Sexual harassment policies 

National Science Foundation (NSF)

The NSF has a no-tolerance policy for sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, and sexual assault, within the agency, at awardee organizations, field sites or anywhere science or education is conducted.  As such, the NSF includes a term and condition concerning harassment as part of its award acceptance requirements, which pertains to Principal Investigators (PIs) and co-Principal Investigators (co-PIs) of NSF-funded projects, including co-PIs at subawardee institutions.

For NSF grants awarded to Linfield University after September 21, 2018, this institution’s Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) must notify that agency of any finding/determination if an NSF-funded PI or co-PI has violated Linfield’s policy, statutes, regulations, or executive orders relating to sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, or sexual assault.  The AOR also must notify that agency if an NSF-funded PI or co-PI is the recipient of administrative action (e.g., placed on leave) for an alleged violation of Linfield’s policy, statutes, regulations, or executive orders relating to sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, or sexual assault.  Per NSF guidelines, a finding/determination not only includes violating Linfield’s own sexual conduct policy, but also a conviction of a sexual offense in a criminal court of law.

The notification must include information specifically requested in the Organizational Notice of Harassment Form and take place within 10 business days of determination or administrative action, whichever is sooner.  After reviewing the notification and consulting with the awardee AOR, the NSF may choose to remove or substitute a PI/co-PI, reduce the funding amount, or suspend or terminate the award.

The university encourages all employee applicants to the NSF to thoroughly acquaint themselves with the NSF regulation (83 FR 47940) and Linfield's Sexual Conduct and Relationship Violence Policy and Procedures before submitting a proposal.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

The NIH is also tackling this problem, citing a 2018 National Academies report that states “federal agencies may be perpetuating the problem of sexual harassment.” This agency now requires all institutional grantees to have developed, disseminated and implemented policies and practices that foster a harassment-free environment, maintain a clear code of conduct, ensure employees are aware of internal policies and external laws, provide an easy way to report harassment, protection from retaliation, and respond promptly to allegations.

This institution must also report to the NIH if a principal investigator or other key personnel named on an NIH grant award is no longer able to fulfill their obligations to conduct research because they have been removed from the workplace for sexual harassment. Concerns about sexual harassment affecting NIH research may be sent to GranteeHarassment@od.nigh.gov. The NIH also encourages people to report allegations of sexual harassment or assault to local authorities as well as the HHS Office for Civil Rights to obtain additional information and file a complaint. 

As in the case of the NSF, the university encourages all employee applicants to the NIH to review its Anti-Sexual Harassment website and Linfield's Sexual Conduct and Relationship Violence Policy and Procedures before submitting a proposal.