Research team leaders and team members must review all the information within this webpage.

At the verification, you must complete the brief survey. Once complete, you will receive an email verifying you have completed these requirements.

Contents

Expectations

The following MSUB policies shall be reviewed by all members of the research team prior to departure based on the individual's role at the University. Please keep in mind that other expectations may be outlined by the Research Team Leader or the Department. 

For All

For Students

For Employees

Additional MSUB Policies

The MSUB Policy and Notifications page contains other polices that may be of interest.

Education

Employees - Required

  • Mandatory Reporter Training/Title IX Training
    • This training is required every 2 years for all employees. If you have completed this within the last 2 years, you do not have to complete again.  If you have questions as to if you have completed, please contact Human Resources at hr@msubillings.edu or 406-657-2278.
    • This video was developed by the Center for Faculty Excellence at MSU Bozeman. Dr. Madison Myers presents information about Bystander Intervention Training and Building a more extensive field safety guide.

Students and Others - Required

  • (youtube video from MSU)

Optional Trainings/Education

Communication, Response, and Safety Blueprint

NSF PIs are responsible for:

At the Proposal Stage:

  1. Determining whether any 鈥渙ff-campus or off-site research鈥� (see definition below) will occur on their NSF-funded award including any collaborators or subrecipients on their proposal. Plans are only required for NSF-funded awards containing research that is conducted off-site or off-campus.
  2. Completing the project-specific information on the last page of this document before proposal submission and retaining it in their grant files or the departmental grant file. Only the lead institution will check the box on the Cover Page that Off-Campus or Off-Site research is involved. Only the lead institution will be responsible for submitting the safe and inclusive plan for off-campus or off-site research. Only one plan needs to be submitted for the collaboration (either for a separately submitted collaborative proposal or for a proposal with subrecipients). The expectation is that the organizations in the collaboration will work together as necessary to prepare a plan.

At the Award Stage:

  1. Review NSF Safe and Inclusive Work Environment Plan for Off-Campus or Off-Site Research and make any needed updates or adjustments; and
  2. Distributing the NSF Safe and Inclusive Work Environment Plan for Off-Campus or Off-Site Research to everyone who will participate in an off-campus or off-site research activity before those individuals engaging in the off-site or off-campus research.
  3. Retaining documentation of who received the plan (email or signup sheet is sufficient) and the plan itself in their grant files or the departmental grant file.
  4. The plan should not be submitted to NSF unless requested. Plans may be re-used and re-distributed for multiple off-campus research activities but must be updated if the specific content needs to change.

Minimum Requirements of a Safe & Inclusive Work Environment for Off-Campus or Off-Site Research Plan

Should address these items:

  • Conduct that is unwelcome, offensive, indecent, obscene, and disorderly will not be tolerated and how it will be addressed if it does occur.
  • Abuse of any person, including, but not limited to, harassment, stalking, bullying, or hazing of any kind, whether the behavior is carried out verbally, physically, electronically, or in written form is not acceptable and how it will be addressed if it does occur.
  • Detailed information about location of the team during the trip and unique challenges for the team presented due to the off-site nature of the research.
  • Types and availability of communication mechanisms and how a team member can access these mechanisms.
  • Who on the trip is a Mandatory Reporter for Title IX purposes.
  • The organizational mechanisms that will be used to address behavioral concerns or instances of unwanted or unwelcome behaviors
  • Contact information for local emergency medical personnel.
  • Type and method of post trip evaluation and debrief.
  • How team members can report concern or discomfort during and after the trip.

 Have you thought about...

  • How might you develop a safer environment for your Team?
  • What communication in advance of the trip might be helpful in addressing concerns during the trip?
  • How can you set the expectations in advance surrounding inclusivity?
  • Do you have emergency information and contact information for your team members?
  • How can you minimize conflict and set expectations about communication, roles, culture, and responsibilities?

NSF Requirement

Note:  NSF directorates such as BIO and GEO have additional requirements which can be found here:

 Best Practices and Sample Documents

These documents and resources are presented as samples and guides you might consider:

Team Leader Responsibility

The Team Leader must:

  • Develop the Communication, Response, and Safety Blueprint.
  • Distribute the Communication, Response, and Safety Blueprint to all members of the Team. This includes any future members unknown at this time, who will participate in off-campus research.
  • In Office of Grant and Sponsored Program's Electronic Proposal Clearance Form (ePCF), submit their verification email as a miscellaneous attachment.
  • Confirm that all members of the Team have reviewed this website and submitted verification prior to allowing members to participate in off-campus research.

Although not required by this institutional plan, it is highly recommended that the Team Leader submit the Blueprint to their department head.

 Need Help?

A team of experts is available to assist you. They can answer questions and provide advice.

Reporting

All team members should know how to make reports to MSUB. The link below contains ways to report concerns by any team member.

Abuse of any person, including, but not limited to harassment, stalking, bullying, or hazing of any kind, whether the behavior is carried out verbally, physically, electronically, or in written form or conduct that is unwelcome, offensive, indecent obscene or disorderly maybe reported through mechanisms found here: 

Resources

These resources must be reviewed by each team member. Some of these resources are specifically designed to be easily printed and taken to off-campus and off-site research locations where internet may not exist.

Physical Safety Resources

  • - rental equipment, classes, clinics, bear safety, avalanche workshop, packing lists, and more.
  • - incident and accident reporting, insurance information, vehicle safety, chemical safety, and more.

Discrimination, Harassment and Behavioral Resources

For All

This document describes reporting options for individuals who may have experienced sexual violence, protected class discrimination, harassment or retaliation. It provides resources around impacts these experiences may have on an individual such as 24-hour support line, counseling, legal law enforcement and MSU information.

The Phoenix Center

The MSUB Phoenix Center provides free and confidential services and information for all people impacted by sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, and harassment; including friends, family, and loved ones of survivors. Advocates are available 24 hours a day to provide confidential support, information, and discuss different options.

Diversity and Inclusion Resources

(Alcohol & Drug Assistance Center, Food Pantry, Travel Health resources) 

 For Students

 For Employees

 

Resources for employees as part of the CHOICES benefits plan. This resource provides a 24-hour Crisis Help line, in-person counseling and online consultations with licensed counselors for free or little cost.

Verification

By completing this form, you verify you have reviewed this information and completed the required trainings. This institutional plan may be supplemented by additional information, communications, and education as determined necessary by the Research Team Leader.

Once you complete the form, you will receive an email confirmation.

Follow-up

All team members may receive an email within a year of completing this verification that will inquire about their experience during their off-campus or off-site research experience. 

The data collected will be used to assess the institutional plan and may lead to changes by MSUB in how this plan is administered to best serve our research community. 

In addition, feedback may be used to improve individual research program's Communication, Response, and Safety Blueprint and implementation of the Blueprint