Wilkes University Awarded It’s On Us Grant

Wilkes University Awarded It's On Us Grant

Wilkes University has been awarded a $21,795 "It's On Us" grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The grant, which is part of a broader $1.7 million investment to colleges and universities across the state, will be used to raise awareness about sexual and intimate-partner violence. Wilkes was the only school in Luzerne County to receive the grant for 2025-2026.

"This funding is an important step in ensuring students at Wilkes University have access to the resources, education and support they need to feel safe on campus," says State Representative Eddie Day Pashinski '67 in an official release. "No student should have to worry about their safety while pursuing their education, and initiatives like 'It's On Us' help create a culture of accountability, awareness and prevention."

An initiative of Governor Josh Shapiro, "It's On Us PA" is a statewide campaign that invites everyone to play a role in ending sexual assault. Since 2016, more than 344 grants have been awarded to 100 post-secondary institutions across the state.

"Healthy relationships and violence prevention require safe communities where people of all backgrounds and communities know that resources and help are available when they have questions and when they are in crisis. This is especially important on university and college campuses, where so many young people experience independence for the first time," Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Carrie Rowe said in the announcement of 2025-2026 grant recipients. "The "It's On Us PA" campaign challenges all of us to confront the problem of sexual violence directly through awareness, prevention and support services for survivors. These efforts make a real difference in the lives of young people."

The grant awarded to Wilkes will be used to establish and continue programs that educate and train students, faculty and staff on identifying, responding to and reporting sexual violence. Approximately 20 percent of Wilkes undergraduates are student-athletes. In coordination with the NCAA commitment to providing a Sexual Violence Prevention Tool Kit, some grant funds will be dedicated to training opportunities for coaches, staff and athletes.

"By investing in prevention and support, we are sending a clear message that sexual violence has no place in our schools or communities," says Pashinski. "I'm proud to see Wilkes University leading the way in creating a safer environment for its students.

Additionally, the funds will also support an annual month-long awareness campaign in April, which coincides with Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Planned activities include the continuation of the University's Red Flag Campaign, a bystander intervention strategy to address and prevent sexual assault, dating violence and stalking on college campuses. The campaign encourages friends and other campus community members to say something when they see warning signs, or red flags, of intimate partner violence.

The efforts will be organized by Wilkes Title IX Coordinator, Nicole Langan, in partnership with the "It's On Us" student organization.

"We are so grateful to Governor Shapiro, Representative Pashinski and our other community partners for their support," says Langan, noting that this year's funds will also go to support partnering with experts to provide education on how sexual violence impacts individuals with disabilities as well as members of the LGBTQIA+ community. "In addition to undergraduate students, our goal is to also reach non-traditional students, including graduate and online students. It's important that our campus community have access to all of the resources they need to understand, prevent and raise awareness for addressing sexual and intimate-partner violence."