NSF Issues New Sexual Harassment Policy for Awardees

NSF has published a term and condition for awards, to become effective October 21, 2018, that will require awardee organizations to notify the agency of: 

·         any findings or determinations that an NSF-funded principal investigator or co-principal investigator committed harassment, including sexual harassment or sexual assault, or

·         the placement of the principal investigator or co-principal investigator on administrative leave, or of the imposition of any administrative action relating to a harassment or sexual assault finding or investigation.

NSF will consult with the awardee organization, and determine what action is necessary under NSF's authority. NSF actions may include substituting or removing principal investigators or co-principal investigators, reducing award funding, and -- where neither of those options is available or adequate -- suspending or terminating awards.  The full announcement and links to the announcement and policy are here.