It is the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Georgia Tech policy to foster inclusive, safe and harassment free environments wherever science is conducted. 

Several NSF solicitations require the submission of a Safe and Inclusive Work Environments Plan that will be considered as part of the Broader Impacts criteria during proposal review.  A link to the list of solicitations currently involved in the pilot program is below: https://new.nsf.gov/events/safe-inclusive-working-environments-requirements 

Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 23-1), Part I Chapter II section E.9 

  • 1/30/2023 …for each proposal that proposes to conduct research off-campus or off-site*, the AOR must complete a certification that the organization has a plan in place for that proposal that:
    • Describes how the following types of 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.
    • Identifies steps the proposing organization will take to nurture an inclusive off-campus or off-site working environment.
    • Includes the process for making incident reports and how any such reports will be resolved. Plans must also include procedures for communications within the team and to the organization that address limited communications pathways or other special circumstances that may complicate or impede reporting of suspected non-compliant behavior. 

Georgia Tech will comply with these requirements by:

  • Requiring Principal Investigators (PIs) proposing to NSF to affirm understanding and agreement to follow applicable Georgia Tech policies and procedures, including those listed in the attached Institute-Wide Plan. The Institute-Wide Plan must be signed and uploaded to eRouting prior to proposal submission.
  • Requiring PIs  proposing to NSF to complete a Project-Specific Plan that supplements Georgia Tech’s Institute-Wide Plan by addressing any circumstances unique to the project, including the involvement of multiple organizations, the presence of other third parties, and any communication limitations (e.g. no cell and/or no internet service).  The Project-Specific Plans must be completed, signed and uploaded to eRouting prior to proposal submission.
  • Requiring PIs to agree not to begin off-campus or off-site research prior to distributing a Project-Specific Plan to all individuals participating in the conduct of the research, prior to departure.

*For purposes of this requirement, off-campus or off-site research is defined as data/information/samples being collected off-campus or off-site, such as fieldwork and research activities on vessels and aircraft.

The Institute-Wide and Project-Specific Plan Template with PI Certification statement can be accessed by clicking the button below:

Institute-Wide and Project-Specific Plan Template with PI Certification

 

Georgia Institute of Technology Institute-Wide Plan for Safe and Inclusive Working Environments for Off-Campus or Off-Site Research

All Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) policies must be followed when conducting Georgia Tech activities, whether in the role of an employee, student, affiliate, or other, and wherever the activity takes place. 

PI/PD Responsibilities:

As the PI/PD for a proposal to NSF that includes an off-campus or off-site research component, I understand and agree to, prior to departure, whether or not a Notice of Award has been received:

  • Use the template above to create a Project-Specific Plan that addresses all NSF requirements not addressed by Georgia Tech’s policies and procedures, including any circumstances unique to the project, such as the involvement of multiple organizations, the presence of other third parties, and any communication limitations (e.g. no cell and/or no internet service).
  • Share with project participants this Institute-Wide Plan and the Project-Specific Plan described above.

Georgia Tech policies and procedures relevant to safe and inclusive working environments for off-campus or off-site research include:
 

Board of Regents Policies

Institutional Administrative Policies

Research Policies

Reporting Suspected Misbehavior

Options include:

  1. Contact your supervisor
  2. Report to head of the office/unit responsible for the project
  3. Report to one of the central office that address concerns of misconduct (see policies above) including
    1. Title IX (https://titleix.gatech.edu/) (https://titleix.gatech.edu/submitting-complaintreport)