On January 25, the National Science Foundation issued a statement to remind the 2,000 colleges, universities, and other institutions that receive NSF funding that NSF requires its awardees to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, which prohibits educational funding recipients from engaging in sex discrimination, including sexual harassment and gender violence.
NSF’s statement, which follows multiple recent reports of sexual harassment in the science community, “reiterates [NSF’s] unwavering dedication to inclusive workplaces. NSF does not tolerate sexual harassment and encourages members of the scientific community who experience such harassment to report such behavior immediately.” NSF also encouraged NSF-funded researchers and students to “hold colleagues accountable to the standards and conditions set forth in Title IX, and to inform their institutions of violations.” NSF directs people who experience or witness harassment to contact their Title IX Coordinator or NSF’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion.