AERA is strongly committed to combating sexual harassment in academia and the sciences. To this end, AERA's efforts include:
The news stories, letters, press releases, statements, and other updates below provide details on AERA's breadth of activities and deep concern on this issue.
Federal Policy Updates
AERA Executive Director Speaks at AAAS Town Hall on Sexual Harassment Prevention On Feb. 14, AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine participated in a Town Hall on “Combating Sexual and Gender Harassment in STEMM: An Enterprise Approach” at the 2020 Annual Meeting of AAAS in Seattle, WA. February 2020
Societies Consortium on Sexual Harassment in STEMM Holds First All-Member Convening On September 16, AERA participated in the first all-member convening of the Societies Consortium on Sexual Harassment in STEMM. AERA plays a major leadership role in the consortium, which was launched in February 2019. October 2019
Town Hall Participants Assess Progress in, and Next Steps for, Addressing Sexual Harassment in Academe The AERA Annual Meeting featured a Town Hall session titled “Sexual Harassment and Climate Change in Scholarly Associations and the Academy. April 2019
AERA to Hold Town Hall Meetings on Sexual Harassment in Academe and Gun Violence Research at 2019 Annual Meeting AERA will hold two Town Hall meetings featuring prominent scholars and policy experts at its 2019 Annual Meeting. April 2019
AERA to Hold Annual Meeting Town Hall Meetings on Gun Violence Research and Transforming a Culture of Sexual Harassment in Academe AERA will hold two Town Hall meetings featuring prominent scholars and policy experts at its 2019 Annual Meeting. March 2019
AERA to Introduce an Ombuds Resource at the Annual Meeting At the 2019 Annual Meeting, AERA will introduce an ombuds resource for meeting participants. An AERA Annual Meeting ombuds serves as a neutral, independent party who is available on-site to hear concerns confidentially. March 2019
AERA an Inaugural Member of the Societies Consortium on Sexual Harassment in STEMM On February 15, AERA and dozens of other organizations representing the science, technology, engineering, math, and medical fields launched the Societies Consortium on Sexual Harassment in STEMM. February 2019
75 Science Societies Urge the Education Department to Base Title IX Sexual Harassment Regulations on Research and Evidence AERA and AAAS led 75 scientific societies in submitting comments on the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed changes to Title IX regulations. January 2019 (Related letter from the 75 socities to the Education Department)
AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine Calls on Congress to Support the Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) introduced the Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act of 2018 (H.R. 7031) which aims to address sexual harassment in the sciences by providing funding for additional research. October 2018
AERA Convenes Education Research Leaders for 2018 Fall Policy Meeting; Sexual Harassment and Priorities of Federal Science Leaders Among Topics Addressed On September 16–17, 60 deans and associate deans at colleges of education and leaders at research institutions attended the Fall Policy Meeting of the AERA Consortium of University and Research Institutions in Washington, D.C. September 2018
AERA Letter to the National Science Foundation on Proposed Reporting Requirements AERA submitted a letter to the National Science Foundation on its proposed Reporting Requirements Regarding Findings of Sexual Harassment, Other Forms of Harassment, or Sexual Assault and the implementation of the policy. May 2018
AERA Holds Town Hall Meeting on Sexual Harassment at 2018 Annual Meeting AERA held a town hall meeting, “'Me Too'– A Town Hall Meeting: Confronting Sexual Harassment in the Academy and Scholarly Professions,” at its 2018 Annual Meeting. April 2018
AERA to Hold Town Hall Meetings on Gun Violence Research and Sexual Harassment in Academe at 2018 Annual Meeting AERA has announced that it will hold two town hall meetings at its 2018 Annual Meeting in New York City, April 13 - 17. April 2018
AERA Widely Emphasizes Harassment Policies Prior to the start of the 2018 Annual Meeting, AERA issued and widely shared a statement emphasizing the Association’s commitment to making all of its meetings and activities free from harassment or discrimination for all attendees. April 2018
New GAO Report Details Federal Agency Actions to Address Sexual Harassment in STEM On March 19, the Government Accountability Office issued a report finding that federal agencies funding STEM research are taking actions to address sexual harassment, but that additional actions are needed to ensure compliance with Title IX. March 2020
House Passes Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act On July 23, the House passed H.R. 36, the Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act, by a voice vote. The bipartisan bill takes important steps in supporting research and data collection to address the causes and consequences of sexual and gender harassment in STEM. July 2019
GAO Issues Preliminary Findings on Agency Actions on Sexual Harassment in STEM On June 12, the Government Accountability Office issued preliminary findings of a study on policies for university grantees and information sharing among five science agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. June 2019
House Science Committee Advances Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee passed the Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act (HR 36) by voice vote on June 20. June 2019
NIH Takes Steps to Address Sexual Harassment and Advance Inclusion in the Sciences During the month of June, the National Institutes of Health took steps designed to address sexual harassment in the sciences and change the way women and other underrepresented groups are treated in the scholarly professions—especially the sciences. June 2019
Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act of 2019 Introduced in Senate; AERA Among Endorsers On April 4, Sens. Kamala Harris (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) announced the introduction of the Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act of 2019. AERA is a supporter of the legislation. April 2019
NIH Issues Statement on Efforts to Address Harassment in Science On February 28, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provided an update on the agency’s efforts to address harassment both within NIH and with its external grantees. February 2019
Bipartisan Bill on Sexual Harassment in the Sciences Introduced On January 3, Reps. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Frank Lucas (R-OK) introduced the Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act of 2019 (H.R. 36). January 2019
Legislation Introduced to Address Harassment in Science On October 5, Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) introduced the Combatting Sexual Harassment in Science Act. October 2018
NSF to Require Awardee Institutions to Report Sexual Harassment Findings; Upon Notification, NSF May Reduce or Eliminate Award Funding On September 21, the National Science Foundation released new requirements that awardee organizations must notify the agency of any findings or determinations that an NSF-funded principal investigator or co-principal investigator committed harassment, including sexual harassment or sexual assault. September 2018
AAAS Approves Policy to Revoke Elected Fellowship Honors for Misconduct or Harassment On September 15, the governing body of the American Association for the Advancement of Science approved a new policy under which an elected AAAS fellow’s lifetime honor can be revoked for proven scientific misconduct or serious breaches of professional ethics, including sexual and gender harassment. September 2018
National Academies’ Report Calls on Academic Institutions to Overhaul Campus Culture to Address Sexual Harassment On June 12, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released the findings of a comprehensive public report on the effects of sexual harassment on women in science, engineering, and medical careers. July 2018
NSF Requests Public Comment on New Reporting Requirement for Sexual Harassment, Other Forms of Harassment, or Sexual Assault March 2018
Launched in February 2019, the Societies Consortium on Sexual Harassment in STEMM aims to advance full participation and excellence in STEMM and to prevent and respond to sexual and gender harassment in STEMM environments. AERA plays a major leadership role in the consortium.
On June 12, 2018, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released the findings of a comprehensive public report titled Sexual Harassment of Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The report calls for sweeping changes in the culture and climate of higher education as well as significant improvements in the way women are treated in the academy and scholarly professions—especially the sciences.