NSF Safe & Inclusive Working Environment Plan for Off-site Research
The National Science Foundation requires a plan for a safe and inclusive working environment for off-campus or off-site projects submitted on or after January 30, 2023 (see PAPPG, II.E.9). Principal investigators who are planning off-campus or off-site projects must complete a project-specific plan, distribute it to all participants and retain documentation of those who received the plan.
Specifically, the plan must discuss how the following behavior will be addressed:
•Abuse of any person, including, but not limited to, harassment, stalking, bullying, or hazing of any kind, whether the behavior is carried out verbally, physically, electronically, or in written form; or
•Conduct that is unwelcome, offensive, indecent, obscene, or disorderly.
Some NSF programs (currently in the Biological Sciences and Geosciences directorates) require submission of the NSF Safe and Inclusive Work Environment Template with the proposal.
For all other proposals for off-campus or off-site work, upload the plan to InfoEd.
NSF Resources
Safe & inclusive working environments requirements virtual office hour
Safe and Inclusive Working Environments for Off-Campus or Off-Site Research — Proposals with field work need to have a plan in place to deal with harassment. The plan need not be submitted to NSF unless the specific program announcement calls for it. See the above URL for specific information.
URI Policies
Policy on Consensual Relationships
Policy on Reporting Violations of Law, Regulations, or University Policy and Procedure