Pennsylvania Dept. Of Education awards $1.4M in ‘It’s on Us’ grants

James Wesser
·2 min read

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — The Pennsylvania Department of Education has announced that over 30 higher education and postsecondary schools have been awarded “It’s On Us” grants to combat sexual assault and make campuses safer.

“It’s On Us” is a campaign that runs statewide and brings college and university officials to reframe the conversation around sexual violence, and be part of the solution.

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“The ‘It’s On Us PA campaign’ cultivates change and provides colleges, universities, and postsecondary career and trade schools with the support and resources necessary to protect learning environments and ensure they are free from sexual assault, harassment, and violence,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “All Pennsylvanians deserve a safe learning environment. By participating in the ‘It’s On Us PA’ grant program, higher education institutions are making their campus communities safer and more welcoming for the students who call them home.”

‘It’s On Us’ campaign combatting sexual assault makes stop at York College

The following Midstate institutions received grants:

Adams County:

  • Gettysburg College, $40,000

Cumberland County:

  • Shippensburg University, $34,200

Lancaster County:

  • Franklin and Marshall College, $39,330

York County:

  • York College of Pennsylvania, $35,000​

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The grants will provide funding from Jan. 2024 to May 2025 to implement strategies on campuses to address the goals of the “It’s On Us PA campaign.” As quoted in the release, these include:

  1. Improve awareness, prevention, reporting, and response systems regarding sexual violence in schools, colleges, and universities to better serve all students.

  2. Remove or reduce barriers that prevent survivors of sexual violence from reporting incidents or accessing vital resources by creating a more consistent, empowering reporting process for student survivors of gender-based violence.

  3. Demonstrate 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’ climates.

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