A Conversation about Higher Education's Hidden Crisis: Bullying and Institutional Reform

This research examines the systemic prevalence of academic bullying, highlighting how hierarchical structures and prestige-driven cultures enable persistent mistreatment within higher education. The research argues that traditional features like tenure and intense power imbalances often shield perpetrators, leading to severe consequences for research integrity, institutional productivity, and individual mental health. To address these issues, the research proposes evidence-based interventions, such as independent reporting systems, bystander activation programs, and structural reforms to mentorship models. It emphasizes that leadership accountability and psychological safety are essential for shifting academic culture away from normalized suffering toward genuine intellectual flourishing. Ultimately, the research serves as a call for institutions to align their stated values with the lived experiences of students and faculty through proactive, data-driven reform.

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