Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Education today announced that $1.5 million in It’s On Us PA grants are available to colleges, universities, and other postsecondary schools in Pennsylvania to help combat sexual assault on campus.
“Pennsylvania’s colleges and universities should be places where learners can grow their knowledge and skills while growing mentally, emotionally, and physically,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “Students deserve to learn in a healthy and encouraging environment free from threats and harm, and the It’s On Us grants help postsecondary institutions keep students safe so they can focus on learning and earning their credential.”
Grant applications are available on the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s website. Applications will be accepted through 11:59 PM on October 28, 2024.
Eligible institutions and schools with 10,000 or fewer students may request up to $40,000; those with more than 10,000 students may apply for up to $60,000. Private licensed career schools that do not offer specialized associate degrees may request up to $10,000.
Institutions use grant funds to implement strategies on their campuses to address goals of the It’s On Us PA campaign, which include:
- Improving awareness, prevention, reporting, and response systems regarding sexual violence in schools, colleges, and universities to better serve all students.
- Removing or reducing barriers that prevent survivors of sexual violence from reporting and/or accessing vital resources by creating a more consistent, empowering reporting process for student survivors of gender-based violence.
- Demonstrating significant, proactive, and sustainable leadership to change campus culture by challenging Pennsylvania’s education leaders – including college and university presidents – as well as students, teachers, faculty, staff, families, and communities to pledge to improve their institutions’ climate.
It’s On Us PA is a statewide campaign that invites education leaders and all Pennsylvanians to be part of the solution to protect students from sexual violence.
Since 2016, 301 It's On Us PA Grants totaling nearly $8.7 million to 100 post-secondary institutions across the state - including public and private two-year and four-year colleges and universities. Projects included: creating anonymous database reporting systems, partnerships with local rape crisis centers and domestic violence programs, professional development for Title IX coordinators, and student events focused on sexual violence prevention education.
Pennsylvanians are invited to visit the It’s On Us PA webpage and take the pledge to “recognize that non-consensual sex is sexual assault, identify situations in which sexual assault may occur, intervene in situations where consent has not or cannot be given, and create an environment in which sexual assault is unacceptable and survivors are supported.”
For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Education, please visit the website or follow PDE on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or Pinterest.
MEDIA CONTACT: Erin James, erinjames@pa.gov
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