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ABSTRACT
Title of the Proposed Project:
Gender-Based Violence Prevention Peer Education Program
Amount Requested:
$20,000.00 for two years.
Brief abstract that clearly and concisely states the aim of the project, anticipated value for XU students and/or faculty and the
indicators of success:
Research indicates that one in four women will experience gender-based violence in college. Due to the significant
impact gender-based violence has on student survivors, it is recommended that institutions of higher education implement
a comprehensive training program focused on bystander intervention in order to empower students, faculty, and staff to
prevent and respond to gender-based violence (CCC, 2015). In order to achieve this goal, I propose to implement a Peer
Education Program at Xavier University that will lead gender-based violence prevention efforts and be a part of a
comprehensive, coordinated approach to support a healthy, safe, and inclusive campus environment. This Peer Education
Program will be housed in the Center for Diversity and Inclusion and be supervised by the Advocacy and Prevention
Coordinator, a new staff position whose role is to provide confidential support and advocacy services to Xavier students
who have experienced gender-based violence, as well as coordinating prevention efforts.
While current efforts exist to respond to gender-based violence and provide awareness programing, Xavier
University is in need of a strategic, best practice, gender-based violence prevention program as identified by the work of
the Student Wellness Advocacy Group (SWAG). After two years of providing peer education around student wellness, the
work of SWAG revealed the student desire to engage in gender-based violence prevention and recognized the need for
specific expertise in the issue in order to do so. As SWAG moves to incorporate a broader approach to wellness, XU has the
opportunity to utilize the expertise of the Advocacy and Prevention Coordinator to implement a peer education program
focused specifically on gender-based violence prevention. Awareness efforts made by SWAG, the Title IX Office, and the
Center for Diversity and Inclusion have increased XU’s community literacy around gender-based violence. Data reveals that
more students have been able to identify their experience as gender-based violence, have felt safe reporting it to XU, and
know how to do so because of these efforts. Implementing a Peer Education Program focused specifically on gender-based
violence will support XU’s efforts to lower barriers to reporting, increase reports, and decrease incidents of gender-based
violence through peer-led discussion and bystander engagement. Because peers are less likely to be seen as authority
figures, peer educators build stronger rapport with their audience and create a unique, safer space for dialogue around
uncomfortable topics while increasing access to campus and community resources. Mirroring this model and the needs of
Xu’s campus, the Advocacy and Prevention Coordinator has developed a Gender-Based Violence Prevention Peer Education
Program that will allow trained and committed students to facilitate prevention workshops, support awareness efforts, and
promote support services. This program will provide the foundation for gender-based violence prevention efforts on
Xavier’s campus and complement other forms of prevention at Xavier University, including SWAG programming, Sexual
Assault Awareness Month, and Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Under the supervision of the Advocacy and Prevention Coordinator, eight peer educators will be recruited, trained,
and empowered to facilitate gender-based violence prevention workshops. Student selected to serve as Peer Educators will
commit to the program for one year and receive 40 hours of training, as outlined by the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual
Violence, in order to gain a strong understanding of the dynamics and impact of gender-based violence. Complementing
this institutionally-led training, Peer Educators will participate in an eight hour “train the trainer” session facilitated by
Mentors in Violence Prevention. Mentors in Violence Prevention Training will certify Peer Educators to facilitate violence
prevention workshops to Xavier University students, faculty, and staff. These interactive, best practice prevention
workshops engage peers in discussion around sexual violence, consent, binary gender roles, and safe ways to intervene
when witnessing violent and/or oppressive behavior by a peer. Incorporating bystander engagement techniques with
critical dialogue creates an intentional space that empowers participants to view themselves as leaders who have a
responsibility to create a healthy and safe environment for all. Mirroring Xavier University’s Jesuit heritage, this program
aims to develop student leaders that value social justice, inclusion, and solidarity. This Peer Education Program is designed
with the intention to empower Xavier University students to create a campus culture that is committed to ensuring the
dignity and worth of all members of the campus community and cultivating a culture of respect and responsibility.
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BUDGET
What is the amount of funding requested?
A
B
C
Item
Cost per Year
Total Cost for 2 Years WOX Grant
ODHE Grant
Staffing
1 Peer Educators Stipend
8 @ $1,000.00
16,000.00
16,000.00
Training
2 Mentors in Violence Prevention Training
3 Workbooks
4 Training Binders
5 Meals (5 Lunches)
6 Summer Read
$7,490.00
$7,500.00
$7, 490.00
$100
$50.00
$500.00
$100.00
$200.00
$100.00
$1,000
$200
$100
$100.00
$1,000
$200
$250.00
$150.00
$500
$300.00
$500.00
$300.00
$200.00
$700.00
$400.00
$1,200.00
Promotion
7 T-Shirts
8 Outreach Materials
Continuing Education
9 Travel to OAESV Advocacy Day
10 In-Service Lunch (7 Lunches)
Total Cost
17,540.00
27,390.00
$400.00
1,200.00
$19,900.00
$7,500.00
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NARRATIVE
1. How does this proposed project enhance the mission and purpose of Women of Excellence?
A Peer Education Program focused on the prevention of gender-based violence will enhance the mission and purpose
of Women of Excellence by working to empower student leaders to create cultural change that reflects a healthy,
safe, and inclusive campus. Peer Educators will utilize their knowledge and skills to engage the campus community in
dialogue around sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and stalking; all acts of violence that impact women
disproportionately, particularly women of marginalized identities. By serving as Peer Educators, women will have the
opportunity to develop leadership skills, build community, and work across difference towards social justice. This
experience will be valuable as women transition from student to professionals, empowering them to provide
leadership in their communities around issues they are passionate about.
2. How will this project further the mission of Xavier University to “engage and form students intellectually, morally
and spiritually, with rigor and compassion, toward lives of solidarity, service and success?”
This Peer Education Program will further the mission of Xavier University by developing student leaders that value
social justice, inclusion, and solidarity. This Peer Education Program will utilize a social justice framework that
provides participants the opportunity to discuss power and privilege, or the absence of it, and how it shapes their
interactions and identity. This framework mirrors Xavier University’s mission because it opens up space for students
to discuss intersecting forms of oppression while incorporating bystander engagement techniques that empower
participants to see themselves as leaders who have a responsibility to create a healthy and safe environment for all.
By participating in this Peer Education Program, students become invested in efforts to end violence and other forms
of injustice. These students are empowered to provide leadership in campus-wide initiatives contributing to their
overall development as leaders and social change agents who work with rigor and compassion towards lives of
solidarity, service, and success. This program aligns with the official student commitment that states, “unique
individuals come together to change the world together by acting with integrity, justice, and generosity.”
3. Why is this project important? Does it address a gap within existing University programs?
National research indicates that one in four women will experience gender-based violence while in college (CSA,
2007). Experiencing gender-based violence can have many negative impacts on the survivor including but not limited
to stress, anxiety, depression, shame, and isolation. These negative effects are often magnified by the lack of support
survivors receive due to inadequate institutional response and social stigma often resulting in the survivor’s inability
to remain in school. Research indicates that gender-based violence survivors experience reduced income in adulthood
as a result of victimization in adolescence, with a lifetime income loss estimated at $241,600 (MacMillan, 2000).
Research has revealed that gender-based violence also interferes with women’s ability to work; Fifty percent of sexual
violence victims had to quit or were forced to leave their jobs in the year following their assaults due to the severity of
their reactions (Ellis, Atkeson, & Calhoun, 1981). Due to the significant impact gender-based violence has on survivors’
ability to continue their education, it is the responsibility of institutions of higher education to provide best practice
prevention programming on campus. The implementation of this Peer Education Program will provide the foundation
of gender-based violence prevention on Xavier University’s campus and communicate to the community that this
issue deserves attention.
In 2014, Women of Excellence provided funding to SWAG in order to promote student health and wellness using a
best practice peer education model. Not only has the work of SWAG revealed the success of using a peer education
model, but it has also identified opportunities for growth as this program moves to expand to a broader wellness
approach. Data from SWAG identified the need for programming focused specifically on issues related to genderbased violence, recognizing the additional training that is needed to facilitate discussion around this topic. The hiring
of the full-time Advocacy and Prevention Coordinator has provided the University an opportunity to develop strategic
prevention programming, rooted in best practice standards. Additional funding through Women of Excellence would
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allow the University to implement a strategic, sustainable, Peer Education Program to empower students, faculty, and
staff to respond and prevent gender-based violence in our community. This approach would increase access to
support services, challenge injustice, educate the community, and create a space for women to develop leadership
skills and build a safe, supportive community.
4. What is the expected outcome of your project? How many people (faculty, staff, students) will be engaged in
your project?
The outcome of this Peer Education Program is to prevent gender-based violence on Xavier University’s campus by
engaging students in dialogue and promoting support services available to students. Additional outcomes measures
are outlined in a Logic Model that can be found on page 8.
With the on-going support of staff, faculty, students, and community partners, implementation and sustainability of
this Peer Education Program at Xavier University will result in significant cultural change. It is estimated that nearly
1,500 students will be impacted by the Peer Education Program during the 2016-2017 academic year. Though
students, faculty, and staff may request a prevention workshop, the Advocacy and Prevention Coordinator will work
with campus partners to ensure all first year students have the opportunity to participate in a workshop through GOA
First Year Experience. This would allow the program to reach nearly 1,200 freshman students, the population most
vulnerable to experience sexual violence on campus. In addition, the Peer Education Program will be highlighted in
core University programs and events including but not limited to, Manresa Orientation, GOA First Year Experience,
Resident Advisor Training, and Smooth Transitions Orientation. As an intimate campus with passionate staff and
faculty who value social justice, inclusion, and solidarity, Xavier University has the opportunity to embed genderbased violence prevention programming into the fabric of the University. This Peer Education Program will be
sustained, supported, and promoted through collaboration between the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, the Title IX
Office, and the Associate Provost for Student Affairs. The Advocacy and Prevention Coordinator will continue to work
with campus and community partners to collaborate on violence prevention efforts, promote support services, and
create cultural change. These partners include the Office of Residence Life, Xavier University Police Department,
Student Wellness Advocacy Group, McGrath Health and Wellness, Women Helping Women, and the Ohio Alliance to
End Sexual Violence.
5. How will you measure the success of your project, if funded? What are the qualitative and quantitative measures
that you will use to assess impact and effectiveness?
Project success and impact will be measured through multiple assessment and evaluation tools including reflection
prompts, feedback activities, final evaluations and pre/post-tests. Because the project will engage two key groups of
students, peer educators and workshop participants, the evaluation plan is two tiered. Tier one focuses on
assessment and evaluation of the learning and development of the students participating in the Peer Education
Program and will be measured using reflection prompts and evaluations. Tier two focuses on assessment and
evaluation of learning of Mentors in Violence Prevention Workshop participants. Impact will be measured using
assessments developed out of the Mentors in Violence Prevention workshop curriculum.
6. If your project is funded, how will the WOX Giving Circle be recognized as having played a role in the success /
completion of your project? Give specific examples.
I believe it is very important to share with campus and community partners the role of Women of Excellence Giving
Circle as it relates to the success and completion of the Gender-Based Violence Prevention Peer Education Program.
Each partner listed on this grant proposal will share the development, progress, and success of the Program with
students, staff, and faculty, and include the Women of Excellence Giving Circle as an integral piece of that
communication. If the grant is received, it will be important to share the announcement of the project and its funding
source through social media, Xavier Weekly, Xavier Today, and Xavier Newswire. In addition, Women of Excellence
Giving Circle will be recognized as a project funder in all outreach materials and workshop presentations.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Use this section to add additional information or supporting arguments not covered in the sections above.
Please see attached supplemental materials:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Statement of Support
Gender-Based Violence Peer Education Program Logic Model
Gender-Based Violence Peer Education Program GANNT Chart
Information on Mentors in Violence Prevention Program
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Gender-Based Violence Prevention Peer Education Logic Model
Inputs
Outputs
Recruitment and
Selection of
Peer Educators
Outcome
XU Community
and target
communities
(student leaders)
Peer
Educators
Staff, faculty, and students are aware
of peer education program, and other
resources available to students.
Peer Educators understand the root
causes of interpersonal violence and
are aware of rape myths and facts
related to gender-based violence.
Fall
Training
Time of
Advocacy and
Prevention
Coordinator
Peer Educators are aware of resources
available to survivors on campus and
in the community.
Peer Educators
Money
Monthly Inservices and Biweekly
meetings
Peer Educators understand bystander
engagement techniques and are equip
to facilitate MVP workshops.
Materials
Peer Educators reflect on growth as
advocates, activists and leaders and
develop interpersonal and team skills.
Campus and
Community
Partners
XU students are aware of resources
available to survivors of violence.
Workshops
XU CommunitySpecifically
Freshman Class
XU students recognize sexual violence
on campus and have developed skills
to safely intervene.
XU students recognize sexism, racism,
and homophobia and are empowered
to lead efforts that challenge these
forms of oppression.
Create cultural
change on
campus in
order to
reduce
gender-based
violence.
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Information on Mentors in Violence Prevention Program
http://cultureofrespect.naspa.org/program/mentors-in-violence-prevention-mvp/
Program Title
Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP)
Overview
Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) is one of the original gender violence, sexual
harassment, and bullying prevention programs. It was first developed as a sports culture
initiative in 1993 by Dr. Jackson Katz and his colleagues at Northeastern University’s
Center for the Study of Sport in Society. The program was later expanded to include
students and professionals in college, high school, the military, and a variety of
organizations in the public and private sectors. MVP Strategies is the flagship organization
which provides training to organizations including the US Military, colleges, high schools
and professional sports leagues. Other branches and initiatives of MVP include MVP
National, Sport in Society, Center for Violence Prevention at the University of Northern
Iowa, and Griffith University in Brisbane.
evaluation
criteria
Mentors in
Violence
Prevention
(MVP)
empathy
X
bystander
X
risk
reduction
dispelling
myths
X
Author
Jackson Katz
Website
http://www.mvpstrat.com/
Program details
Trainings have been conducted in single gender groups as well as co-ed sessions.
alcohol
online
X
MVP offers an array of training options for both students and administrators which can be customized to fit
the needs and structure of your campus community. Generally, MVP co-presenters lead the audience
through discussions of realistic scenarios covering a range of abusive behavior they might witness as
bystanders. Once individuals are trained to present the program to student groups, MVP recommends teams
of 2 volunteers per discussion group. Scenarios in the MVP Playbook describe a situation followed by a
section entitled "Train of Thought" which discusses factors a bystander might consider in the situation.
Next, the Playbook lists "Options" of several actions the participant could take. Usually, one of the trainers
will ask a participant to read the scenario out-loud, followed by another participant reading the train of
thought. Then, the group discusses the different options available, and what the participants would do as
bystanders.
MVP strongly emphasizes the importance of gender stereotypes and cultural conceptions of "masculinity"
and "femininity" in addressing the root causes of sexual violence. Several of the scenarios focus on
commonly held stereotypes of women, how the culture encourages and rewards those who tell sexist jokes,
and engage in behavior that is stereotypically "masculine."
Populations served 



General student body
Student leaders
Athletes
Greek Life
other
masculinity,
leadership,
relationships,
intersectionality
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
High School students
US Military
Theoretical/scientific MVP utilizes a "bystander" approach. It focuses on young men not as perpetrators or potential perpetrators,
basis for approach
but as empowered bystanders who can confront abusive peers – and support abused ones. It focuses on
young women not as victims or potential targets of harassment, rape and abuse, but as empowered
bystanders who can support victims and confront perpetrators (Katz).
Program method
Types of Trainings:
"Big room" presentations: These large scale talks follow a classic lecture format and are recommended to
be implemented in tandem with intensive, targeted workshops and programs.
Awareness-raising sessions: Two to four days of training on campus by MVP Strategy teams, providing 90
minute sessions covering the spectrum of gender violence, root causes of violence, gender norms and
connections to abusive behavior, and bystander intervention using group discussions and scenarios
Student Leadership Training: MVP offers one day intensive trainings to student leaders including athletic
team captains, Greek leaders, student government representatives, and RA's. These
workshops are "designed to enhance the leadership capabilities of student leaders by helping them develop
bystander intervention skills but also by challenging them to see themselves as leaders in the critical area of
gender equality promotion and gender violence prevention." (MVP)
Leadership Training for Professionals: MVP trainers conduct one to two day trainings, covering similar
topics as student leadership training, for administrators, staff, and officials on campus. "They also address
the mentor/teacher/coach relationship between professional educators and students as well as workplace
issues/peer issues among college-based professionals." (MVP)
Trainings of Trainers: MVP trainers conduct intensive two to three day trainings with students, staff and
faculty. Maximum capacity is 30 participants and trainees complete the program equipped to lead MVP
trainings with student groups.
Leadership Training and Orientation Programs for College/University Administrators: Leadership and
violence prevention training is designed for senior administrators from all reaches of campus. Programs
focus "on the role of institutional leaders in the prevention of gender violence and other forms of bullying,
abuse and harassment with a special emphasis on men’s leadership. Participants are introduced to cuttingedge pedagogical as well as institutional strategies." (MVP)
Administering the program:
Implementation depends on the specific type of program selected (i.e. small scale workshop vs big room
presentation). The basic format of the Student Leadership programs requires the purchase a training guide
which explains how to run the program. Discussion guides, or "Playbooks", are purchased for the
participants. Group discussions are conducted using scenarios from the Playbooks.
Dosage:
The authors recommend a minimum of three sessions for the target group, with each session no more than
one month apart from the previous one. Sessions last approximately 90 minutes.
Methods:
The program focuses on interactive scenarios and group discussion. There are no videos or live
presentations. It is not part of a wider, campus-wide campaign on the issue of sexual assault, although it
certainly could be integrated with other approaches and strategies.
Program effectiveness An Evaluation Report of MVP’s Campus Leadership Initiative showed positive change in Train the Trainer
participants’ “bystander efficacy beliefs, bystander behavior intent, and personal teaching efficacy to train
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and support others in sexual assault prevention” (Department of Justice, 2011).
The research that is available is not in peer reviewed academic journals. One study of fraternity men and
sorority women reported lower levels of sexism and an increased belief that they could prevent male
violence against women after taking the MVP Student Leadership program (Cissner 2009). There is also a
2001 study that claims effectiveness, but it was never published in a peer-reviewed journal (Ward 2001).
Other assessments by the Department of Education suggest participants in the peer education program, thus
receiving more intensive training than general student leadership trainees, show more significant
improvements in behavior and attitude (Cissner, 2008). Both peer educators and workshop participants did
improve as proactive bystanders and provided positive feedback after participating.
MVP uses several methods that the literature suggests are highly effective: single-sex programs, and a focus
on bystander intervention.
Participating colleges MVP has been used at numerous colleges and universities, including
and universities








Considerations for
administrators
Boston College
Duke University
Harvard University
San Jose State University
University of Alabama
University of Hawaii
University of Iowa
University of Notre Dame
Level of commitment
Compared to other programs - e.g., those in which an administrator can bring trained actors to campus to
act out scenarios of sexual assault in front of a large audience - this program requires a much greater time
commitment on behalf of the administrator. Volunteers need to be trained, and ideally those volunteers will
run several sessions for the participants, each of considerable length. Identifying student leaders and
investing in intensive training may require time on the front end but could make shifting culture much more
efficient in the long run by using existing cultural structures on campus.
Importance of the volunteers
The effectiveness of the program for a particular institution will depend heavily on the effectiveness of the
volunteers. Volunteers need to have credibility with the target audience. Administrators should consider
including student volunteers that are already highly respected by their peers and/or visible within the
community.
Customization
MVP utilizes some of the techniques that existing research deems the most effective in reaching students.
Their programs have a strong core philosophy while being malleable enough to adapt to specific audiences
and institutional needs. They are interactive and if administered properly will effectively engage the
students to take an active role in the discussion about sexual violence.