Published October 13, 2022
The Office on Sponsored Research Services (OSRS), Sponsored Projects Accounting (SPA) and Human Resources (HR) are contacting you today regarding the recent harassment policies from National Institutes of Health (NSF) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) requiring notification to NIH or NSF when disciplinary action is taken related to harassment. Noted below is a brief summary and links to the full policy text. Please communicate this information to the applicable faculty, staff and students in your academic unit. Reports to the agencies will be made by the Office of Sponsored Research Services in collaboration with Human Resources.
If you have specific questions regarding this material, please contact Joe Gindhart (jgindhart@wustl.edu) in OSRS/SPA or Leanne Stewart (leannestewart@wustl.edu) in HR.
National Institutes of Health:
Effective July 9, 2022, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recipient institutions are now required to notify NIH when individuals identified as a Program Director (PD) or Primary Investigator (PI), or other senior/key personnel, are removed from their position or otherwise disciplined by WashU due to concerns of harassment, bullying, retaliation or hostile work conditions. See NIH Notice NOT-OD-22-129 for the full text of the policy. You can also view the NIH’s definitions and forms of Harassment online.
Notification must be submitted by the Authorized Organization Representative within 30 days or removal or disciplinary action through the dedicated NIH web form.
National Science Foundation:
Effective Oct. 4, 2021, the National Science Foundation (NSF) must be notified if a PI or co-PI has been found to have violated awardee policies or codes of conduct, statutes, regulations or executive orders relating to sexual harassment, other forms of harassment or sexual assault. View NSF’s definitions of harassment online.
Notification must be submitted by the Authorized Organization Representative via email to the NSF’s Office of Equity and Civil Rights within seven (7) business days of finding/determination to harassmentnotifications@nsf.gov.
Additional information is available through NSF’s website.
University Policies and Training:
Human Resources provides annual training on Discrimination and Harassment avoidance via Learn@Work. In addition, the University maintains multiple policies that address discrimination and harassment or abusive conduct. Please see the links below for more information: