(Posted March 15, 2018)

Harrisburg, Pa. – On March 13, 2018, at an event at Temple University in Philadelphia, the Department of Education announced 39 postsecondary institutions across the state will receive more than $950,000 in It’s On Us PA grants. Juniata College was one awardee of these funds, that will help expand the commitment to combating sexual assault on Pennsylvania college and university campuses.

“Since launching two years ago, ‘It’s On Us PA’ has helped dozens of Pennsylvania colleges and universities to develop programs to prevent sexual assault and establish campus cultures where sexual assault and harassment are not tolerated,” Governor Tom Wolf said. “The pervasiveness of sexual assault has never been more clear, and combatting sexual assault requires action. The ‘Its On Us PA’ campaign is continuing to help make our campuses across the state safer.”

Like many colleges and universities, Juniata applied for funding to establish programs ranging from campus-wide training for students, faculty and staff to institutional campaigns to raise awareness and understanding of the reporting process and resources available to and rights of survivors of sexual violence.

“The #MeToo movement is a reminder of the prevalence of sexual assault in communities of all demographics,” Education Secretary Pedro A. Rivera said. “The ‘It’s On Us PA’ campaign is helping Pennsylvania schools lead their communities in directing the conversation on how we can prevent assaults and harassment from infecting our campuses and communities.”

The 2017-18 It’s On Us PA grant recipients include public and private, 2-year and 4-year institutions in every corner of the state. Juniata was one of 39 schools that were selected for grants. Other awardees include Lehigh University, Temple University and Dickinson College. 

The It’s On Us PA statewide campaign was launched by Governor Wolf in 2016, and was built on the momentum of the national It’s On Us movement championed by President Obama. The state initiative invites everyone to take the It’s On Us PA pledge and play a role in ending sexual assault.

In 2017 the Wolf Administration awarded nearly a million dollars in It’s On Us PA grants to 36 Pennsylvania postsecondary institutions. For more information about Pennsylvania’s education policies and programs please visit the Department of Education’s website at www.education.pa.gov or follow PDE on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.