task force examined five accused individuals, 10 victims, and 13 witnesses to thoroughly investigate the cases.

Based on the examination records, the task force confirmed that the five accused lecturers engaged in verbal harassment with sexual undertones, as defined by Ministerial Regulation No. 55 of 2024. Consequently, the university issued moderate-level sanctions, with penalties varying according to the severity of each lecturer's violation. Four lecturers were suspended from all academic responsibilities for two years and required to undergo psychological counseling, with all costs covered by the individuals. A fifth lecturer received a one-year suspension from all academic activities.

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Intensive examinations were carried out by gathering in-depth information from the accused, victims, and eyewitnesses.

The university also recommended severe administrative sanctions for one additional lecturer, though the authority for imposing such penalties rests with the ministry, adhering to relevant regulations. These sanctions were formalized in five rectorate decrees issued on May 22, 2026. Rachmawati clarified that while public narratives mentioned eight perpetrators, the task force has officially processed only five reports to date.

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The university does not tolerate any form of violence in the academic environment because it contradicts the campus values of being safe, dignified, and inclusive.