NSF has posted a Statement of NSF Priorities on their website today. The following important points in this statement should be noted and considered for the current and pending NSF awards, and future proposals to be submitted.
“NSF's broadening participation activities, including activities undertaken in fulfillment of the Broader Impacts criterion, and research on broadening participation, must aim to create opportunities for all Americans everywhere.
These efforts should not preference some groups at the expense of others, or directly/indirectly exclude individuals or groups. Research projects with more narrow impact limited to subgroups of people based on protected class or characteristics do not effectuate NSF priorities.
NSF will continue to support research with the goal of understanding or addressing participation in STEM, in accordance with all applicable statutes and mandates, with the core goal of creating opportunities for all Americans.
NSF will continue to support basic and use-inspired research in S&E fields that focus on protected characteristics when doing so is intrinsic to the research question and is aligned with Agency priorities.”
The statement posting on the website is followed by Frequently Asked Questions. We strongly encourage all researchers to carefully review all content including the FAQs. Specifically, please note Q3:
3. What types of awards are being terminated?
Awards that are not aligned with NSF's priorities have been terminated, including but not limited to those on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and misinformation/disinformation.
Additional information on NSF Implementation of Recent Executive Orders can be found here.
If you receive any notification including a stop order, termination, budget change on indirect costs rate on your award/proposal, or request to sign any attestation from NSF or any other funding agency, please forward the notification with any attachment to me immediately at dhawan@njit.edu and copy Eric Hetherington at erich@njit.edu.
Please do not sign any document sent to you regarding any attestation on the federal research grants.
We will continue to carefully review at the institutional level with the provost and general counsel offices to advise and follow up. The Office for Research and the Office of General Counsel will review the request and respond with instructions for you to follow.
Please visit our website periodically for updates on this situation.