In January 2023, the NSF introduced a requirement that researchers conducting research off-campus or off-site have a plan for how they will promote a safe and inclusive working environment and how they will address behaviors that threaten or compromise a safe and inclusive working environment.
Researchers need to submit the plan to the Office of Research so that WVU can certify that there is a plan for the proposed project. (This is a pre-submission requirement; NSF will not accept a research proposal without this certification.)
In most cases, researchers do not need to include the plan in their proposal, but certain solicitations in BIO and GEO are conducting a pilot program that requires researchers to include the plan as a supplemental document. As of June 2, 2023, the solicitations that require submission of the plan are NSF 23-549, NSF 23-547, NSF 23-548, NSF 23-542, NSF 23-540, NSF 23-539.
Regardless of whether the plan is included in the proposal, if the proposal is funded, PIs need to comply with their plan and distribute copies of the plan to all members of the research team.
WVU Resources
To assist researchers in developing a plan, the Office of Research has developed an NSF SAI Project Plan Template and FAQ. The template provides both the structure and general content for a plan, which the PI can modify as needed.
SAI Plans
PIs (or their designee) should upload the SAI plan in WVU+kc under Notes and Attachments → Internal Documents . Plans will be reviewed and approved in WVU+kc by Trisha Phillips, director of Research Integrity. In some cases, as determined by the director of Research Integrity, the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will also need to review the plan. Please allow two business days for review.
PIs (or their designee) are encouraged to send draft plans to Trisha Phillips for review prior to uploading in WVU+kc as many plans require minor revisions.