NSF OECR AOR Survey Questionnaire (FINAL) (002)

Draft Survey Questionnaire for Authorized Organizational Representatives (AORs)

Introduction

We would like to invite you to participate in a survey sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of Equity and Civil Rights to assess the award requirements and policies the Agency has developed to promote safe and inclusive research and education environments. The findings from this survey will help NSF refine its requirements and policies as well as improve the support it provides to awardee organizations like your own.

If you agree to participate, you will be asked questions about specific NSF award requirements and policies; how they have been implemented at your organization; and any challenges they have presented. You will also be asked to share recommendations you have for NSF moving forward.

Your participation in this survey is voluntary. You will not be asked to provide any identifying information, and none of the survey’s findings or recommendations will be connected with either your name or that of your institution. You are welcome to skip questions you cannot or do not wish to answer, and you may quit the survey at any time. The survey will take less than 15 minutes to complete, and we would be grateful for both your time and valuable input. The OMB clearance number for this collection is 3145-XXXX.

If you wish to participate in this survey, please click “Next” to proceed. If you do not wish to participate, you can feel free to exit the survey platform now.

Background

NSF Term and Condition: Sexual Harassment, Other Forms of Harassment, or Sexual Assault

In 2018, NSF established a new award term and condition to address the issues of sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, and sexual assault in research and education environments. The term and condition requires awardee institutions to notify NSF if the Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-PI on an NSF-funded award is subject to a finding or determination regarding sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, or sexual assault. It also requires the awardee institution to notify NSF if they take any administrative action against the PI or Co-PI for the same issues.

NSF Conference Policy

In 2019, NSF instituted a conference policy that requires all organizations submitting conference proposals to have a policy or code of conduct that 1) addresses sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, and sexual assault, and 2) includes clear and accessible means of reporting and resolving violations of the policy/code of conduct. In addition, the policy/code of conduct must address the method for making a complaint as well as how any complaints received during the conference will be resolved. This policy/code of conduct must be disseminated to conference participants prior to the conference and must also be made available at the conference itself. The NSF conference policy also applies to conferences that awardees attend using NSF travel awards.

This survey includes questions about the NSF term and condition and conference policy as well as some general background questions about you and your organization.

Awareness of NSF Requirements and Policies

1. Before participating in this survey, how familiar were you with the NSF term and condition focused on addressing sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, and sexual assault?

1. Very Familiar

2. Familiar

3. Slightly Familiar

4. Not Familiar

2. Before participating in this survey, how familiar were you with the NSF conference policy focused on addressing sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, and sexual assault?

1. Very Familiar

2. Familiar

3. Slightly Familiar

4. Not Familiar

3. Have you ever visited the NSF Office of Equity and Civil Rights (OECR) website regarding the “Term and Condition: Sexual Harassment, Other Forms of Harassment, or Sexual Assault”?

1. Yes

2. No [Skip to Question 10]

Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following statements about the information provided on the NSF OECR website regarding the “Term and Condition: Sexual Harassment, Other Forms of Harassment, or Sexual Assault.”

	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree nor Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree
4. The website provides information I have found useful in my role as an authorized organizational representative.
5. The information on the website is easy to understand.
6. The website answers all of my questions about the term and condition.
7. How the information is presented is user-friendly.

8. Are there ways that the information about the term and condition provided on the NSF website could be improved?

1. Yes

2. No [Skip to Question 10]

9. How could it be improved? For example, is there information not included that you would like to see included, and, if so, what? [Text]

10. Would it be helpful if NSF provided your organization additional information on the NSF term and condition focused on addressing sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, and sexual assault?

1. Yes

2. No [Skip to Question 16]

Who in your organization should receive this information?

	Yes	No
11. People in your office
12. People in the Title IX Office
13. Principal Investigators (PIs) and Co-PIs on NSF awards
14. Other, please specify [Text]

15. What would be the best way for NSF to provide this information?

1. In an email/document

2. In a video

3. In an online training

4. In a webinar

5. Other, please specify [Text]

16. Have you encountered a term and condition focused on addressing sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, and sexual assault at another federal funding agency?

1. Yes

2. No [Skip to Question 21]

3. I don’t know [Skip to Question 21]

At which agency/agencies?

	Yes	No
17. The National Institutes of Health (NIH)
18. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
19. Other, please specify [Text]

20. How do the other agency’s/agencies’ requirements compare with NSF’s requirements?

1. They are the same.

2. NSF’s requirements are more stringent.

3. The other agency’s/agencies’ requirements are more stringent.

4. I don’t know.

Implementation of NSF Requirements and Policies

21. Has your organization had to institute any procedural or organizational changes to ensure compliance with the NSF term and condition focused on addressing sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, and sexual assault?

1. Yes

2. No [Skip to Question 27]

3. I don’t know [Skip to Question 27]

22. What changes has your organization made to ensure compliance with the NSF term and condition? [Text]

Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following statements about the changes your organization has made to ensure compliance with the NSF term and condition.

	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree nor Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree
23. The changes affect only my office.
24. Everyone quickly agreed on what changes needed to be made.
25. The changes were easy to make.
26. The changes are working well.

27. Has your organization ever had to make a notification under the NSF term and condition?

1. Yes

2. No

3. I don’t know

28. Have you seen any change in the number of incidents involving sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, and sexual assault on NSF-funded projects since the term and condition was established in 2018?

1. Yes, the number has decreased.

2. Yes, the number has increased.

3. No, the number has stayed the same.

4. I don’t know.

5. I don’t know because I was not at my organization before 2018.

29. Has your organization received a conference award or conference travel award from NSF in the past three years?

1. Yes

2. No [Skip to Question 33]

3. I don’t know [Skip to Question 33]

Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements about the NSF conference policy focused on addressing sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, and sexual assault.

	Agree	Disagree	Don’t Know
30. My organization has had to develop a new procedure or policy specifically for NSF conference proposals.
31. My organization has had to develop new reporting mechanisms specifically for NSF conference proposals.
32. The NSF conference policy makes it more challenging to travel to a conference using NSF funding.

Views on NSF Requirements and Policies

33. Do you or others at your organization have any concerns about the NSF term and condition and/or conference policy?

1. Yes

2. No [Skip to question 35]

34. Please describe these concerns. [Text]

35. Are there ways that the NSF term and condition and/or conference policy could be improved?

1. Yes

2. No [Skip to question 37]

36. How could the NSF term and condition and/or conference policy be improved? [Text]

Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following statements about the NSF term and condition and conference policy focused on addressing sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, and sexual assault.

	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree nor Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree
37. These types of requirements and policies are important.
38. These types of requirements and policies are burdensome.
39. These types of requirements and policies are effective in addressing sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, and sexual assault.
40. All federal funding agencies should have these types of requirements and policies.

41. Are there additional things that NSF could do to help address sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, and sexual assault at your organization?

1. Yes

2. No [Skip to Question 43]

42. What additional things could NSF do to help address sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, and sexual assault at your organization? [Text]

General Questions

43. Approximately how many years have you worked in your current office? (If you have worked less than 6 months, please enter “.5”) [Number]

44. How many NSF awards are you currently responsible for? [Number]

45. Approximately how many total awards (NSF and other) are you currently responsible for? [Number]

46. How many other people at your organization are responsible for overseeing federally funded research and education awards? [Number]

Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following statements about the issues of sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, and sexual assault.

	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree nor Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree
47. These issues are a big problem at all organizations.
48. These issues are a big problem at my organization.
49. My organization has clear policies focused on preventing and addressing these issues.

Closing

We greatly appreciate all of the information you’ve provided in response to this survey. If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to provide additional information now or in the future, please feel free to reach out to [email protected] or (202) 868-2151 at any time. Thank you again.