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Office of Research and Innovation
Research Administration and Compliance

NSF/NIH Codes of Conduct

NC State University (NC State) is committed to fostering a culture of diverse and inclusive excellence in which persons of all identities and from all backgrounds feel welcomed, supported, and encouraged to engage in the free and open exchange of ideas. Our dedication to excellence means that attendees at university-sponsored events can expect to experience a safe environment free of discrimination and harassment. Behaviors that do not uphold the highest standards of integrity and professional ethics are contrary to NC State’s mission and values.

Conference Programs

It is also the expectation of federal granting agencies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), that organizers of NIH- or NSF-sponsored conferences, workshops, symposia, scientific meetings and any other events uphold harassment-free environments.

Recipients of NIH and NSF funds to carry out conferences, workshops, and symposia must provide the Conference Participant Notice (Unity ID required), outlining expectations for NC State events, to all event attendees prior to attendance at the conference and make the notice available at the conference itself. This message addresses the expectations outlined above and has been approved for distribution by the NC State University Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity.

NSF

The NSF Proposal Award Policy and Procedure Guide (PAPPG) requires applicants requesting NSF funds for the purpose of carrying out conferences, workshops, and symposia to have a policy or code of conduct that addresses sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, or sexual assault, and that includes clear and accessible means of reporting violations of the policy or code of conduct.

NIH

NIH expects that organizers of NIH-supported conferences and scientific meetings take steps to maintain a safe and respectful environment for all attendees by providing an environment free from discrimination and harassment, sexual or otherwise. Among other strategies that support a safe environment, NIH Guidance recommends establishing a conference code of conduct with clearly stated expectations of behavior, systems of reporting, and procedures for addressing inappropriate behavior. 

NIH Training Applications

As of January 24, 2019 NIH Training Applications require an institutional letter on institutional letterhead signed by a President, Provost, Dean, or another key institutional leader with institution-wide responsibilities. This letter should provide a description of the applicant institution’s commitment to the planned program in order to ensure its success.  This letter should also include a description of the institutional commitment to the following areas:  

  • ensuring that proper policies, procedures, and oversight are in place to prevent discriminatory harassment and other discriminatory practices;  
  • responding appropriately to allegations of discriminatory practices, including any required notifications to OCR (see NOT-OD-15-152); and
  • adopting and following institutional procedure for requesting NIH prior approval of a change in the status of the Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) or other senior/key personnel if administrative or disciplinary action is taken that impacts the ability of the PD/PI or other key personnel to continue his/her role on the NIH award described in the training grant application (also see NOT-OD-18-172 re policy on change in PD/PI status)

NC State University Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity should be contacted for a signed letter that addresses the NIH requirements.