The Pennsylvania Department of Education announced 37 institutions of higher education and postsecondary schools have been awarded It’s On Us PA grants of up to $60,000 each, totaling more than $1.4 million, in order to combat sexual assault and make our campuses safer.

It’s On Us PA is a statewide campaign that invites everyone to play a role in ending sexual assault. Building off the momentum of the national It’s On Us movement, It’s On Us PA brings together college and university presidents, superintendents, administrators, teachers, students, families, and community members to reframe the conversation around sexual violence and be part of the solution.

“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.”

The following local institutions received It’s On Us PA grants:

• Kutztown University, $40,000

• Cedar Crest College, $40,000

• DeSales University, $10,700

• Lehigh University, $37,200

• Lafayette College, $40,000

The grants provide funding from January 2024 through May 2025 to implement strategies on campuses to address goals of the campaign, which include:

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

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.

Demonstrate significant, proactive, and sustainable leadership to change campus culture by challenging Pennsylvania’s education leaders, as well as students, teachers, faculty, staff, families, and communities to pledge to improve their institutions’ climates.