University Receives It’s On Us PA Grant

It’s On Us PA grant to combat sexual assault will support prevention education and resources, as well as training regarding healthy relationships.
The University received a $40,000 It’s On Us PA grant that will support innovative programming that includes further support for the student peer facilitators in the PACT (Promoting Awareness of the College Transition) Program and Second-Year Experience Program, in addition to other efforts to foster a safer and more inclusive campus environment.
The University received a $40,000 It’s On Us PA grant that will support innovative programmingthat includes further support for the student peer facilitators in the PACT (Promoting Awareness of the College Transition) Program and Second-Year Experience Program, in addition to other efforts to foster a safer and more inclusive campus environment.

The University of Scranton is one of just 44 colleges, universities and other postsecondary institutions in Pennsylvania to receive a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to help combat sexual assault.

The University received a $40,000 It’s On Us PA grant in December. It’s On Us PA is part of the national It’s On Us Campaign, a statewide campaign that invites education leaders and all Pennsylvanians to join the solution to protect students from sexual violence. 

“This funding will empower the University to expand its innovative programming aimed at fostering a safer and more inclusive campus environment through prevention education and resources,” said Brandice Ricciardi, assistant director of the Cultural Centers.

In addition to continuing to support prevention education and resources, grant funds will focus on delivering more support and training for healthy relationships in all forms. The Cultural Centers will seek to make training available to and relevant for each year of the student experience. 

The grant funds will allow the University to further support dedicated student peer facilitators in the PACT (Promoting Awareness of the College Transition) Program.

Designed to assist first-year students in navigating the transition from high school to college at the start of their first semester, PACT introduces essential topics such as healthy relationships, assertive communication, affirmative consent, alcohol and drug-related misconduct, reporting options and bystander engagement. The program is led by highly trained student facilitators who act as role models and engage their peers in meaningful, confidence-building discussions.

“Research has shown that peer-led models are particularly effective in reaching first-year students, making their contributions invaluable,” said Ricciardi. “The grant will enable the University to better acknowledge the significant time and commitment required for training and facilitation, ensuring these students are equipped to lead impactful conversations.”

Beyond PACT, the grant will also fund the expansion of the Second-Year Experience, a program aimed at deepening students’ understanding of consent, healthy relationships and violence prevention. Recognizing the importance of a comprehensive approach to prevention education, the University plans to extend its initiatives to all class years.

Development is underway for a Bystander Intervention Program tailored specifically for third-year students, designed to equip them with the tools to identify and effectively address potentially harmful situations. As part of this initiative, the University will introduce a new campus-wide event, It’s On Us Day, designed to raise awareness about the national It’s On Us Campaign and reinforce the importance of healthy relationships, consent and bystander engagement. The event will also serve as an opportunity to remind students of the University’s policies and the resources available to them.

“By combining education with interactive, engaging activities, we hope to inspire students to take action, whether through making the pledge, learning about bystander engagement, or seeking out resources,” said Ricciardi.

The grant will also provide resources to bring a professional speaker to campus to engage students on critical topics related to healthy relationships, consent and preventing violence. Additional initiatives supported by the grant will include the creation of an educational and informational campaign on social media, online training modules for students and additional training for faculty and staff.

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