OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus Program Solicitation

This program is authorized by 34 U.S.C. § 20125. The Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus Program (Campus Program) (CFDA# 16.525) encourages institutions of higher education to develop and strengthen effective security and investigation strategies to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus, develop and strengthen victim services in cases involving such crimes on campus, and develop and strengthen prevention education and awareness programs. For additional information about this program and related performance measures, including how awards contribute to the achievement of program goals and objectives, see: OVW grant program information: OVW Grants and Programs Webpage. Program performance measures under the Measuring Effectiveness Initiative: VAWA Measuring Effectiveness Initiative webpage. Program-specific sections in OVW’s most recent report to Congress on the effectiveness of VAWA grant programs. What’s New About this OVW Program The Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization of 2022 (VAWA 2022) includes three new statutory purposes areas in the Campus Program statute: To train campus health centers and appropriate campus faculty, such as academic advisors or professionals who deal with students on a daily basis, on how to recognize and respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including training health providers on how to provide universal education to all members of the campus community on the impacts of violence on health and unhealthy relationships and how providers can support ongoing outreach efforts. To train campus personnel in how to use a victim-centered, trauma-informed interview technique, which means asking questions of a student or a campus employee who is reported to be a victim of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking, in a manner that is focused on the experience of the reported victim, that does not judge or blame the reported victim for the alleged crime, and that is informed by evidence-based research on trauma response. To the extent practicable, campus personnel shall allow the reported victim to participate in a recorded interview and to receive a copy of the recorded interview. To develop and implement restorative practices (as defined in section 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291(a))). VAWA 2022 also adds details to four existing purpose areas (see updated language below for purpose areas 2, 3, 9 and 10) and revises two of the statutory minimum requirements for all grant-funded projects to the following: Establish a mandatory prevention/education program about domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking for all students. Train all participants in the resolution process, including the campus disciplinary board, the Title IX Coordinator’s office, and the student conduct office, to respond effectively to situations involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. This solicitation includes the following programmatic changes: Removes the consortium applicant type. Increases the award amount for individual applicants from $300,000 to $400,000 (pursuant to VAWA 2022 removal of a statutory cap of $300,000. Increases the indirect cost rate maximum from 10% to 20%. Increases the required technical assistance allocation to $60,000 to support travel costs for the mandatory technical assistance trainings. Revises the application criteria requested in the project narrative sections: Purpose of the Application, What Will Be Done, Who Will Implement; and in the Memoranda of Understanding.