"Safe and Inclusive Working Environments" Plan Resources
The new requirement for “Safe and Inclusive Working Environments for Off-Campus or Off-Site Research” plans is effective as of today, January 30, 2023, with the implementation of the National Science Foundation’s updated Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) NSF 23-1.
NSF Proposals Submission Guidance
- When a submitting a proposal to NSF for which a "Safe and Inclusive Working Environments for Off-Campus or Off-Site Research Plan" is applicable but not included in the proposal application, the plan must be uploaded in "Internal Documents" in the InfoEd record to facilitate the required AOR certification.
- When a solicitation requires inclusion of the plan in the proposal application, a separate InfoED upload is not required. The plan included in the application itself is sufficient.
Sponsored Research will continue to monitor the latest guidance from the NSF, which continues to evolve. We will communicate relevant updates as they become available.
Proposal Development Support: IDEA Leaders
Northwestern’s Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion (OIDI) encourages you to reach out to the IDEA Leader in your unit/school early in the proposal process for support around DEI-aspects of the proposals. Convened by OIDI, IDEA Leaders are a university-wide collective of senior diversity leaders, representing Northwestern University’s schools/colleges and major administrative units, who have primary responsibility for inclusion, diversity, equity, and accountability (IDEA) in their areas.
Additional Resources
The Policies & Guidance page includes a resource section for “Safe, Secure, Equitable, and Inclusive Research Requirements” for NSF and other Federal agencies.
Learn More: NSF Virtual Office Hours
NSF’s Biological Sciences (BIO) and Geosciences (GEO) Directorates will host Virtual Office Hour - Plan for Safe and Inclusive Working Environments on February 7, 2023 3:30 PM ET / 2:30 PM CT. Register for the webinar.