Bucks County Community College is the recipient of two grants: an It’s On Us PA grant for $34,778 and a PA Hunger-Free Campus grant for $59,945.
Regarding the It’s On Us PA grant, this funding was announced by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Gov. Tom Wolf established It’s On Us PA, the nation’s first statewide campaign to combat campus sexual assault and violence, nearly seven years ago.
“PDE is committed to supporting the efforts that keep college campuses safe, inclusive and welcoming spaces for all students,” said Acting Secretary of Education Eric Hagarty. “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.”
The grants received by educational institutions statewide provide funding from Jan. 1, 2023, through May 31, 2024, to implement strategies on campuses to address goals of the It’s On Us PA 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 — including college and university presidents — as well as students, teachers, faculty, staff, families and communities to pledge to improve their institutions’ climate
As for the PA Hunger-Free Campus grant, Wolf and First Lady Frances Wolf announced this funding to combat student hunger across the commonwealth.
“With more than a third of students knowing someone who dropped out of college due to food insecurity during the pandemic, hunger affects far too many postsecondary students across the nation,” he said. “The PA Hunger-Free Campus designation and grant program gives Pennsylvania’s colleges and universities the tools they need to combat hunger on their campuses and provide students with access to healthy food so they can stay focused, learn and grow.”
The grants are awarded with the purpose of addressing food insecurity on campus, including expanding access to food options, creating awareness initiatives and upgrading facilities. Awardees are able to utilize the grant funds until Dec. 31.
