Contact: Britnae Purdy
Tel.: (540) 654-5655
Email: bpurdy@umw.edu
UMW Prioritizes Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, and Stalking Prevention
Oct. 13, 2017 – The Office of Title IX at the University of Mary Washington, along with community and campus partners and student volunteers, is excited to launch expanded programming with a focus on bystander intervention, prevention, and survivor services.
UMW was a 2016 recipient of a $300,000 grant through the Office of Violence Against Women’s Program to Reduce Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking on Campus. Part of the US Department of Justice, the Office of Violence Against Women was formed in 1995 to enhance the capacity of communities across the country that are developing programs aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Now nearing the end of the first year of the grant, which has focused on strategic planning, the grant has so far allowed for the formation of an interdisciplinary Coordinated Community Response Team (CCRT), three intensive training institutes for grant leaders, and the hiring of a Project Coordinator and Case Manager/Survivor Advocate.
The Office of Title IX is excited for this opportunity to expand and enhance our already existing programming. This year’s educational opportunities have thus far included mandatory Title IX training for all incoming students; gender- and sexual-based violence training for student athletes, workshops for faculty and staff members, and more. October, which is nationally recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, brings a slew of new events to campus, many of which are made possible by our passionate student volunteers and community partners. Additionally, the University has approved the hiring of a new Title IX Investigator and created a new, full-time Title IX Coordinator position.
We encourage the community to visit the Title IX website to learn more about this grant and stay up-to-date on new events and programs, and to engage with us on Instagram and Facebook. Additionally, we invite all students, faculty, staff, and community members to join us for an open house on November 8th, 4-6pm in Fairfax House on the UMW campus. We will be unveiling the new Center for Prevention and Education, providing light refreshments, resources and information about our services and our new federal grant, and asking visitors to leave their mark on our new home by helping with an interactive art project.
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