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Four area institutions of higher learning nabbed a collective $98,795 in state grants intended to help curb campus sexual assault.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced the state’s first “It’s On Us PA” grants Tuesday, giving nearly $1 million to 36 institutions statewide. The competitive grants can be used for programs such as training for students and staff, improving the reporting process, making it easier for victims of sexual violence to report attacks, and changing campus culture.

Locally, Misericordia University was awarded $25,400, Wilkes University got $27,395, the University of Scranton got $16,000, and The Commonwealth Medical College got $30,000 — the maximum awarded under the new program.

At Wilkes, the money will pay for a “comprehensive week-long education program in April (Sexual Assault Awareness Month) aimed at reaching a variety of students on campus and in our local community,” spokeswoman Vicki Mayk said in an email.

The week will include a keynote speaker, a screening of the documentary “The Hunting Ground,” and training in the university’s “bystander intervention program” designed to make sure students know when and how to act when they suspect a potential assault may be coming, or has happened.

Misericordia will use the money to support and strengthen efforts launched earlier, including the program that was hosted by the peer educators’ student organization, Promoting Healthy Relationships Through Education Empowerment.

“This grant will provide financial security to permit our university to develop the educational programming necessary to strengthen faculty, administration and staff’s awareness of the national campus rape culture and to provide additional educational awareness programs for our student population,” Dean of Students Amy Lahart in a media release.

“It’s On Us” began as a national campaign launched by President Barack Obama in 2014. The state set up it’s own campaign in January 2015. Misericordia set up a campus “It’s On Us” program this spring.

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By Mark Guydish

[email protected]

Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish