Albion College has been awarded a major federal grant to prevent and respond to interpersonal violence on campus. The $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) provides a unique opportunity for institutions of higher education to establish multidisciplinary approaches to combat sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking on campuses.

With this funding Albion College will:

• Provide confidential, on-campus advocacy and support for survivors of interpersonal violence;
• Develop and deliver culturally relevant and inclusive interpersonal violence education and prevention programming for Albion College students and employees;
• Establish a Coordinated Community Response (CCR) Team that includes stakeholders at the College, Albion Department of Public Safety, and Sexual Assault Services of Calhoun County, which together will work to strengthen policies, protocols, services and training.

“Albion College is committed to reducing interpersonal violence and to supporting members of the campus community who are affected,” said President Mauri Ditzler. “I strongly support this initiative, which continues the important work accomplished by the Division of Student Development to reduce these incidents and to advocate for and support members of our campus community.”

Current efforts at the College include the Green Dot Bystander Intervention Program and Local Sexual Assault Advocates. “In the past few years we’ve made a lot of progress,” said Chris Berry, director for risk prevention and intervention. “This new funding opportunity will help us to continue moving forward by providing dedicated services to members of our community who’ve experienced relationship violence and sexual assault.”

The competitive grant was awarded to fewer than 60 institutions of higher education last year, and most awardees were large, public institutions. “Our ability to secure this grant was due in large part to the willingness of our partners at Sexual Assault Services and the Albion Department of Public Safety to support this work,” Berry said.

Leroy Wright, vice president for student development and dean of students, said, “Funding from the OVW Grant will help Albion College and the Division of Student Development to continue our commitment to reducing violence against women by educating and raising awareness of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. We value the opportunity to provide greater assistance and additional services to those directly and indirectly impacted by these life-changing events.”

“I’m pleased for what this means for our students and our ability to support out campus community,” Berry said.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, dating/domestic violence or stalking, confidential support is available on campus, through Counseling Services or a Local Sexual Assault Advocate. In the community, contact Sexual Assault Services of Calhoun County 24/7 at 888-383-2192. For more information, visit albion.edu/rvsa.