Franklin Pierce University has received a $400,000 grant from the Department of Justice, administered by the Office on Violence Against Women.

This funding is part of the national effort under the Violence Against Women Act to address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking (DVSAS) on college campuses.

“This initiative allows us to expand our resources, enhance our educational programs and strengthen our partnerships, both on and off-campus, to effectively address the critical issues of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking,” stated Dean of Student Affairs Andrew Pollom. “We are dedicated to making Franklin Pierce University a model of proactive and compassionate response to these challenges, and this grant is instrumental in helping us achieve that vision.”

The grant will support the Ravens Raising All Voices against Violence (Ravens RAV2) project, a coordinated initiative by Franklin Pierce University in partnership with the Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention and regional university partners. The project is dedicated to creating a safer campus environment by implementing a comprehensive strategy to prevent and respond to DVSAS.

“I am profoundly grateful for the opportunities this grant presents,” stated Franklin Pierce President Kim Mooney. “The Ravens RAV2 project, supported by this generous funding from the Department of Justice and the Office on Violence Against Women, marks a significant step in our continuous effort to ensure a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for all our students, faculty, and staff.”

Key initiatives of the Ravens RAV2 project include:

-- Creation of a Coordinated Community Response (CCR) team: Collaborating with campus and community partners to provide a unified response to DVSAS.

-- Confidential, trauma-informed victim services and advocacy: Offering survivor-centered support services tailored to the needs of victims.

-- Expansion of annual trainings: Training for university administrators, faculty, staff, security personnel, the Title IX office and student conduct process stakeholders.

-- Enhancement of DVSAS prevention and education programs: Mandatory education programs for all students, including new, transfer and continuing students.

-- Universal prevention strategies: Including coordinated DVSAS campaigns/events, materials and bystander intervention programs.

-- Improved coordination for special student populations: Addressing the needs of LGBTIQ+ students, international students, neurodiverse students, students with disabilities and homeless students.

-- Trauma-informed training and restorative justice approaches: Implementing new training and justice approaches to better handle DVSAS incidents.

The Grants to Reduce Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking on Campus Program was created by Congress in recognition of the issues and challenges that colleges and universities face in preventing and responding to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.

The program encourages a comprehensive coordinated community approach that enhances victim safety, provides services for victims and supports efforts to hold offenders accountable. The funding supports activities that develop and strengthen trauma-informed victim services and strategies to prevent, investigate and respond to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.