Westminster College has been awarded a $40,000 It’s On Us PA grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to support ongoing efforts to prevent campus sexual assault and enhance resources for survivors.

Launched in 2016 by former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, the It’s On Us PA grant aims to increase awareness, expand education and strengthen support services related to sexual violence prevention at colleges and universities across the Commonwealth. This year, 43 higher education and postsecondary institutions received funding through the program.

“I am extremely proud of the work we are doing at Westminster College to reduce sexual violence on campus,” said Dr. Gina Vance, vice president and dean of student affairs. “We are honored to be selected once again for the It's On Us grant. This funding supports the impactful work taking place in our Wellness Center and is essential to sustaining these efforts.”

Westminster plans to use the grant to build on existing prevention initiatives, including expanding campus-wide awareness campaigns and increasing opportunities for student-led programming.

“With support from the It’s On Us grant, we are strengthening and expanding our student‑centered prevention and education efforts through enhancements to our Peer Health Program,” said Melinda Wise, director of well-being programs at Westminster College.

The grant also supports two coordinated weeks of action each year—one in the spring and one in the fall—aligned with national awareness efforts such as the Red Zone and Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). These initiatives focus on consent education, bystander intervention, and fostering community engagement.

“Funding also allows us to bring students to the annual National Association of Student Personnel Administrators conference,” Wise added. “This opportunity amplifies student voices, builds leadership capacity, and brings national best practices back to campus to further advance a culture of care and accountability.”

To learn more about the It’s On Us PA initiative, click here.

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By Betsy Fontaine Hildebrand ’92
Betsy Fontaine Hildebrand ’92 is the director of communication in Westminster College's Office of Marketing and Communication.

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