The U.S. National Science Foundation regularly reviews the programs, services and activities of awardee organizations to ensure they comply with civil rights laws.
These reviews may occur:
- On a pre-award basis, before a final decision to award an NSF grant.
- On a post-award basis, after an NSF grant has been awarded.
Review types
Desk audit
For a desk audit, NSF requests documentation to determine compliance with civil rights regulations without visiting the awardee organization's facilities. These audits may occur on a pre-award or post-award basis. Requested documentation typically includes:
- Program policies and procedures.
- Demographic data.
- Program participant data.
- Discrimination complaints filed against the organization.
- Verification that the organization complies with certain procedural requirements of civil rights regulations.
On-site review
NSF conducts on-site civil rights compliance reviews each year. These reviews are typically conducted post-award and consist of a visit to the awardee organization's facilities to interview program participants and staff and review documentation. Before arriving on-site, NSF requests and reviews documentation similar to that of a desk audit.
NSF selects organizations for on-site reviews based on:
- Number of grants awarded.
- Total dollar amount of grants awarded.
- Types of programs receiving grants.
- Number of program participants who benefit from the grant.
- U.S. geographic location of the grant recipient.
- Time elapsed since organization's last review.
- Reports received that are not formal complaints submitted to NSF.
Title IX compliance reviews
NSF conducts at least two Title IX compliance reviews each year, focusing on organizations' policies, procedures and other relevant data to ensure compliance with Title IX. NSF's Title IX compliance reviews can take the form of desk audits or on-site reviews.
Findings and results
If NSF determines an organization is not in compliance with Title VI, Title IX, Section 504 and/or the "Age Discrimination Act," the agency will recommend corrective action to bring the organization into compliance. If the awardee refuses to take corrective action, NSF may initiate proceedings to terminate all agency funding to the organization.
- University of Arizona (PDF)
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (PDF)
- Northwestern University (PDF)
- Carnegie-Mellon University (PDF)
- University of Florida (REU Programs) (PDF)
- Oregon State University (PDF)
- University of California - Irvine (PDF)
- California Institute of Technology (PDF)
- University of Tennessee - Knoxville (PDF)
- Iowa State University (PDF)
- University of Utah (PDF)